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 maple family (Sapindaceae) taking the best qualities of 2 native trees, the red and silver maples. These trees hybridize in the wild to produce a tree that grows fast, with less invasive roots, stronger wood and good fall color. The species is named for Oliver M. Freeman of the U.S. National Arboretum.
The tree will grow 45-70 feet tall and 35-50 feet wide. It prefers well-drained moist, acidic soil in the full sun to partial shade, can tolerate heavy clay soils and even occasionally wet soils. Once trees are established they can tolerate some drought.
This tree doesn't always bloom but if it does the sparse spring flowers are followed by winged samaras. The leaves turn a red-orange in fall. Leaves can be variable in shape but are usually somewhere between a silver maple and a red maple leaf.
There are several cultivars available for this tree. It makes an excellent shade, lawn, or street 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'
Narrow growth, only 15 feet wide. Poor fall color - 'Autumn Blaze'
Deeply cut leaves with good orange-red fall color - ‘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'
Narrow growth, only 15 feet wide. Poor fall color - 'Autumn Blaze'
Deeply cut leaves with good orange-red fall color - ‘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
- Wildlife Value:
- Bees are attracted to the early nectar source of the flowers. Members of the genus Acer support Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Flower nectar attracts bees and other pollinators. Seeds are enjoyed by birds. The fruit, along with the buds, are a primary food source for gray squirrels in late winter and early spring. Sprouts are a favorite food for white-tailed deer, but this tree is moderately resistant to damage.
- 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
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Wet Soil
