Freeman maple Acer x freemanii
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-ser free-MAN-ee-eye
- Description
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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:
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- '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'
- 'Armstrong', 'Autumn Blaze', ‘Celzam’, 'Firefall', 'Jeffersred' AUTUMN BLAZE, 'Marmo', 'Morgan'
- Tags:
- 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'
- 'Armstrong', 'Autumn Blaze', ‘Celzam’, 'Firefall', 'Jeffersred' AUTUMN BLAZE, 'Marmo', 'Morgan'
- Tags:
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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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Oval
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Fissured
- Bark Description:
- The bark is fairly smooth and silver-gray, becoming fissured with age.
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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.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Street Tree
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Wet Soil
