Red Maple Acer Rubrum Seedlings old_product_id_9835 Unattended Hardy Zones Where They Unattended Slippery Elm Seedling Uses In Restoration and Reforestation Plantings Acer rubrum has many benefits‚ in addition to its ornamental uses․ It is an important tree to the ecosystem of its native range․ Many animals live on red maples․ Birds‚ insects‚ and small mammals such as chipmunks and squirrels live on the trees․ Bees foraging for food after a long winter also utilize the red maple's early blooming flowers for nectar․ The seeds are consumed by birds and small mammals․ Due to their wide ranging root systems‚ red maples are effective in preventing erosion and sedimentation along the banks of rivers and streams‚ and they play a role in stabilizing the hydrology of wetlands as a water retention and filtration species․ it appears in literature and artwork‚ and‚ like other maples‚ is represented as a state symbol․ In Rhode Island‚ the tree was chosen to be the state tree․ It is also perceived as being symbolic of the American landscape․ The changing colors of the leaves in the fall have inspired many generations of artists and poets․ Cultural observances and festivities have centered on the red maple‚ and it has maintained the symbol of the beauty of the cycle of seasons and importance of nature in the lives of people across the world․ These trees are culturally and historically important to the communities where they are located․