The most common deciduous tree of eastern North America, the red maple grows to about 70 feet tall. At maturity, the flowers, twigs, seeds, and petioles all turn red, as do the leaves in the fall;  hence the name red maple. It is often used as a shade tree for landscapes and can produce maple syrup on a small scale. Its light-colored wood is used for furniture, paneling, moldings, doors, and musical instruments. The wood is 25 percent less hard than the wood of the sugar maple.