Autumn Blaze Maple

Introduction

Autumn Blaze is a fast-growing tree with spectacular fall color. It is a hybrid of a red and silver maple that combines the best features of both: it has vigor and adaptability of the silver maple along with the beauty and strength of the re maple.

Use and Management

Autumn Blaze is very adaptable to a wide range of climate and soil conditions. It tolerates clay soil, and will withstand wet soil conditions and drought.

Autumn Blaze grows quickly at a rate of 3 feet per year. Eventually it will grow to 50 feet tall and 40 feet wide, under ideal conditions. At maturity it will have an oval to round crown with ascending branches and a well-defined central leader. This tree is not as susceptible to storm damage as silver maple because it has superior crotch angles and a well-balanced branching habit (inherited from the re maple) but still has the wood characteristic of the silver maple. It grows in a very uniform shape, so it requires little pruning.

Summer foliage is medium green. In the fall it develops brilliant, long-lasting orange-red color.

With its distinct upright oval form, is excellent as a specimen planting, but can also be used in groups. Because of its size it is most appropriate for larger yards, commercial landscapes and parks.

Autumn Blaze has fewer problems with leafhoppers and verticullum. It is a seedless cultivar; therefore there is no need to weed out seedlings.

Planting

• Typically planted in 10, 15, 30, 45 or 65 gal containers.
• B&B trees are specified in height (6’ – 8’ ht, etc) or caliper (3” cal., etc)
• Container trees can be double the price of B&B trees
• Plant container trees in late summer, if price allows
• Plant B&B trees if they were dug and cured in the winter months