Autumn Blaze Maple (Landscape Tree Series)

Autumn Blaze Maples in my opinion are some of the most striking landscape trees given their brilliant bright red fall color and showy bark that sports a light grey color split by fine dark vertical ridges. They make a beautiful sight in any season. The Autumn Blaze Maple has a broad oval form with upright ascending branches, it is adaptable to many soil profiles, more tolerant of drought than many Maples and grows vigorously. They can reach up to 80 feet tall with a spread of 45 feet so are best suited for open sites with room to grow. They have very few pest issues but can suffer from a few mild fungal issues such as Anthracnose and Tar Spots which do not pose a lethal risk to the tree (Anthracnose can kill other species of trees but is relatively mild in Maples). The two main things to watch out for are Verticillium Wilt and nutrient deficiency. These trees are truly majestic and a wonderful addition to many landscapes.

“Tree Characteristics”

Leaves: Deciduous; opposite; palmately lobed, 2-6 inches wide with 3-5 large-toothed lobes, amber or red as leaves unfold in the spring and scarlet in the fall.

Bark: Light grey, smooth with vertical dark ridges.

Flowers: Red and yellow clusters appearing before leaf emergence.

Fruit/Seed: Paired reddish wings in clusters with a seed at the base.

Growth Habit: Uniform oval crown, a short trunk with upward-arching branches.

Habitat & Hardiness Zone: Prefers moist - wet acidic soils and in Hardiness Zones 3-8