This week’s selection comes from the Maple family. Red maples have dominated our tree lawns and streets for several decades. They are fine trees with good fall color and durability. But there are others I suggest you consider:
Acer campstre ‘Hedge King’
and Acer campestre ‘Emerald Splendor’
are 2 trees to consider along with other Hedge Maples. The group tends to be low growing with corky bark.
They make an excellent lawn specimen and/or street tree. Some concerns have been raised concerning the potential to reseed and therefore have the potential to be aggressive but this seems to be a regional issue.
Another maple to consider is Acer miyabei ‘State Street’
a Morton Arboretum introduction which is heat, drought, and salt tolerant. It has a great branching habit for a street tree.
Acer griseum is becoming more popular as a small specimen tree with year-round appeal.
It has exfoliating bark in the winter,
good summer foliage and a red to scarlet fall color.
Acer griseum x ‘Gingerbread’ and A. griseum x ‘Girard’s Hybrid’ are both great cultivars.
Acer truncatum x Acer platanoides ‘Keithsform’, is Norwegian Sunset Maple™ is being used in the Cincinnati area as a street tree.
has a great fall color.
Acer truncatum x A. platanoides 'Warrenred' Pacific Sunset™ has outstanding fall color as well.
Three more maples you may want to consider are Acer tataricum, Tatarian Maple
Acer triflorum, Three-flowered Maple
and Acer buergerianum, Trident Maple.
The takeaway is there are more maples out there than Acer rubrum! Consider some mentioned as alternatives.
