If you’ve ever wondered… “What’s the name of the pretty tree that turns so red in fall?” It’s an Autumn Blaze Maple. This hybrid of silver and red maple has experienced phenomenal popularity due to its ascending branch habit, rapid growth rate, drought tolerance when established, ability to grow in most soils, beautiful fall color and form. It was selected as the 1997 Iowa Tree of the year. 2004 Urban Tree of the year, Society of Municipal Arborists.

Even in winter, the look of the tree is wonderful. The ascending branches are placed evenly, and the overall profile is nicely symmetrical. It’s balanced, well-structured and even with a clean, oval outline.

Many city planners have included this tree in their planting plans. The trees are adaptable to urban settings.

You’ll also see this tree in many commercial plantings. That ought to tell you something about the easy care nature.

With its polished presentation, formal plantings of Autumn Blaze can be used in rows along parking lots or to screen out busy streets or undesirable views.

This sturdy hybrid is very common in this region, often serving as a parkway or street tree. It has a brilliant, red-orange color in the fall. Freeman’s maple is a hybrid of the red maple and silver maple; the cross yields both the strong branch attachment of the red maple and fast growth rate of the silver maple. Freeman’s maple is also less susceptible to chlorosis symptoms than the red or silver maples.