ACER/Maple

A few key notes regarding maples

Japanese maples do best with protection in the winter by being planted on the south side of a structure or in a well protected corner away from northern winds. There is a higher chance of survival in older neighborhoods with overstory trees as opposed to new construction.

Red maples (red in fall) can be susceptible to chlorosis due to our alkaline/clay soils. If your leaves are yellow with green veins then you may have a manganese deficiency. Red maples will always thrive in a more acidic soil but will do just fine in most cases. Some newer varieties can tolerate higher pH soils. Red maple roots need oxygen and in heavily compacted/clay soils you will eventually see the roots rise to the surface as a tree gets more mature. But this isn't always the case. Narrow crotch angles in the branching can lead to easy damage from storms. Early corrective trimming prevents breakage. Some varieties develop very dense branching and can kill off lawns or other vegetation planted below. Proper pruning can prevent this. Most maples are bred to be seedless but stress can cause them to revert. Such stressful situations could be lack of proper watering while establishing, excessive drought, harsher than usual winters, damage to branching/trunk, etc.

Crimson maple varieties are very slow growing and can be very dense when mature. Such branching can kill off any vegetation below and the red leaves can suffer in extreme heat causing growth to slow or shut down. Proper pruning can keep the canopy open to allow sunlight through.

Armstrong

Acer x freemanii 'Armstrong'

Height: 45-60'
Spread: 15-25'
Zone: 4
Shape: Narrow, upright
Foliage: Green
Fall Color: Yellow-orange-red

Hybrid of silver and red maple. Fast growth with a tighter, columnar habit.

Autumn Blaze

Acer x freemanii 'Jeffersred'

Height: 50-60'
Spread: 40'
Zone: 4
Shape: Upright, oval, dense
Foliage: Rich green, deeply lobed
Fall Color: Orange-red

Hybrid between silver and red maple. Susceptible to tight branch crotches - prune early to avoid damage in storm. 2' plus growth a year once established. A favorite variety for most.

Autumn Moon Fullmoon

Acer shirasawanum 'Autumn Moon'

Height: 8-18'
Spread: 8-18''
Zone: 5
Shape: Rounded at maturity
Foliage: New growth is a red-orange aging to yellow in summer.
Fall Color: Red and gold in fall.

Slow grower but the foliage is eye catching during the growing season. Plant in a protected area to avoid damage during winter.

Autumn Radiance

Acer rubrum 'Autumn Radiance'

Height: 30-60'
Spread: 40'
Zone: 4
Shape: Oval to rounded
Foliage: Green
Fall Color: Orange-red to red

Upright branching eventually forming a rounded crown at maturity. Early, reliably red fall color.

Autumn Spire

Acer rubrum 'Autumn Spire'

Height: 50'
Spread: 20-30'
Zone: 3
Shape: Broadly columnar
Foliage: Green
Fall Color: Red

Noted for excellent cold hardiness. Strong central leader and early fall color.

Bloodgood

Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood'

Height: 20'
Spread: 15'
Zone: 5
Shape: Upright, rounded
Foliage: Bright red new growth ages to deep red-purple
Fall Color: Bright red

The standard for Japanese maples. Plant with winter protection in mind in newer neighborhoods lacking established overhead trees.

Bowhall

Acer rubrum 'Bowhall'

Height: 40-50'
Spread: 15-18'
Zone: 4
Shape: Upright, pyramidal
Foliage: Medium green
Fall Color: Yellow to red

A good choice for limited spaces. Not drought tolerant. Fall color can vary from yellow to red depending on adequate moisture through the year

Brandywine

Acer rubrum 'Brandywine'

Height: 20-25'
Spread: 10-15'
Zone: 4
Shape: Oval
Foliage: Medium green
Fall Color: Purple-red

Ideal for those with smaller yards/spaces. Fall color starts out red and can develop into a beautiful wine purple in the best conditions.

Crimson King

Acer platanoides 'Crimson King'

Height: 35'
Spread: 35'
Zone: 4
Shape: Rounded, oval
Foliage: Rich purple
Fall Color: Insignificant

Slow growing. Maturing with an open structure and rounded to oval canopy. Growth can slow during extreme heat in the summer.

Crimson Queen

Acer palmatum var. dissectum 'Crimson Queen'

Height: 8-10'
Spread: 10-12'
Zone: 5
Shape: Spreading, weeping
Foliage: Burgundy
Fall Color: Red

Slow growing with a tight weeping habit and laceleaf foliage.