Red Maple vs Water Lily

Side-by-side plant comparison — which is right for your garden?

Red Maple

Acer rubrum

Aceraceae · trees

Deer ResistantLow Maintenance

Water Lily

Nymphaea spp.

Nymphaeaceae · aquatic

Deer ResistantMedium Maintenance

Hardiness Zone Range

Red Maple (Zones 3-9)

Water Lily (Zones 3-11)

Overlap: Both grow in zones 3–9

Detailed Comparison

Feature	Red Maple	Water Lily
Scientific Name	Acer rubrum	Nymphaea spp.
Family	Aceraceae	Nymphaeaceae
Category	trees	aquatic
Sun	☀️ Full Sun to Part Shade	☀️ Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧 Aquatic
Soil	Adaptable	Pond/Water garden
Height	70'	6"
Spread	40'	4'
Bloom Season	Spring	Summer
Bloom Color	Red	White, Pink, Yellow, Red
Growth Rate	Fast	Medium
Native Region	Eastern North America	Worldwide
Maintenance	Low	Medium

Special Traits

Red Maple

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantNo — Drought Tolerant

Water Lily

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantNo — Drought Tolerant

Care Tips

Red Maple

✓Tolerates a wide range of soils.
✓Surface roots can be problematic in lawns.
✓Prune in summer to avoid bleeding sap.
✓Fast growing — 13-24 inches per year.

Water Lily

✓Plant in containers submerged 12-18 inches deep.
✓Needs 6+ hours of direct sun.
✓Fertilize monthly during growing season.
✓Divide when crowded.

Which Plant Is Right for Your Garden?

Choose Red Maple if you want a low-maintenance plant, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun to part shade with medium water in zones 3–9.

Choose Water Lily if you don't mind medium maintenance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with aquatic water in zones 3–11.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 3–9. However, they have different sun needs, so plan your garden layout carefully.

View Red MapleProfile →View Water LilyProfile →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Red Maple and Water Lily grow in the same hardiness zone?

Red Maple grows in USDA zones 3-9, while Water Lily grows in zones 3-11. Both plants can grow together in zones 3 through 9.

Do Red Maple and Water Lily have the same sun and water needs?

Red Maple needs full sun to part shade and medium water, while Water Lily needs full sun and aquatic water. Their differing requirements mean you may need separate garden areas for each.

Which grows taller, Red Maple or Water Lily?

Red Maple grows taller at 70' compared to Water Lily at 6". Red Maple spreads 40' while Water Lily spreads 4'.

Are Red Maple and Water Lily deer resistant?

Yes, both Red Maple and Water Lily are considered deer resistant, making them excellent choices for gardens in areas with deer pressure.

Which is easier to maintain, Red Maple or Water Lily?

Red Maple has low maintenance while Water Lily has medium maintenance. Red Maple may be easier for beginning gardeners to manage.

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Detailed Comparison

Feature	Red Maple	Water Lily
Scientific Name	Acer rubrum	Nymphaea spp.
Family	Aceraceae	Nymphaeaceae
Category	trees	aquatic
Sun	☀️ Full Sun to Part Shade	☀️ Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧 Aquatic
Soil	Adaptable	Pond/Water garden
Height	70'	6"
Spread	40'	4'
Bloom Season	Spring	Summer
Bloom Color	Red	White, Pink, Yellow, Red
Growth Rate	Fast	Medium
Native Region	Eastern North America	Worldwide
Maintenance	Low	Medium

Care Tips

Red Maple

✓Tolerates a wide range of soils.
✓Surface roots can be problematic in lawns.
✓Prune in summer to avoid bleeding sap.
✓Fast growing — 13-24 inches per year.

Water Lily

✓Plant in containers submerged 12-18 inches deep.
✓Needs 6+ hours of direct sun.
✓Fertilize monthly during growing season.
✓Divide when crowded.

Which Plant Is Right for Your Garden?

Choose Red Maple if you want a low-maintenance plant, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun to part shade with medium water in zones 3–9.

Choose Water Lily if you don't mind medium maintenance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with aquatic water in zones 3–11.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 3–9. However, they have different sun needs, so plan your garden layout carefully.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Red Maple and Water Lily grow in the same hardiness zone?

Red Maple grows in USDA zones 3-9, while Water Lily grows in zones 3-11. Both plants can grow together in zones 3 through 9.

Do Red Maple and Water Lily have the same sun and water needs?

Red Maple needs full sun to part shade and medium water, while Water Lily needs full sun and aquatic water. Their differing requirements mean you may need separate garden areas for each.

Which grows taller, Red Maple or Water Lily?

Red Maple grows taller at 70' compared to Water Lily at 6". Red Maple spreads 40' while Water Lily spreads 4'.

Are Red Maple and Water Lily deer resistant?

Yes, both Red Maple and Water Lily are considered deer resistant, making them excellent choices for gardens in areas with deer pressure.

Which is easier to maintain, Red Maple or Water Lily?

Red Maple has low maintenance while Water Lily has medium maintenance. Red Maple may be easier for beginning gardeners to manage.