Plant care & info

Family: Aceraceae

Genus: Acer – The Latin word for Maple is Acer. Acer also means ‘sharp’.

Common Name: Maple

Asia, Europe, North Africa, and North America. Several species are native to the Pacific Northwest.

There are 150 species of mostly deciduous trees. Small flowers occur in spring and usually go unnoticed, but are delicate and pretty if you take time to observe them. Maples have winged fruit called samaras, or more commonly, ‘whirly birds’ or ‘helicopters’.

Leaves are opposite, simple, and palmately lobed with veins—althouhg a few are compound. Leaf color varies greatly among species and cultivated varieties. Summer colors can be green, red, yellow, white, pink, purple, and various combinations of all of the above.

Many maples have a genetic ability to change color in autumn, but varying cultural conditions may cause differing leaf color from year to year. If autumn weather is warm or wet, color may be less intense. Trees planted in shade may show little or different color change compared to those planted in sun.

Winter is time to shine for maples with glowing coral, peeling cinnamon, or snake-striped barks.

Varies per species and variety, so be sure to check individual plants closely. Most plant labels will give a 10-15 year size estimate based on the tree’s growth rate.

If growing conditions are good, the plant may grow faster and larger, and if you have 50 years to wait, the tree will definitely grow larger than the label suggests.

Light requirements vary per variety. Generally, large-growing maples like full sun. Smaller-growing species prefer some shade because they are second-story trees in their native forests.

Moist, well-drained soil is ideal for all maples, but some species adapt to varying pH levels, compacted soil, and crowding better than others.

Maples do well in the northwest, but insects and diseases—aphids, borers, canker, anthracnose, mildew, spider mites and verticillium wilt—can cause issues.

If you have concerns about your maple tree, please bring a sample of the affected leaves or bark to our information desk or call either location for help.

If you’ve yet to plant a maple, a world of possibilities await! They come in all shapes and sizes, so whether you’re limited to container plantings or you have acres on the outskirts of town, there’s a maple waiting for you.

EXPLORE MORE MAPLES

Vine Maple

Acer circinatum: Vine Maple

Native to Northwest forests, vine maple grows naturally as an under story tree, thriving in moist soil and shade. If planted in full sun, leaves can burn or color early. Fall color will be gold when planted in shade, or red, orange, and yellow when planted in sun Grows 10-15’ tall. Zone 5.

Amur Maple

Acer ginnala: Amur Maple

Native to China, Manchuria, and Japan. This multi-stemmed, cold tolerant maple is adaptable to varying soils, but will perform best in a well-drained location. Fall color ranges from red to orange. Sun to part shade. Grows 10-20’. Zone 2.

Acer Japonicum

Acer japonicum, A. palmatum & A. shirasawanum: Japanese Maple

Native to Japan, China, and Korea—but long cultivated in Japan. This is a huge group of maples. Leaves can be green, red, purple, white, pink and gold—and that’s just during summer! Leaf-shape varies greatly as well, ranging from big leaves with fat lobes to delicate, lace-leaf forms—or even linear leaves that look like needles.

Several sizes and shapes exist as well. Upright varieties can grow as tall as 25 feet, with dwarf varieties maturing around 2’ tall—with many cultivars in between. Weeping maples are common sites around Portland, dotting front yards with a splash of red. Allowed to grow for years, weeping maples can achieve formidable size—up to 12’x12’ in 40-50 years. Their relatively slow growth makes them easy to keep smaller with minimal pruning.

Leaves burn in hot summer sun, so they are best planted in areas of morning sun and afternoon shade. Fall colors can be red, orange, or yellow depending on species and variety. Zone 5.

Acer Palmatum

Acer Palmatum: Japanese Maple

A beloved landscape tree prized for its graceful form, delicate looking foliage, and stunning seasonal color. Furthermore, when pruned properly, their branching structure quickly becomes a focal point in the landscape. Available in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and leaf colors, Japanese maples can bring year-round interest to the garden.

Varieties such as ‘Bloodgold’, ‘Butterfly’, and ‘Sango Kaku’ are upright, while varieties like ‘Crimson Queen’ and ‘Red Dragon’ are weeping.

Red Maple

Acer rubrum: Red Maple

‘Rubrum’ is Latin for ‘red’. Here, the red refers to the flowers of this maple, which bloom in late winter, covering the branches in scarlet prior to leafing out. Red maples are native to the SE United States, from Florida to Texas and north to Minnesota. They are a good choice for a mid to large size tree, with many varieties maturing at 35-40’ tall. They can grow even larger over time!

Fall colors can be yellow, orange, red, and purple. New introductions are selected based on the timing of fall color. ‘Autumn Flame’ is one of the first to change, most often in late September. ‘October Glory’ and ‘Red Sunset’ follow about two weeks later. Sund. Adapts to soil pH. Zone 4.

Sugar Maple

Acer saccharum: Sugar Maple

‘Saccharum’ is Latin for sugar cane. This is the tree known for maple syrup, the Canadian flag and legendary Vermont fall color. It’s native from the southern maritime parts of Ontario and Quebec to New York, down to Georgia and east to Texas. Maturing at 60-75’, this tree wants to get big and dislikes being crowded. Fall color varies from brilliant yellow to burnt orange or red. Sun-part shade. Zone 4.