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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F E A T U R E S |
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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
-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 |
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Trunk
-gray bark, smooth and thin in youth, becoming slightly furrowed with age |
C U L T
U R E
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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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U S A G E |
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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 |
S E L
E C T I 0 N S |
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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. |