Genus Acer (Maple)

Acer Acer palmatum var. dissectum Photo/Illustration: Steve Aitken
AY-sir Common Name: Maple
Native to Europe, North Africa, Asia, and North and Central America, this large genus of canopy and understory trees is most prized for exquisite foliage color and shape. Many varieties are especially noted for their beautiful fall foliage. Some varieties have showy bark.
Noteworthy characteristics: Grown mostly grown for their foliage, these woody plants boast showy leaves in a wide range of colors from shades of green to the reddish-plum hues. Outstanding fall color in selected species and cultivars. Some species are grown for ornamental bark, others for their high architectural value.
Care: Grow in fertile, moist, but well-drained soil in sun or part shade.
Propagation: Sow seeds in containers or where they are to grow in the garden. Graft in late winter; bud in late summer.
Problems: Verticillium wilt. Fungal leaf spots and root rots are common. Aphids, scale, and caterpillars. Mites can cause leaf spot gall in several species.

Species, varieties and cultivars for genus Acer

Acer griseum Acer griseum
(Paperbark maple)
(1 user review)
Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This slow-growing understory tree has highly ornamental, peeling orange-cinnamon bark. Its dark green, three-lobed leaves turn a brilliant orange-red in autumn.

Acer japonicum 'Aconitifolium' Acer japonicum 'Aconitifolium'
(Full-moon maple, Fernleaf full-moon maple)
(1 user review)
Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Full-moon maple has deeply lobed leaves, crimson autumn color, and plenty of small, reddish flowers in spring. It can be grown as a small tree or multi-stemmed shrub. Its growth habit is mounded, bushy, and spreading. The cultivar name 'Aconitifolium' refers to the fact that its ferny foliage resembles that of monkshood (Aconitum). This beautiful tree makes a great specimen plant and is very hardy.

Acer palmatum var. dissectum Acer palmatum var. dissectum
(Japanese maple, Threadleaf Japanese maple)
(1 user review)
Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This round, mound-forming, deciduous Japanese maple has many qualities that make it an excellent garden plant, including a sculptural form, deeply cut foliage, arching shoots, and golden autumn color. The reddish purple flowers are tiny but attractive up close. They are followed by winged fruit. Threadleaf Japanese maple makes a beautiful specimen in small gardens and can be grown in large containers or used for bonsai.

Acer platanoides and cvs. Acer platanoides and cvs.
(Norway maple)
(1 user review)
Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This vigorous maple has large, broadly ovate, dark green leaves that turn yellow or red in autumn. It is invasive in some areas.

Acer rubrum Acer rubrum
(Red maple, Scarlet maple, Swamp maple)
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This tree has lobed leaves that are green on top and gray-white beneath. It turns bright red in autumn. Its form can be round to open-headed.

Acer rubrum ‘Red Sunset’ Acer rubrum ‘Red Sunset’
(Red maple, Scarlet maple)
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This is a rounded to open-crown deciduous tree up to 70 feet tall and 30 feet wide with early, brilliant red fall coloring.

Acer saccharum 'Caddo' Acer saccharum 'Caddo'
('Caddo' Florida maple, 'Caddo' southern sugar maple)
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

The 'Caddo' maple typically reaches a mature height of 30 feet and spread of 25 feet, but may be taller. Its star-shaped leaves turn under slightly at the edges, and turn muted yellow to orange in the fall that can be spectacular. Its crown is oval-shaped, with an upright/erect growth habit. This moderately drought-tolerant maple is a great street or shade tree.

'Caddo' maples, native to southwestern Oklahoma, are well-adapted to heat and drought, and resistant to leaf tatter and scortch common among many maples. The leaves are dark green, leathery, and deeply lobed.

Acer shirasawanum 'Aureum' Acer shirasawanum 'Aureum'
(Golden Full Moon Maple)
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

The striking lime-to-chartreuse-tinged golden leaves of this small, rounded tree make it the star of any shade garden. In fall, its golden leaves turn as orange and red as those of our native sugar maple. Like many small maples from Japan, this one needs shade and protection from sun and drying winds or its foliage will curl up and turn brown on the edges.

Acer triflorum Acer triflorum
(Three-flower maple)
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This broadly columnar to spreading tree has peeling brown bark, three-palmate mid-green leaves, and brilliant orange-red fall foliage. It grows up to 30 feet tall and 25 feet wide.

no image available Acer truncatum
(Shantung maple, Purpleblow maple)
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Compact and rounded, the Shantung maple reaches a mature height and spread of 25 feet by 30 feet. The leaves grow to 5 inches long and have five to seven lobes, resembling the leaves of the Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua). Leaves emerge purple in spring and become glossy and medium green during the growing season. In autumn, the starry leaves blaze into shades of yellow and orange, accented by reds and purples. Samara (fruit) are red.