Maple Tree: 13 Species and Plant Growth

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maple tree

Maple tree comes in all shapes and sizes, however, they tend to have one thing in common: outstanding fall color.

Moreover, maple trees tend to be elegant, bright red focal points in a shady garden.

Though Japanese species tend to take a lot of limelight, the hardworking red, silver, sugar, big leaf, and paperbark maples humbly offer vibrant foliage.

With their sweet sap, there are a lot of species you can choose to grow in a temperate climate.

In addition to planting nursery-grown trees, there are a number of ways to go about growing maple trees.

There is a lot of diversity in the Acer genus.

This means that no matter your decorative garden needs, there is probably a tree in the maple world that will fit the bill.

Keep on reading.

Maple Tree

A lot of people decide to get a maple tree in their garden as they work well with shade, street, and specimen trees.

Maples are popular for their autumn colors, many species put on a display of oranges, browns, yellows, and reds every year.

Moreover, some trees can make leaves that support a number of these colors at once.

Another desirable trait is the ability of many maples to tolerate drought.

Maple trees include a sizeable number of species in the Acer genus within the plant family Aceraceae.

Furthermore, a lot of maple tree species are deciduous woody plants.

maple tree 2

These range from multistemmed shrubs to large upright trees with massive trunks.

Warning: A number of maples are shallow-rooted trees that can push up sidewalks and other paved surfaces if you plant them too close.

Moreover, a number of varieties also develop thick exposed roots that make it hard to mow lawns.

It is better to plant these types in a woodland setting or where you can cover the ground around them with mulch or a living ground cover other than grass.

Most maples are also moisture seekers, and their roots may infiltrate water pipes or sewer lines if you plant them above such things.

Therefore, always make sure to check the behavior of the maple species you are considering before planting them.

How to Grow Maple Tree?

Almost all maple trees tend to need moist, well-draining, loose, and loamy soil.

They will not thrive well in sandy or rocky soil

All types of this species tend to prefer a pH between 5.0 to 7.0.

Reds can handle, however, clay soil.

Some species like paperbarks and vines do well in wet soil and you can use them in runoff or rain collection gardens.

However, it is important to note that maples are not plants for gardens that experience a lot of droughts.

Of course, there are a few outliers.

Bigtooth maples grow in areas where drought tends to be regular and you can find them growing wild in many parts of the dry western U.S.

Though certain types may be able to tolerate adverse conditions, they will need to get regular moisture and not be allowed to dry out much more than a few inches below the surface of the soil.

Moreover, they will send out roots to search for moisture.

This means they will take care of themselves once they mature.

However, it also means that if they are not receiving enough water, they will go find it and this might tap into your sewerage or septic system.

The soil around young plants should be kept moist for the first year or two after planting these plants.

Maple tree tends to do well in full sun, however, a few types like vine maple and Japanese type will need partial sun or shade.

When you start them young, they will do well in adjusting to whatever conditions you offer.

Just make sure that you ensure the ideal conditions to keep them thriving.

As these are long-lived trees, and many types tend to grow very large, make sure to choose a spot that will not become too small quickly for them.

Your little sapling may look great growing a few feet from the house, however, give it 20 years, and you will see how big it grows.

You will not need to fertilize the plant in the first three years of the plantation.

But when the tree is young, give it some extra feeding in the form of granular, all-purpose fertilizer.

Apply the fertilizer in spring.

Let’s discuss the species of maple tree you can have as follows:

Amus Maple, Acer ginnala

This one is one of the smaller trees of the Acer genus, that grows either as a spreading multi-step shrub or a small tree with a dense, rounded crown.

Acer ginnala, in some cases, is classified as the subspecies of Tatarian maple, which carries the label Acer tataricum subsp. ginnala.

It is also sometimes called by its popular name Siberian maple.

species 1

The color of its leaf is red, with yellow in some cases, also appearing, The ‘Embers’ and ‘Flame’ varieties have vibrant colors in both leaves and fruit.

Moreover, once they establish themselves, the AMur maple will tend to have some drought resistance.

  • Native Area: Korea, Japan, Mongolia, Siberia
  • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
  • Height: 30 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Big Leaf Maple, Acer macrophyllum

As the name suggests, the leaves of this one are quite large on this tree.

Moreover, it has the biggest leaves of any maple, the classic five-fold, palm-shaped leaves that can be over 12 inches wide.

Other common names of this variety include broadleaf maple and Oregon maple.

Big leaf maple is a massive, thick-bodied tree with furrowed gray or reddish-brown bark.

While its spring foliage is burgundy, that turns green in summer, then yellow or yellow-orange in fall.

This large tree is an excellent choice as a shade tree for large landscapes and parks.

  • Native Area: Western North America, from Alaska down to southern California.
  • USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 7
  • Height: 20 to 100 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to full shade

Hedge Maple, Acer campestre

This type of maple is a great choice for the urban garden as it will do well in many difficult environments, drought, acidic, alkaline, or salty soils, shady locations, and climates where there is ozone deficiency.

Moreover, you can also use it as a street tree if the power lines are high enough.

This one is also known as Field Maple or common maple.

Hedge maple is a small to medium-sized tree that can serve as a shade tree in small landscapes.

And you can prune them to serve as a hedge plant in a larger landscape.

Medium green foliage gives way to yellow colors in the fall.

  • Native Area: Europe and southwestern Asia
  • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8
  • Height: 25 to 35 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade

Hornbeam Maple, Acer carpinifolium

A number of plant species within a genus tend to have a similar appearance, however, there can be surprises as is the case with hornbeam maples.

Its leaves are not like what you expect from a maple.

Instead, as the scientific and common name suggests, the foliage more closely resembles that of the hornbeam tree, Carpinus spp.

Rather than the palate lobes that are present on the classic maple, this species has loveless elongated leaves with pointed tips and corrugated texture.

maple tree 1

Moreover, the green leaves tend to turn yellow or brownish-gold in the fall.

This can be difficult to plant to find for sale, but it can make a good small tree or a large shrub in the landscape.

  • Native Area: Japan
  • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 7
  • Height: 15 to 30 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade

Japanese Maple Acer palmatum

This one is a staple in a number of Japanese gardens, as well as in the world of Bonsai.

The leaves are either green or red and come in a wide variety of shapes and textures, there are thousands of cultivators.

Moreover, the leaves often have more lobes than other maples and a finer texture.

Fall colors vary considerably depending on the cultivator, yellow, red-purples, and bronze hues are all variables of this plant.

Japanese maple can be the focal point in many different types of garden designs.

Dwarf varieties are often used as ornamental shrubs while larger ones are planted as small specimen trees.

It is important to note that this plant is sensitive to both heat and cold.

Even in zone 5, a severe cold spell in winter can cause severe dieback and in the southern part of the range, it will benefit from some shade to prevent leaf scorch.

  • Native Area: China, Korea, Japan
  • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
  • Height: Varies; usually 15 to 25 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade, may survive full shade

Norway Maple, Acer platanoides

Also known as Norway ample or Europen maple, this popular species was brought to North America from Europe in the 18th century.

Since then it has become one of the most prevalent trees.

Moreover, this medium-sized shade tree tends to have an attractive dense crown that is symmetrically round, however, is a shallow-rooted tree.

In the appropriate settings, this species can also become invasive, so before planting, make sure to check it is not a problem in your region.

Crimson King is one of the most popular varieties and it features attractive maroon leaves throughout the growing season.

However, the fall color is unremarkable, turning a greyish color.

Other varieties often feature yellow hues in the fall.

  • Native Area: Europe and western Asia
  • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7
  • Height: usually 40 to 50 feet; sometimes as much as 90 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade

Paperbark Maple, Acer griseum

It is important to note that this one is often chosen for a landscape due to its cinnamon or reddish-brown colored bark that peels away from the truck, even when the tree is young.

This is a small rounded tree with narrow upright branches.

Moreover, the three-lobed leaves tend to be medium green on the top surfaces, with bottom surfaces that are grey-green.

The foliage tends to turn in dramatic shades of orange or red in the fall.

The paperback maple is an excellent specimen for small landscapes, especially when you plant them near a deck or patio where you can appreciate them.

Furthermore, the interesting bark provides plenty of winter interest.

  • Native Area: Central China
  • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
  • Height: 15 to 30 feet tall and wide
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade

Red Maple, Acer rubrum

The red maple tends to live up to its name at many points throughout the year.

The red spring buds turn into red seed structures, i.e. samaras that hang from reddish twigs.

Reds return to the tree with the fall color change.

Moreover, this medium-sized maple is a common landscape tree in North America, a classic shade tree with a round or oval-shaped crown.

Three-lobed or sometimes five-lobed, green leaves often turn reddish in fall, though the particular hues can be unpredictable.

species

Fall colors also vary according to the varieties, ranging from greenish yellow to red to burgundy.

This tree carries many different common names regionally, like scarlet maple, soft maple, Drummond red maple, Carolina red maple, swamp maple, trident red maple, and water maple.

  • Native Area: Eastern U.S. and Canada
  • USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 9
  • Height: 30 to 100 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Silver Maple, Acer saccharinum

The undersides of this type are silver and flash attractively in the wind.

The silver maple is one the trees you will most likely see throughout the U.S. as it neutralizes very easily and grows quickly.

If you do not tend to care for your plants that much, seedlings of this tree can quickly spount up and overtake a landscape.

As with a number of widespread species, this tree carries a number of regional common likes like soft maple, creek maple, river maple, white maple, and water maple.

In fall, this tree turns to attractive shades of yellow, orange, or red.

Moreover, this is another shallow-rooted tree that you will need to keep away from areas with pipes or pavings.

  • Native Area: Eastern U.S. and Canada
  • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9
  • Height: 50 to 100 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun

Sugar Maple, Acer saccharum

If you want to make maple syrup, then this is the species to look out for, as the sap contains a larger percentage of plant sugars than any other maple species.

While it can make a good large shade tree in the right situation, this is not a tree that is very tolerant of urban conditions.

It will not respond well to compacted soil, road salts, or pollution.

However, it can tolerate shade better than most large deciduous trees.

The sugar maple is a large tree than has a densely rounded crown.

Its leaves are medium-green in color with three or five lobes, the foliage turns yellow-orange in fall,

This species may also be known as rock maple or hard maple, regionally.

  • Native Area: Northeastern and southern U.S., northeastern Canada
  • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
  • Height: 50 to 80 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to full shade

Sycamore Maple, Acer pseudoplatanus

This species and its common name suggest that the leaves are just like those of the sycamore, Platanus.

This tree tends to thrive well in urban conditions, like salt and pollution.

In some areas, this tree is also popular as the planetree maple.

The sycamore maple is one of the more massive maples that features a dense rounded crown.

Moreover, the dark green leaves of this tree are quite large, with five lobes, however, there is no fall color to speak of.

The foliage remains green or may turn a yellowish brown in the fall.

It is not a popular landscape tree as it lacks fall color, however, the sycamore maple can make a good shade tree and has good tolerance for salty conditions.

  • Native Area: Europe and western Asia
  • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 7
  • Height: 40 to 60 feet; sometimes as much as 100 feet
  • Exposure: Full sun to light shade

Tatarian Maple, Acer tataricum

It is important to note that this one is closely related to the Amur maple.

You can often grow it as a small upright tree.

However, you can also grow it as a shrub if you leave it unpruned.

Its leaves often have three lobes when the tree is young, but the leaves on mature leaves are not lobed.

Greenihs-white flowers in the spring give way to red samaras and the fall foliage is yellow or red.

  • Native Area: Central/southeastern Europe and Asia
  • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
  • Height: 15 to 20 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade

Vine Leaf Maple, Acer cissifolium

This one features leaves with three parts, a structure known as trifoliate.

The leaves are less like a classic maple and resemble the leaves of ivies or ash trees.

In shape and size, this small tree looks like the Japanese maple and you can use it in a similar way as a specimen tree.

Fall foliage tends to be variable, ranging from ordinary green to shades of yellow and red.

  • Native Area: Japan
  • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8
  • Height: 20 to 30 feet
  • Sun Exposure: Semi-shade

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