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Acer x freemanii is often confused with:
Acer rubrum Acer rubrum
Acer saccharinum From
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Acer campestre Acer campestere
Fraxinus pennsylvanica Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Ulmus americana Full Form
Acer x freemanii has some common insect problems:
Common Insect Pests of Maple in North Carolina
Acer x freemanii has some common disease problems:
Common Disease Pests of Maple in North Carolina

Acer x freemanii

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
AY-ser free-MAN-ee-eye
Description

Freeman maple is a hybrid in the Sapindaceae (soapberry) family taking the best qualities of both red and silver maples including solid structure and form and fantastic fall color. 

It prefers well-drained moist, acidic soil in the full sun to partial shade.  It makes an excellent shade, lawn, or street tree that can tolerate heavy clay soils and even occasionally wet soils. Once trees are established they can tolerate some drought.

There are several cultivars available for this tree. 

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No serious problems though leafhoppers, borers and scale can affect immature trees. See potential insect and disease problem fact sheets to the left.

The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common maple diseases and insect pests.

VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I:  Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II:  Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Armstrong'
  • 'Autumn Blaze'
  • ‘Celzam’
    Strong limbs resist breakage
  • 'Firefall'
    Very cold hardy, red fall color
  • 'Jeffersred' AUTUMN BLAZE
    Bright red fall color
  • 'Marmo'
    Does not produce seed
  • 'Morgan'
    Good fall color in warmer climates
'Armstrong', 'Autumn Blaze', ‘Celzam’, 'Firefall', 'Jeffersred' AUTUMN BLAZE, 'Marmo', 'Morgan'
Tags:
#shade tree#rain garden#drought tolerant#low maintenance#fall interest#street tree#lawn tree#parks#wet soils tolerant#landscape plant sleuths course
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Armstrong'
  • 'Autumn Blaze'
  • ‘Celzam’
    Strong limbs resist breakage
  • 'Firefall'
    Very cold hardy, red fall color
  • 'Jeffersred' AUTUMN BLAZE
    Bright red fall color
  • 'Marmo'
    Does not produce seed
  • 'Morgan'
    Good fall color in warmer climates
'Armstrong', 'Autumn Blaze', ‘Celzam’, 'Firefall', 'Jeffersred' AUTUMN BLAZE, 'Marmo', 'Morgan'
Tags:
#shade tree#rain garden#drought tolerant#low maintenance#fall interest#street tree#lawn tree#parks#wet soils tolerant#landscape plant sleuths course
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Acer
    Species:
    freemanii
    Family:
    Sapindaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Grafting
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    USA, Maine, Vermont
    Dimensions:
    Height: 45 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 35 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Erect
    Oval
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    24-60 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gold/Yellow
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Samara
    Fruit Description:
    The 2-winged samaras are sparsely produced. Matures to yellow-brown.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Insignificant
    Red/Burgundy
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Insignificant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Blooms in April but rarely flowers and blooms are not very noticeable. Blooms in dense red clusters at the ends of one year old branches.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Orange
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Palmatifid
    Leaf Margin:
    Lobed
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Deeply cut five-lobed palmatifid leaves with the central lobe wider towards the tip than at its base, the sides often concave. The upper surface is dark green, smooth and glossy, paler and smooth underneath. They are 4-6 inches long and wide. Good fall color of orange-red.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Light Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Fissured
    Bark Description:
    The bark is fairly smooth and silver-gray, becoming fissured with age.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gray/Silver
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Bud Terminal:
    Only 1 terminal bud, larger than side buds
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    Branchlets are red to reddish-brown and smooth, older branches turn grayish like the trunk.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Landscape Theme:
    Asian Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Rain Garden
    Design Feature:
    Shade Tree
    Street Tree
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Wet Soil