Growing Drummond Red Maple

Size and Appearance

Drummond Red Maple is a large deciduous tree that can grow by as much as 2 feet a year when young, soon developing a sturdy central trunk and relatively narrow, upright crown. It will continue to grow to at least 40 feet, and in ideal conditions, in time, it can reach 60 feet or more, with a spread of up to 40 feet – narrower than many other large shade trees. When planting, allow plenty of room for its potential size, and don’t plant beneath overhead lines, or within 20 feet of a building, fence, wall or property line – unless neighbors agree. The bark on younger trees is smooth and light gray, looking very attractive in winter. Older trees develop darker, more rugged and rough bark on the trunk and main limbs. The leaves are up to 4 inches across, divided into 3 or 5 lobes, in a typical ‘maple leaf’ look. Spring leaves can be reddish, quickly becoming light and then mid-green by early summer. The underside of the leaves of this variety are softly hairy. In fall the leaves turn rich, bold shades of red.

Even young trees flower, and the flowers are small but abundant, carried on bare branches before the leaves appear. There are separate male and female flowers, often on separate trees, but not always. The bright red flowers (male flowers have some yellow too) are showy, and give a beautiful red haze to the light gray branches. Flowers develop during summer among the leaves into clusters of typical maple keys. These are bright red when young, ripening to light tan brown. They are relatively small – about 1 inch long, and unlike many other maples, they are especially messy because they quickly crumble and disappear after falling.

Using Drummond Red Maple in Your Garden

As a specimen on a large lawn, as a background tree around the edges of your property, or planted in natural areas to develop woodlands, Drummond Red Maple is going to be a winner. Adaptable and reliable, after a little care in the early years it will do everything for itself – just sit back and enjoy the fun of watching it grow. It can be grown as a screen or avenue – space plants 20 to 30 feet apart – and even turned into a unique hedge. Bonsai growers love it for the flowers, red seeds and fall leaves.

Hardiness

Not as hardy as northern varieties, which will grow in zone 3, Drummond Red Maple is best in warmer zones, and thrives in zones 7, 8 and 9, in areas with hot summers and mild winters. It is however certainly completely hardy in zone 5.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Plant in full sun, or where it will, in a few years, reach full sun as it grows. Drummond Red Maple is very adaptable to different soils, but it does prefer slightly acidic soils, and can show chlorosis – yellow leaves with green veins – when grown on alkaline soils. One common name is ‘swamp red maple’, because this variety thrives in wet and swampy ground, making it a great choice for river edges and areas prone to seasonal flooding. Once established, though, it is perfectly tough and reliable in regular and even drier places, especially so in cooler zones.

Maintenance and Pruning

Pests and diseases are rarely serious issues with Drummond Red Maple, and this tough and adaptable tree is easy to grow, and generally trouble-free. If you need a taller trunk, begin removing lower branches after a couple of seasons of establishment, so that you don’t leave scars on the trunk. Once it is growing well, remove some of the interior smaller branches to develop a more open crown. Nothing else is needed, so sit back and enjoy your beautiful tree.

History and Origin of Drummond Red Maple

Red maple, Acer rubrum, is a widely-distributed native tree, found throughout eastern and central North America, and is our most abundant native tree. In one form or another it can be found from Newfoundland in Canada to Florida, and west into Minnesota and eastern Texas. In the south the predominant variety is ‘swamp red maple’, the variety drummondii. It is named after Thomas Drummond, a Scottish naturalist who came to America in 1830 to collect plants, and focused especially on Texas, being the first to collect plants there and send them to botanists around the world. Today some authorities don’t give a lot of attention to these different varieties, but in the case of Drummond Red Maple it is easily recognized by the hairiness of the lower side of the leaf – other forms are smooth. It has good adaptation to wet ground and hotter summers.

Buying Drummond Red Maple at the Tree Center

It always makes us feel good selling a native tree to a good home – like yours. While there are lots of wonderful exotic trees and plants, it’s always great to ‘go native’, especially with your larger trees. There are many varieties of red maple, but for warmer zones, Drummond Red Maple is the top choice. Order now, while our supplies of this tree last, because it isn’t widely available and will soon sell out.

Growing the Emerald Queen Norway Maple

Size and Appearance

The Emerald Queen Norway Maple is a large deciduous tree growing 2 feet or more a year when young, reaching 15 to 20 feet within a decade, and ultimately growing to 60 feet tall. When young it has a rounded, relatively narrow crown, which spreads with age until mature trees can be 40 feet across. The bark is mid-gray to dark gray with age, relatively smooth, especially when young. Older bark develops narrow vertical ridges and cracks. The leaves are large, up to 7 inches across, deeply divided into 5 lobes, with coarse serrations around the edges. The leaf closely resembles the native sugar maple. In summer the leaves are dark green, and in fall they are bright golden yellow – much better coloring than the dirty browns seen in many other varieties of Norway maple.

In spring, before the leaves emerge, trees put on an attractive display of golden-yellow flowers. These are small but profuse, in clusters along the stems. They disappear as the leaves come out, but by fall they have developed into maple ‘keys’ – a pair of seeds, each one supported by a thin wing. These are green turning brown when they mature. Seed clusters hang on the bare trees into the winter months.

Using the Emerald Queen Norway Maple in Your Garden

When you need a large tree for an urban location, the Emerald Queen Norway Maple is a popular choice. It is often planted as a street tree in tough areas, dealing with urban pollution, traffic fumes, and poor soils typical or heavily-built areas. There is a good reason for Norway maples being common in our cities – they survive. Always allow enough room when planting – at least 20 feet from buildings, walls and property lines, and not beneath overhead wires. Allow at least 6 feet from driveways and walkways, as the root of mature trees can lift and crack them. When planting along a property line, space trees at least 20 feet apart. This tree casts a heavy shadow, and it may be difficult to grow a good lawn beneath it. In rural and suburban areas we suggest choosing a form of native maple, such as sugar maple or red maple.

Hardiness

The Emerald Queen Norway Maple is totally hardy in zone 4, and thrives in all zones into zone 7.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

A young tree will grow in partial shade, but it should be able to reach into full sun as it matures. Don’t plant directly beneath already-existing mature trees. This tree grows in almost all kinds of soil, including very acidic soils, clays, sands, alkaline soils and soils that are sometimes wet, or often dry. Once established it tolerates drought well, and survives hot summer weather.

Maintenance and Pruning

If you want a tall trunk for clearance, remove lower branches while still young, to avoid persistent scars on the trunk. After a couple of years of growth, remove over-crowded branches inside the crown to leave a few major branches with wide angles between them. Later in life trimming is not usually necessary. Prune in late winter or summer – trees pruned in spring may bleed sap, which isn’t serious, but can weaken the tree. Although you may see some leaf diseases, these are not serious and are often worse in some years and absent in others. This tree has few serious pests.

History and Origin of the Emerald Queen Norway Maple

The Norway maple, Acer platanoides, is native not just to Norway, but all of Europe, from Spain to Turkey and Russia. It was first offered in America in 1756, after the Scottish botanist Phillip Miller sent seeds to John and William Bartram, a father and son ‘team’ of naturalists from Philadelphia, famous for studying American birds and plants, and founding America’s first botanical garden. The variety called Emerald Queen was selected from a batch of seedlings in 1959, at the nursery of A. McGill and Son, Canby, Oregon, in 1959, and released in their catalogue in 1963.

Buying the Emerald Queen Norway Maple at the Tree Center

When the going gets tough, the Emerald Queen Norway Maple gets going. A superb choice for difficult urban locations, this tree remains the go-to variety of this tough tree. It is always in strong demand, so order now and be sure you receive a tree that is going to work in that tough spot you have in mind.

Growing the ‘Flamingo’ Boxelder

Size and Appearance

The ‘Flamingo’ Boxelder is a striking variegated, small, deciduous tree or large shrub, which is fast-growing and tough. It develops rapidly into a trunk with a broad crown, reaching between 15 and 30 feet in height and spread, and adding a couple of feet of growth, when young. It does not grow as vigorously as the wild boxelder tree does. Young bark remains green for several years, and the bark on the trunk is gray-brown, developing deep cracks and plates with age.

Although it is a type of maple, it doesn’t have typical ‘maple’ leaves. Instead, the leaves are divided into 3, or sometimes 5 leaflets, with one central leaflet and the others beneath in pairs along a stem. Each leaflet is a pointed oval about 4 inches long and 2½ inches across, with an irregular serrated edge. The leaflets are variegated, with a broad edge of white and a light-green central zone. The variegation is irregular, sometimes neat around the leaf, other times half the leaf or more can be white. New leaves are flushed with bright pink, which is especially pronounced on the white parts of the leaf. In fall the leaves turn a more-or-less uniform bright yellow color. This is a male tree, so it doesn’t produce any maple keys, which can be a nuisance with other forms of boxelder.

Using the ‘Flamingo’ Boxelder in Your Garden

There are at least two distinct ways to grow the Flamingo Boxelder in your garden. It can be grown as a small tree, with one or several trunks, and this way it makes an exciting and vibrant lawn specimen, or filling in the back of a shrub bed. It can also be grown with regular hard trimming and kept as a rounded, bushy shrub around 6 feet tall and broad. This way it fits well into shrub beds, or fills an awkward space in the angle of a wall or corner of a fence. It also adds a wonderful touch of brightness to the edges of natural woods – perfectly natural as it is a form of a widespread native tree.

Hardiness

The ‘Flamingo’ Boxelder is not quite as hardy as the common boxelder, but it is hardy in zone 4, and in all zones except for zone 9, where winters are not cold enough for it to develop properly.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Grow the ‘Flamingo’ Boxelder in full sun in cooler areas, and with some afternoon shade in the hottest zones. This will protect against summer scorching of the variegated leaves, but avoid more than a little shade. This tough tree will grow in almost any soil, both wet and dry, including clay and poor soils – it will grow almost anywhere.

Maintenance and Pruning

Avoid planting too close to the house, as the presence of boxelder bugs – which don’t harm the tree – can lead to them moving indoors. Other pests or diseases rarely have any serious impact on this tough and hardy tree. Some shaping when young will give it a good crown if grown as a tree. To grow it as a shrub, trim hard in spring back to a low framework of main branches – it will rapidly sprout and become bushy. Remove any plain-green branches that might appear, as these are more vigorous and can grow rapidly, spoiling the beauty of the tree.

History and Origin of the Flamingo Boxelder

Boxelder, Acer negundo, is called that because settlers thought its pale wood resembled the wood of the true boxwood (Buxus), while the leaf arrangement was like elder (Sambucus). It is a tree native to North America, growing in every American state except Alaska and Hawaii, as well as up into central Canada, where it is called Manitoba maple. It is often found in swampy areas, on the banks of rivers and streams, and in woods. Once relatively rare, our growing it in gardens has made it more common in natural areas than it once was. The seeds of female trees are valuable food for birds and squirrels. Forms with variegated leaves have arisen several times, and the variety called ‘Flamingo’ first appeared in 1976, following its earlier discovery in the Netherlands.

Buying the ‘Flamingo’ Boxelder at the Tree Center

The strong pink coloring on the new growth, and the absence of seeds make the ‘Flamingo’ Boxelder a unique variety of this tree, and a very desirable one. Grow it as a small shade tree, or as a shrub, whichever you do it will brighten your garden like nothing else can, and do it with ease, even in difficult conditions. This plant is always in heavy demand, so our stock will go soon – order your garden party right away.

Growing the Autumn Fantasy® Red Maple

Size and Appearance

The Autumn Fantasy Red Maple is a large, deciduous tree growing rapidly to become a specimen over 50 feet tall and over 40 feet wide. It has open branching, and develops a rounded to broadly oval, on a single clean trunk. The bark is smooth and silvery-gray when young, becoming dark gray to gray-brown when older, and developing attractive vertical scales on a lighter background. The branches are upright and vigorous, with many vertical ascending limbs developing into a dense crown. This tree grows much faster than other red maple trees, with younger trees adding between 3 and 4 feet to their height every year, after a year or two to become established. Within 10 years you can expect your tree to be 30 feet tall, and then grow more slowly to its mature height.

The leaves are between 3 and 5 inches long and wide, divided into 3 to 5 lobes by deep divisions, and with a jagged edge. They are a lustrous green color, with a silvery-green underside, making a very attractive background or lawn specimen throughout the spring and summer. In October every leaf, even on young trees, turns brilliant fire red, setting your garden ablaze with color and making a spectacular show wherever it is planted. Growing in drier conditions doesn’t stop the colors – if anything it makes them even stronger.

Using the Autumn Fantasy® Red Maple in Your Garden

This tree is perfect wherever you want a large shade tree that will lift your fall garden to another level. It has a dense crown that throws good shade over a large area. Planted to the south of your home it will cool it in summer and save on your AC costs. It makes a great screening tree, planted in a row to hide an unsightly view or give summer privacy, as well as reducing winds. Space trees 15 feet apart for a dense screen within a few years. A pair of these trees is perfect for framing an entrance gateway, or for lining a driveway, along one side or both sides. Space the trees 25 to 30 feet apart to retain their individual character when they mature, for the best avenue effect. You can also add it to wooded areas to bring lots of fall color.

Hardiness

Because it is a hybrid, the Autumn Fantasy Red Maple is especially hardy, even in the cold conditions of zones 4 and even into zone 3. Yet it is also highly resistant to heat and dryness, so it grows well in zone 8 and into zone 9. This is certainly one of the very best red maples for hot, dry parts of the country.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Plant the Autumn Fantasy Red Maple in full sun for the best growth and leaf coloring. It will tolerate a little partial shade, but not too much. It can be planted where it is in shade to begin with but will reach the sun as it develops. Most red maples trees need moist, acidic soil to grow well, but the hybrid origin of this tree overcomes that. It will grow well in almost all soils, including poorer dry soils, and also in alkaline soils, without developing the yellow leaves (called ‘chlorosis’) that red maples do on those kinds of soils. Once established this is one of the most drought resistant of all red maple trees.

Maintenance and Pruning

When planting, allow for the future size of this tree and don’t plant beneath power lines, or within 25 feet of a building or property line. This tree is generally free of important pests or diseases. Water newly-planted trees regularly for the first season or two, particularly on dry soil.

If you wish to raise the crown for clearance beneath the tree – for walking or vehicles, then remove lower branches progressively as the tree grows, until you reach the height of clean trunk you want. Removing branches when they are still young means quick healing of the cuts and the development of a clean, unscarred trunk which is better visually and more healthier for your tree. Some removal of branches within the crown may be useful to give your tree its best form. It is best to remove one branch when you see two branches with a narrow junction (called a narrow crotch angle), as this can lead to breakage in future years.

History and Origin of the Autumn Fantasy® Red Maple

This tree is a natural hybrid between the red maple (Acer rubrum) and the silver maple (Acer saccharinum). This hybrid was first created by Oliver M. Freeman of the U.S. National Arboretum in 1933. For that reason it is known as Freeman’s maple, Acer x freemanii. Since then it has been repeated several times. Both of the parent trees are American native trees, and red maple is the most abundant tree in eastern North America. It grows all the way from Manitoba to Newfoundland, and south to Florida and Texas. It is usually found in moist or wet areas, around swamps and in wetland regions. The silver maple is closely related to it, and grows over a similar area, but not as far south.

Willet Wandell owned a nursery in Oquawka, Illinois, and he developed several new varieties of trees. Around 1980 he saw a unique tree growing in a private garden in Urbana, Illinois. He grafted branches from it, and grew trees, and showed that this tree was a natural Freeman’s maple. He patented it in 1991 with the name, ‘DTR 102’ (PP# 7,655, now expired) and released it with the trademark name of Autumn Fantasy®.

Buying the Autumn Fantasy® Red Maple at The Tree Center

We love how this tree makes growing a beautiful red maple possible for everyone who lives on soils, and in climates, where other red maple will not grow. Heck, this is such a fast-growing tree, and so beautiful, you can grow it anywhere. So order now, because our stock of a beautiful tree like this will soon be all gone.

Growing Sun Valley Red Maple

While ordinary red maple trees grow to be between 40 and 50 feet tall, with a spread of 30 or 40 feet, the Sun Valley Red Maple is smaller, growing to between 20 and 35 feet in height, and from 15 to 25 feet wide. The branches are more upright, making an attractive oval crown, with a neat and dense structure. This significantly smaller size makes all the difference in fitting this tree onto a small lawn, or as the central element in a courtyard. It can be planted closer to buildings, and it won’t cast such a long shadow in spring and fall, letting more light into windows. Planted as a boundary on your property, you can leave more room for the rest of the garden, or you can plant a row in a narrower space. Almost half the size of other forms, this compact tree allows you to have the beauty of red maple, especially in fall, without needing so much room. As well, it is slower-growing, adding only around 12 inches a year, so it stays small and compact for longer, and takes longer to reach its final size.

The leaves of the Sun Valley Red Maple are also smaller, keeping it neat, and in proportion to its more compact size. They are usually 3 inches long, and no more than 4 inches long, with 3, 5 or sometimes 7 deeply-cut lobes, and irregular serrations around the leaf edge. The upper surface of the leaf is bright green and fresh, with a smooth, glossy surface. The lower side is lighter green. In fall the leaves reliably turn all the brilliant shades we expect from a red maple, ranging from glowing orange-red to deeper reds, and a tree in full color is a glorious sight. In spring, before the leaves emerge, you will see dark red fat ‘buds’ along the branches, which are the pollen flowers. These are tiny, and have no petals, but they add an interesting touch in early spring. Their arrival tells us that the first new leaves will be here soon, in their fragile light greens, heralding another season. This is a male tree, so it cannot produce those annoying maple seeds, so the litter is considerably reduced. This is another benefit of this tree in smaller spaces, where litter can be a bigger problem.

Grow the Sun Valley Red Maple in full sun for the best colors. This tree grows best in cooler parts of the country, and it will not color well in areas above zone 7. We recommend the Brandywine Red Maple for southern areas, as this tree has excellent heat tolerance, and develops rich colors even in hotter zones. The Sun Valley Red Maple is however very cold resistant, and perfectly hardy – with superb fall colors – in zone 4. It grows best in moist soils, and it thrives even in wet soils and areas that are sometimes flooded. It also grows well in regular soil, and this even tree tolerates urban conditions. It does prefer acidic or neutral soils, and it is not recommended for highly alkaline soils. Once established it is moderately drought tolerant, particularly in cooler zones. Young trees benefit from some supplementary watering during longer dry spells. Pests and diseases are normally never problems. No trimming is needed, but if you do want to prune or trim your tree, do this in summer, as it will bleed sap if cut in late winter or spring.

History and Origins of Sun Valley Red Maple

The red maple, called Acer rubrum, grows in forests, swamps and along rivers all the way from eastern Canada through the east and southeast, and into Florida. It also grows westward into Texas and the edges of the Plain states. The variety called ‘Sun Valley’ was developed as part of a breeding program carried out by the National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. Scientists there have developed many of our best garden plants, and they try to create new forms of popular plants that satisfy specific regional needs. None of their work is patented or trademarked for profit. They crossed two existing varieties of red maple, called ‘Red Sunset’ and ‘Autumn Flame’, and tested the seedlings from that cross, looking for improved forms. They selected ‘Sun Valley’ for its excellent color, smaller leaves, compact growth and smaller ultimate size. We recommend this tree for anywhere you need a smaller tree, and our limited stock will soon be gone, so order now.

Growing Burgundy Belle Red Maple

The Burgundy Belle Red Maple has a compact, rounded to oval crown, much denser and neater than we usually see in red maples. It grows rapidly, 1½ to 2 feet a year, so in 10 years you should have a beautiful 20 feet tree. Over time it will grow taller, eventually reaching around 40 feet, with a broad spread of 35 feet. Be sure to allow enough room for its final size when planting. The leaves of this tree are smaller than normally found on red maple, and also more variable in size, which gives the tree a neatness and a finer visual texture than normal. This makes it a great choice for a smaller garden, or where the tree will be seen relatively close up. The leaves are between 2½ and 3½ inches long and wide, usually deeply divided into 5 or 7 lobes, with irregularly serrated edges. The leaves are rich green, smooth and slightly glossy, and the smooth undersides are a lighter, more yellow-green. In fall they turn vibrant and powerful shades of reds, lighter at first, and then darkening to a true magenta, and even deeper purple-reds. Catching the sun on a fall day, this tree is a real beauty. Its unique colors are very different from the typical lighter reds of this type of tree, and they make it a great choice for your garden if you love rich colors.

Plant the Burgundy Belle Red Maple in full sun for the best fall leaves. It grows well in all soils, from sands to heavy clays, including urban soils. Wet soils, and even soils that are regularly flooded are enjoyed by this tree, making it very useful for places where other trees won’t thrive. Whether that is in a low-lying part of your garden, or along a stream or body of water, it is no wonder that the settlers called this tree ‘swamp maple’. As we already mentioned, it thrives in more alkaline soils than most other red maples, so from acid to alkaline, the pH of your soil is not important. It has few if any pests or diseases, and this is a tough tree for tough places. With its dense crown it needs no trimming to look neat, but if for some reason you do need to trim, do it in summer or early fall, not in late winter and spring, as this tree will bleed sap at that time, which can seriously weaken it.

History and Origins of Burgundy Belle Red Maple

Red maple, Acer rubrum, is a tree that grows wild across a large part of the country, from Newfoundland up in Canada all the way south into northern Florida, and west into Texas. Melvin Schmidt, from Wathena, Kansas, was a keen gardener who had a row of red maples growing along his property line. He noticed that one tree, right at the end, was different from all the others, and carried smaller leaves that always had a much deeper fall color. The tree itself was more compact too. He took leaves of this tree to the staff at the Kansas State University arboretum, who compared it to many other varieties, and agreed that its gorgeous magenta reds were unlike anything else. He patented his tree in 1990, with the name ‘Magnificent Magenta’ and in 1993 trademarked it with the name Burgundy Belle®. The patent expired in 2020 and the trademark name for this tree is today held by Heritage Trees, Inc. a tree nursery based in Jacksonville, Illinois. Whichever name we use, this is a beautiful tree, and its combination of unique magenta coloring and dense crown make it a great shade tree choice, even if you don’t also need it for its tolerance of alkaline soil. Our shade trees always sell out fast, so order now – our stock is limited.

Growing Brandywine Red Maple Trees

The Brandywine Red Maple grows rapidly, with a perfect pyramidal to round-oval crown structure. Within 12 years it will be 25 feet tall, and already a beautiful specimen. In time it will reach 50 feet in height, with a broad, rounded crown 30 feet across. Trees grown in the open have broader crown than those grown in more crowded places with some shade. As always, when planting, look up and check for overhead wires, and plant at least 20 feet away from buildings, boundaries or other obstructions. The leaves of this tree are 4 ½ inches long, rounded, and divided into 3 or 5 broad lobes, with serrated edges. The upper surface of the leaf is rich green, and the lower side has an interesting blue-green or sea-green tone, caused by a bluish powder which dusts the lower surface, especially when the leaves are still young.

In fall the foliage of the Brandywine Red Maple turns deep, rich shades of scarlets and purplish-reds, with the whole tree coloring well, throughout the crown. This variety colors late in the season, so it extends the fall show by some extra days – and who wants it to ever stop? Planted with other varieties that turn earlier you can have fall color for weeks and weeks. Not only are the colors vibrant and powerful, but this tree is very reliable, coloring well every year, and always delivering on its promise. As this variety is a male tree, you might see small, bright-red flowers on the bare branches in very early spring, but you won’t have those annoying maple ‘keys’ fluttering around and making a mess in late summer and fall. This makes the tree ideal for a lawn or paved area, where we want to keep mess to a minimum.

The Brandywine Red Maple grows well in the cold winters of zone 4, and it grows just as well in the heat of zones 8 and 9, even in the humid southeastern states. It is much more tolerant of that heat than most other red maple varieties, so it’s a top choice for gardeners in the South. Full sun will develop the strongest fall colors, but it will also grow in partial shade. It grows well in most garden soils, and unlike many other shade trees it thrives in wet and even flooded soils, so it’s ideal for growing in low-lying areas, along streams, and beside water. It makes an excellent shade tree for a lawn, and it looks great in the corners of your property or planted along your boundary line to define it beautifully. It can also be planted in natural woodland – it is, after all, a native tree. It also grows well in urban conditions, and this is a very tough tree. It does, however, grow best on acidic or neutral soils, and it is not advised for very alkaline soils. Pests and diseases are rarely issues with this tough tree, and it grows 2 feet or more each year during its youth. It normally needs no pruning or special care, but if you do need to prune, do this in summer, not in late winter or spring, when the sap is flowing and will flow from fresh cuts, weakening the tree.

History and Origins of Brandywine Red Maple Trees

The red maple should not be confused with the red-leaf maple, which has dark red leaves in spring and summer. The Brandywine red maple has green leaves, and it is a form of the red maple, Acer rubrum, a wild tree native to North America. It grows all through the east, from Newfoundland in Canada all the way down through the eastern states into northern Florida and also eastward into Texas. The National Arboretum, in Washington, D.C., has carried out many breeding projects with different trees, to create new varieties exceptionally suited to American gardens. In 1982 they crossed two existing varieties of red maple, called ‘October Glory’ and ‘Autumn Flame’. Among the resulting seedlings they found an exceptional tree, with great color that began late in the season. They named it ‘Brandywine’, and it was released to the nursery industry for distribution, without any patent or trademark restrictions, in 1995. As we said at the beginning, it always pays to plant a named variety, and this one gives you exactly what it promises. Order your trees now, as they sell out very quickly.

Growing Autumn Radiance Red Maple Trees

The Autumn Radiance Red Maple is a large deciduous tree, with a rounded crown, that will in time reach 40 or even 50 feet in height, with a spread of 35 to 40 feet. It has an expected life of nearly a century, or even more, so when you plant a tree like this, it is for life. Young branches have gray-brown bark, but it doesn’t take long before the trunk adopts a beautiful silver-gray color which lasts for many years, until in old age the bark becomes more rugged and dark-gray, with long vertical splits and breaks. The main branches are strong and upright, creating a dense, rounded crown that looks good even on a relatively young tree. The tree is moderate to fast-growing, adding 2 or 3 feet a year in its early years, slowing to a foot or so as it matures.

The leaves of the Autumn Radiance Red Maple are up to 5 inches long, and divided into three lobes, or sometimes five. They are very similar looking to the leaves of the more well-known sugar maple. In spring they are bright green, quickly maturing to a rich, darker green that is cooling and attractive. This tree casts a deep shade, so it is lovely for a lawn, where your family can gather in its cooling shadow. Sometimes we don’t want to wait forever for fall colors to come, and this tree begins to color at least 2 weeks before most other red maples do. When the change happens, it happens all over the tree, right into the deepest leaves, and the stunning rich orange-reds to crimson-reds that develop are simply spectacular. In spring you may notice small, bright-red clusters on the branches before the leaves. These are the flowers, and they add an attractive note once you learn to see them. This tree does produce the typical maple ‘keys’, but they are small, just an inch long, and not woody, so they break down quickly, disappear into the lawn, and they don’t make the mess we often see with other kinds of maple.

The Autumn Radiance Red Maple is an easy tree to grow, although it does have a few simple requirements. Plant it in a sunny place for the best color and remember its final size when planting. Do not plant closer than 20 feet from a building or property line, and don’t plant underneath overhead wires. It will grow in most soils, and it even grows well in wet soils, including areas that are sometimes flooded. Settlers used to call it ‘swamp maple’ for its ability to grow in wet areas. It will also grow in drained soil, and once established it is moderately drought tolerant, but don’t plant it in areas that are always dry and hot, or its growth may suffer. The only serious limitation on this tree is its need for acid or neutral soils. Alkaline soils and limestone don’t suit it, and it may develop leaves that are yellow with green veins when the soil is too alkaline. This often doesn’t happen unless the soil is very alkaline, so in practice, this tree will grow on most soils – if there are healthy maples of any kind in your area, it will almost certainly be fine. It normally has no serious pests or diseases, and it’s a tough, adaptable tree that even grows in urban situations and poor soil. If you should need to prune or trim your tree – which is not normally needed – then do this in summer, not at the ‘usual’ pruning season in late winter or early spring. This tree can bleed large amounts of sap if cut at that time.

History and Origins of Autumn Radiance Red Maple Trees

The red maple, Acer rubrum, is native to North America, from Newfoundland to northern Florida and eastward into Texas. It grows in many different places, which is a tribute to its adaptability. The variety called ‘Autumn Radiance’ was developed in the 1970s, perhaps as a selection from a group of seedlings, by Schichtel’s Nursery, Springville, New York, and it was originally called ‘Van’s #1’. In the early 1980s Bailey Nurseries, a large wholesale tree grower based in St. Paul, Minnesota, acquired it, and gave it the current name. This is a wonderful shade tree, and always in high demand. We have a limited supply which will not be available for long, so order now and plant a tree – it’s a great feeling. 

Growing the Celebration® Maple Tree

Size and Appearance

The Celebration® Maple is a truly fast-growing tree. Growth of 5 feet per year is normal for at least the first 5 years, and that could be exceeded with good care. After that, it slows down to 1 to 2 feet a year, so that within a very short time the tree will be 25 feet tall, and within 20 years it will be 40 feet tall. A mature tree will reach about 55 feet in height, with a crown around 35 feet across – a spectacular specimen. This tree has a strong central leader, which is kept for many years, so it has a good vertical trunk running through it, with side branches coming off at around 45o, creating a strong structure not prone to breakage. While silver maple is known for splitting and breaking, the Celebration Maple is free of that problem, even though it grows as fast as a silver maple does.

The leaves are deeply lobed, normally into five lobes, but some leaves have only three. They resemble a silver maple much more than a red maple, and they are 3 to 6 inches wide and between 3½ and 4½ inches long. New leaves are a soft salmon-pink in spring, but they quickly turn a rich green for the summer. By mid-September the edges of the leaves will already be coloring, turning bright red, and by October the leaves will be in their full fall glory, glowing deep golden yellow, flushed with brilliant red. Although the tiny red flowers typical of maples may be seen in early spring, before the leaves, this tree produces no maple keys, so it does not drop a lot of mess on your lawn or patio or create unwanted seedlings in your beds – a great boon to easy gardening.

Using the Celebration® Maple in Your Garden

The Celebration® Maple is a superb specimen for a lawn, where it will cast a broad shadow, shading you and your family during hot summer days. Plant a row along a driveway, or to mark the boundary of your property. Create a natural woodland in a large garden within a few years with this tree and a selection of other deciduous trees. Add it to existing wooded areas, to enrich and enhance the fall display, and it can even be trimmed into a dense screen or tall hedge. Wherever you grow it, you will love this vigorous and easy tree, with its great beauty and fabulous fall colors. Always remember to allow enough room for the final size of a large tree. Plant at least 20 feet away from buildings, and 15 feet from your property boundary. Never plant this tree beneath power lines, or on top of sewer pipes and drains. Your trees will be with you for a long time, so take the time to consider where it should be, and where it can mature undisturbed into a perfect specimen. For screening, plant 8 to10 feet apart, and for avenues plant 15 to 30 feet apart.

Hardiness

The Celebration® Maple is hardy from zone 3 to zone 8, covering all but the very coldest and hottest parts of the country, and this adaptable tree can be grown almost anywhere.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

While very cold resistant, the Celebration® Maple does well in heat and tolerates periods of drought well, as long as it has had a couple of years to become established. Plant in full sun, or where it will quickly reach the sun as it grows. It thrives in most soils, even wet ones, making it very useful for low-lying damp areas, and along the edges of streams and lakes. Like other maples, it does not grow so well on alkaline soils, which may make the leaves turn yellow, with green veins, in the summer, and reduce the growth rate. We recommend the Princeton Elm Tree for alkaline soils, conditions where that grand tree will thrive.

Maintenance and Pruning

With its vigorous growth the Celebration® Maple has few pests or diseases, and it is easy to grow almost anywhere, including tough urban locations. Some formative pruning when young, removing lower branches as needed and opening up the main limbs, taking away weak and crossing branches, is valuable to give a strong, well-structured mature tree. Prune in summer or late winter, not spring when the sap is running.

History and Origin of the Celebration® Maple

The Celebration® Maple is a chance hybrid between the red maple (Acer rubrum), and the silver maple (Acer saccharinum). Both trees are native American maples, and their distinctive features are combined beautifully in their vigorous child. The original tree was found in 1967, by James Zampini, who spotted an unusual seedling among a batch of seedling silver maples, at Indian Point Farm, Perry, Ohio. Its hybrid nature was confirmed by electron microscope examination of the leaves, which show characteristics of both parent trees. The tree was named ‘Celzam’, and released by New Plants Inc., the R&D branch of the nursery. It was patented in 1990 (PP# 7,279, which expired in 2010), and released with the registered trademark Celebration®.

Buying the Celebration® Maple at the Tree Center

Our trees are grown by rooting stem pieces, rather than by the grafting method, and this produces vigorous, fast-growing plants with strong roots and scar-free trunks. There is always a high demand for quality shade trees, and we know our stock will soon be gone, so order now, and plant a tree for the future – with such a fast grower it will be the very near future.

Ordinary maple trees have green leaves all spring and summer, but the Summer Red Maple tree is very different. The new leaves in spring are burgundy-red, turning the whole tree glowing red when that first flush of new growth appears. What a way to start spring in your garden with a bang. As the new growth lengthens and the leaves mature, they turn a rich dark green, but as new leaves continue to appear, they are still that lustrous deep-red, so for most of the summer every branch is red on the end, creating a fascinating dual pattern that brings color and life into your garden.

In fall the leaves turn glowing yellow, bringing you a last flourish of color. The leaves are 2 -3 inches long and wide, and they are easily distinguished from other maples, as they only have three lobes, with sometimes two much smaller ones lower down the leaf. This is quite different from the well-known sugar maple, which has five distinct lobes.

Growing Summer Red Maple Trees

The Summer Red Maple is fast growing, adding 1 or 2 feet a year to its height when young, and slowing down only when it has reached a substantial size. It won’t be so long before it reaches its potential height of 35 to 40 feet, with a spread of 20 to 25 feet, so allow room for that when choosing a planting spot. Eventually it may even grow taller. Plant at least 10 to 15 feet away from buildings, property boundaries and existing large trees. Planted in a lawn it will make a great shade tree for family gatherings or just for lounging in the shade, as well as shading your home too.

Uses on Your Property

Plant the Summer Red Maple as a lawn specimen, or along a driveway. A row, spaced 15 feet apart, makes a great screen or boundary marker, that will always be colorful and interesting. It can be hard to find attractive trees to grow in wet areas, but this maple loves them, so if you have damp places in your garden, areas along a river, stream or beside a lake, this must be the tree at the top of your list. But don’t worry, if you just have an ordinary garden, it will thrive there too, and you can enjoy the ever-changing picture of burgundy and green leaves all summer long. For red maples that are very suitable for drier gardens, take a look at the Red Sunset Red Maple tree, or the hybrid Autumn Blaze Maple tree, which are better-adapted to drier soils.

Planting and Initial Care

The Summer Red Maple tree grows from zone 3 right into zone 9, and there is almost nowhere in the country that this tree will not thrive, except for very dry states. It grows best in moist, richer soils that are acid or neutral. This tough and vigorous tree is very adaptable, and it grows well in most ordinary garden conditions. Water it regularly and deeply for the first few seasons, but once established it will tolerate ordinary summer dryness. If you have very alkaline soil, a tree like a Sycamore could be a better choice. It is rarely affected by pests or diseases, and it needs no special pruning – it will develop a lovely upright, spreading crown all by itself. Remove lower branches at the trunk if you need room to pass underneath, and then you will also be able to admire the beautiful gray bark of this tree.

History and Origins of the Summer Red Maple

The Summer Red Maple is a special form of the red maple (Acer rubrum), an American native tree that grows all the way from Canada to northern Florida, and west into Texas and Minnesota. In natural areas they are usually found growing in damp places and along streams, but they are also found growing on drier sites. Robert H. Head and his family run Head Ornamentals Inc., a long-standing nursery in Seneca, South Carolina. They have bred many new ornamental plants, and the Summer Red Maple was found by them, perhaps as an unusual seedling, around 1990. They called it ‘HOSR’ (an abbreviation for Head Ornamentals Summer Red) and trademarked it with the name Summer Red in 2003.

Our plants are produced by carefully selecting healthy buds from trees of this exact variety, and skillfully attaching them to roots of seedling red maple trees. These parts grow together to form a single plant, that vigorously grows into the healthy shade tree you will receive. Everyone likes exciting, fast-growing trees with special features, like the Summer Red Maple, so our trees will soon be sold out. Order now and enjoy a shady and colorful future.