Acer x freemanii - Freeman Maple
Family: Aceraceae

Hear the scientific name

Acer x freemanii is a hybrid of the Red and Silver Maples (A. rubrum x A. saccharinum) that combines the best of both species - good form and excellent red autumn color from the Red Maple; fast growth and tolerance to adverse climatic and soil conditions from the Silver Maple.

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  form Form

-large tree; reaching a mature height of 40-60' and up x 20-40' wide

-upright oval, columnar or pyramidal in youth (depending on the cultivar) developing several main branches with age

-rapid growth rate; may grow 4 times as fast as Red Maple!

foliage Foliage

-opposite arrangement

-simple, 3-5 lobed leaf blades

-deciduous

-more similar to the Silver Maple than the Red Maple

-petioles may be red or green

-autumn color - yellow or red, vibrant, excellent for most cultivars

Flowers

-globular clusters of inflorescences in early spring

Fruit

-some cultivars are fruitless

-when present, the fruit is more similar to the Silver Maple than the Red Maple

-2 joined samaras per stalk, having semi-divergent wings, in pendulous clusters from the stems

-maturing to yellow-brown in Apr.-May

Twig

-brown-red, with red buds in winter

Trunk

-gray bark, smooth and thin in youth, becoming slightly furrowed with age

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Culture

-best performance in full sun

-prefers rich, well-drained soils but it is fairly tolerant to heavy soils and will tolerate dry or wet neutral sites

-considered urban tolerant

-not tolerant of high soil pH, though not as sensitive as Red Maple

-abundantly available in B&B or bare root

Hardiness

-zones 4 to 8

Origin

-hybrid of 2 species, both native to the Eastern and Central U.S. As with both Silver and Red Maples, hardiness of Freeman Maple will vary with seed source.

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Assets

-rapid vigorous establishment

-good form

-outstanding autumn color

-urban tolerant; poor soil tolerant

Liabilities

-shallow root system surfaces with age

-Verticillium wilt susceptibility

Function

-shade tree, street tree, accent tree

Texture

-medium in foliage and bold when bare

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Varieties and Cultivars - Search OSU PlantFacts for additional plants in this species

Alternates

-large shade trees; trees with rapid growth under adverse conditions (often used as a shade tree for new homes): Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis, etc.

 


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