Other Names:  Swamp Maple, Scarlet Maple

Description:

A very tall and narrowly upright tree, adds to the landscape skyline, also great for tall narrow hedges; features spectacular deep red fall color, showy red flowers along the bare branches in spring; sensitive to soil pH and susceptible to chlorosis

Ornamental Features

Columnar Red Maple is primarily valued in the landscape for its rigidly columnar form. It features showy clusters of red flowers along the branches in early spring before the leaves. It has dark green deciduous foliage which emerges red in spring. The lobed leaves turn an outstanding brick red in the fall. The furrowed silver bark and brick red branches add an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Landscape Attributes

Columnar Red Maple is a dense deciduous tree with a narrowly upright and columnar growth habit. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and should only be pruned in summer after the leaves have fully developed, as it may 'bleed' sap if pruned in late winter or early spring. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Columnar Red Maple is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Vertical Accent
• Hedges/Screening

Planting & Growing

Columnar Red Maple will grow to be about 60 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 2 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 70 years or more.

This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It is quite adaptable, prefering to grow in average to wet conditions, and will even tolerate some standing water. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selection of a native North American species.