Red Maple 'Autumn Flame' is a medium-sized deciduous tree native to Eastern North America, from Quebec to Minnesota south to Florida and eastern Texas. This cultivar grows 40 to 50 feet tall with a rounded to oval crown, thriving in zones 3 to 9 and reaching its full stature faster than Norway and sugar maples but slower than silver maple. It tolerates wet bottomland and flood plains in northern states, yet adapts equally well to drier, rocky upland soils like those in Missouri. Very cold hardy and low maintenance, it handles moderate water, accepts full sun to partial shade, and brings showy flowers in March to April followed by attractive fruit.
Partial Sun
Moderate
3-9
600in H x 480in W
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Moderate
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Red maple emerges from Eastern North America's wetlands and uplands with remarkable adaptive range, growing faster than its maple cousins yet still reaching substantial height and width. Deer resistance, drought tolerance, and the ability to thrive in wet soil or rocky terrain make it a survivor across diverse conditions. Its late-winter to early-spring blooms and subsequent fruit display draw birds to the garden, while its tolerance for black walnut and urban environments positions it as a practical choice for challenging sites.
Red Maple 'Autumn Flame' serves well as a shade tree, street tree, and rain garden specimen, making it valuable for urban and suburban landscapes. Its ability to thrive in wet soil and handle occasional flooding positions it as an excellent choice for managing stormwater and preventing erosion in rain gardens. The tree's structure and moderate growth rate suit it to homeowner landscapes where a substantial canopy is desired without overwhelming the space.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Prune red maple when young to establish a strong central leader and well-spaced primary branches, removing crossing or inward-growing limbs. Once mature, prune selectively to maintain shape and remove dead, diseased, or storm-damaged wood. Avoid heavy pruning of mature trees; the species responds well to light corrective pruning but does not tolerate severe cutting.
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“Red maple, Acer rubrum, represents a native North American species with a deep ecological history spanning from Quebec through Minnesota down to Florida and eastern Texas. The 'Autumn Flame' cultivar carries forward the species' reputation as a vigorous, adaptable tree; the cultivar itself is part of a longer tradition of selecting and naming superior forms of red maple for ornamental use in gardens and streetscapes. Native peoples and early settlers encountered these trees in their natural habitats, where they dominated wet bottomlands and flood plains in the north and rocky uplands in regions like Missouri.”