Acer freemanii Autumn Blaze - Maple

Acer (x) freemanii 'Autumn Blaze' is a hybrid maple that combines the solid structure, attractive habit, and autumn colours of the red maple with the adaptability and fast growth of the silver maple. This medium-sized variety will reach a height of about 15 m (49 ft) by 12 m (39 ft) wide. It is valued for its upright and rounded shape, the vibrancy of its red-orange foliage in autumn, and its more or less rough bark that sheds beautifully. In the garden, this maple is extremely resistant to cold and wind. It can be planted as a specimen tree on a lawn or in the centre of a bed, or on the boundaries of the property, preferably in neutral to acid soil that remains moist.

Acer x freemanii 'Autumn Blaze', sometimes known as 'Jeffersred', was created in 1965 in the United States by Glenn Jeffers. It is the result of hybridisation between Acer rubrum and Acer saccharinum, which also hybridise naturally when these two species grow together in the wild, for example in Canada. This upright, deciduous tree grows rapidly, around 50 cm (20 in) per year, under favourable growing conditions. At maturity, it becomes more rounded, reaching an average height of 15 m (49 ft) with a spread of 12 m (39 ft). The deciduous foliage, deciduous, consists of opposite leaves, finely divided into 3 to 5 lobes. It is green in summer and turns intense red-orange in October. The flowering occurs in spring, in the form of small clusters of red flowers. This sterile maple does not produce fruits. The bark is smooth for the first few years, and is a light grey to silvery colour. Over the years, it takes on a light brown hue and a rough texture, which it sheds in strips. The root system of Acer x Freemanii 'Autumn Blaze' is dense and shallow, making it difficult to grow other plants at its base. A second taproot system, develops deep down in trees that are a few years old, anchoring the tree in the soil. Under the right growing conditions, this maple can live for more than 80 years. It is perfectly hardy, but can suffer from chlorosis in heavy, chalky soil.

Acer (x) freemanii 'Autumn Blaze' deserves to be better known and more widely planted in our gardens. It will look great as a specimen tree in a medium to large-sized garden, with its beautiful bark and autumn foliage making it interesting for much of the year. It can also be planted in a group together with Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica), smoke bushes, deciduous euonymus, and sweet gum trees. Together, they will create a flamboyant display at the end of the season. Easy to grow in moist soil and highly resistant to wind, it can also be used as a boundary tree on the edge of the garden.