Maple

Maples are the premier trees for providing shade and dramatic fall color. And happily, there's a maple for just about every garden -- from the smaller varieties that stay under 20 feet tall to big species that can reach 100 feet or more. And if you think maples are only showy for their leaves, think again. Some types (such as paperbark and coralbark maples) display intriguing branch color and texture. Others have brightly colored flower clusters.

Light:

Sun, Part Sun

Zones:

3-9

Plant Type:

Tree

Plant Height:

To 100 feet tall

Plant Width:

To 50 feet wide

Landscape Uses:

Containers, Beds & Borders, Slopes

Special Features:

Attractive Foliage, Fall Color, Winter Interest, Attracts Birds

Top Varieties

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Amur maple

(Acer tataricum ginnala) has arching branches of small leaves that turn deep red in fall. This small maple is quite popular. It grows 30 feet tall and 25 feet wide. Zones 3-7
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Beni Kawa Japanese maple

(Acer palmatum 'Beni Kawa') features small green leaves that turn golden-yellow in fall. Its stems bear reddish tones in winter. It grows 15 feet tall and 12 feet wide. Zones 6-9
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Beni Schichihenge Japanese maple

(Acer palmatum 'Beni Schichihenge') bears green leaves edged in pink and cream. They turn shades of yellow in fall. It grows 8 feet tall and wide. Zones 6-9
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Crimson Queen Japanese maple

(Acer palmatum 'Crimson Queen') offers arching branches and finely textured reddish purple foliage. It grows only 12 feet tall and wide. Zones 6-8
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Dissectum Atropurpureum Japanese maple

(Acer palmatum 'Dissectum Atropurpureum') bears broad, arching branches with finely textured reddish purple leaves. It grows 8 feet tall and 10 feet wide. Zones 6-8
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Full-moon maple

(Acer japonicum 'Aconitifolium') bears deeply lobed, almost feathery leaves that turn yellow, red, and orange in fall. It grows 10 feet tall and wide. Zones 5-8
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Golden full-moon maple

(Acer shirasawanum 'Aureum') produces large, pleated leaves that are tinted gold and perfect for adding light to a shady spot. It grows 20 feet tall and wide. Zones 5-7
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Higasayama Japanese maple

(Acer palmatum 'Higasayama') bears green leaves marked in pink and white. They turn shades of gold in fall. The tree grows 15 feet tall and wide. Zones 6-8
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Paperbark maple

(Acer griseum) bears peeling, orange-brown bark reminiscent of river birch on a small tree that features red-orange fall leaf color. It grows 30 feet tall and wide. Zones 4-8
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Sugar maple

(Acer saccharum) is among the easiest to grow of all maples. Also called hard maple, it grows 70 feet tall and is hardy in Zones 4-8. It's native to areas of North America.
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Variegated hornbeam maple

(Acer crataegifolium 'Veitchii') features white-streaked bark and foliage liberally streaked with white. It grows 20 feet tall and wide. Zones 6-8
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Villa Taranto Japanese maple

(Acer palmatum 'Villa Taranto') bears spidery leaves that start pink and fade to bright green in summer, then transform to yellow in fall. It grows 10 feet tall and wide. Zones 6-8
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