Autumn is my favorite time of year … it ’s not even tight . And fall is an ideal clock time for a grab bag of grounds : Halloween , prospicient nights , the cool - without - being - freezing - weather , and so on .

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But my top favorite reason for be intimate fall ? The beautiful way that the Tree change color . As a dude from the Midwest with a ton of deciduous tree diagram around , I can proudly say that my eyeballs are well and truly spoiled when the leaves begin to switch shades .

A horizontal image of maple trees growing along the side of a road.

Photo credit: Sveta Imnadze / Shutterstock.com

Oaks , dogwood tree , gingko – they ’re great in the fall , do n’t get me ill-timed . But botanically , the top color - changing trees are most by all odds maples . No contest .

There are numerous coinage ofAcer , so we want to pare down the options for you , leaving you with the emollient of the crop to choose from . These 15 maple are n’t perfect – no works are . But they ’re somewhat dang close .

Here ’s the lineup :

A close up vertical image of a large red maple tree growing in a park pictured on a blue sky background. To the center and bottom of the frame is green and white printed text.

15 of the Best Maple Trees to Grow at Home

Species ofAcertend to grow invasively , especially ones that are n’t aboriginal to where they ’re being planted . It ’s emphatically worth confer your local ecological law of nature , if you ’re concerned about spreading a potentially invasive species .

If you require a refresher course ongrowing maple treesbefore we proceed , check off out our guide .

1. Acer x pseudosieboldianum

countenance ’s begin with a hybrid without a mutual name . This mark ofA. palmatumandA. pseudosieboldianumwields the Nipponese maple ’s cosmetic appeal in compounding with the moth-eaten - hardiness of the Korean maple .

A. palmatumxpseudosieboldianumis a potpourri that ’s perfect for those that live inUSDA Hardiness Zones4 to 5 and refuse to let their Nipponese maple dreams cash in one’s chips – we ’ll go into more detail about that species a short by and by .

Growing 20 feet in peak and 15 feet wide , this maple has foliage resembling that ofA. palmatum – it starts off red , turns unripened in summer solstice , then becomes orange - vermilion in declination .

A horizontal image of a large Acer ginnala aka Amur maple growing in a park.

Combined with pink samaras , this tree diagram combines the timber of old pet with its own unique features .

‘ Northwind ’ is an especially cold - brave variety with gorgeous pink samaras and orange - orange red fall color , while ‘ First Flame ’ has leaf that emerges in leaping with ardent red - orange tones .

2. Amur

hail from the central and northern regions of China , Manchuria , and Japan , A. ginnala – aka Amur or Siberian maple – has simple , three - lobed leaves that are up to three inches in length , with the midway lobe much longer than the lateral unity .

In plant life identification classes , I remembered this species as the bird - flipping maple . Immature , perhaps … but I never got it amiss on my ID quizzes !

well grown in USDA Hardiness zone 3 to 8 , this multi - stemmed tree with a clunking habit has a 15 to 20 foot acme and a 15 to 30 foot broadcast at due date , and is a pretty tough plant overall .

A close up square image of the foliage of an Amur maple tree.

It ’s easy to transplant , adaptable across a wide range of mountains of ground and exposures , and can withstand heavier pruning than other maple .

A. ginnalahas sheeny , morose green foliage that emerges earlier in the year than most tree , and transmute into wraith of yellow , orange , and red come fall .

The Amur maple look great as a moderately sized specimen , hedge , or terrace planting when rationalize . It ’s diminished and more bush - like than other metal money ofAcer , and it can also run well as an accent in the landscape .

A close up vertical image of boxelder foliage pictured in bright sunshine.

There are a couple of cool cultivar worth noting . ‘ Compactum ’ make half the mature sizing of the species plant , with species - sized leaves that turn a dark red - purple in fall .

The key fruit and fall foliage of ‘ Embers ’ have an excellent red fall people of colour , and this Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is taller than it is wide-cut , for a variety .

‘ Compactum ’

A close up square image of the variegated foliage of boxelder growing in the garden.

Nature Hills Nurseryoffers ‘ Compactum ’ at multiple level of maturity and in various size .

3. Boxelder

Native to the United States , southern Canada , and Mexico , A. negundodoes safe in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 9 .

Another tough species of maple , boxelder tolerates tough conditions that other plants wo n’t , such as a variety of soil – both wet and dry – and frigid climate .

reach a stature of 30 to 50 feet and an equal or with child spread , this tree has bright green , compound folio with three to five brochure , with the depressed pamphlet possessing thumb - like lateral ridges .

A close up vertical image of an ‘Autumn Blaze’ maple tree in the winter time with frost on the branches.

The leaves turn yellow - green to brown in autumn , so you wo n’t see the stunning drop color that ’s typically provided by other species ofAcer .

All of this in compounding with a ragged , multi - stemmed substance abuse make this tree well - become for more natural landscape gardening , with placement in the middle of fields , in a natives garden , or at the edges of forests .

However , this wild appearance mean it ’s probably not as suited to more manicured landscapes .

A square image of Acer ‘Firefall’ growing in the garden pictured on a blue sky background.

All this to say , it ’s still a gorgeous tree … as long as you choose your planting location wisely , and put it in an loose garden or innate - face environment where it can visually perform the practiced .

Notable varieties include golden - leafed ‘ Auratum , ’ as well as ‘ Flamingo , ’ which sprouts pinkish shoots in the spring that grow into variegated foliage with pink margins .

‘ Flamingo ’

A close up horizontal image of the deep green foliage of Acer campestre.

Does ‘ Flamingo ’ tickle your illusion ? Snag one fromNature Hills Nursery .

4. Freeman’s

A hybrid cross betweenA. rubrumandA. saccharinum , Acerxfreemaniicombines the firm branch attachment of the red maple with the speedy ontogeny of the silver-tongued maple .

This hybrid also resists greensickness in alkaline soils , which neither of its parents are capable of pulling off .

well grow in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 8 , Freeman ’s maple reaches a superlative of 40 to 60 feet and a spread of 20 to 40 feet , and tolerates a change of soil texture and moisture point .

A close up horizontal image of a Japanese maple tree growing in a formal garden.

The leave-taking are three to five in farseeing , dark greens , and profoundly lob with toothed sinus , or quad between the lobe . Said foliage can turn a variety of spook from red to orange to yellow in autumn , look on the variety .

Speaking of Freeman ’s maple varieties : ‘ Armstrong ’ is a narrow and upright cultivar that grow 50 to 70 metrical foot magniloquent by 15 to 20 feet wide with red - orange tree declivity colouring material .

‘ Marmo ’ also has a narrow and upright physique , with fall farewell that are mottled with immature , red , burgundy , and white-livered colour .

A close up square image of a Crimson Queen Japanese maple growing in a large wooden pot outdoors.

‘ Firefall ’ features orange - red fall leaf and grows to a ripe height of 40 to 50 feet .

‘ Firefall ’

If anAcerxfreemaniisounds like the stark flora to add to your space , then manoeuvre on over toNature Hills Nurseryto pick up ‘ Firefall . ’

A close up horizontal image of the light red fall foliage of a Korean maple tree.

Learn more about caring for Freeman ’s maple here .

5. Hedge

A. campestre , aka the field or hedging maple , is native to Europe , Africa , and the southwestern function of Asia .

With its best growth occur in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 8 , the hedging maple was introduced to the United States during compound meter , and reaches a matured altitude and spread of 25 to 35 foot .

Its two- to four - inch - retentive , attractive leaves have five rounded lobes , and its dark green leaf transforms into a gorgeous yellowness in late autumn , which can be a welcome modification from the usual cerise leaf that you incline to see from maples in fall .

A close up horizontal image of the bright green foliage of a Norway maple tree.

The hedge maple ’s beauty has earned it a niche in the landscape as a diminished specimen tree , whether it ’s planted in lawns or in urban orbit .

The relatively modest size of it of this tree reserve it to fit in spots under utility lines that otherAcerspecies might not fit out into , and you may also plant in a chemical group and trim these unfit boy into a hedge shape .

This tree does have invasive tendency , but not to the tip of necessitating a mantle “ do n’t engraft this ” good word . tally your local regulations before planting this species , and keep an heart out for volunteer seedlings near your original planting .

A square image of a Norway maple tree growing outside a residence.

The ‘ Metro Gold ’ cultivar , aka ‘ Panacek , ’ grows a bit more narrowly than the species plant , with a ripe height and breadth of 35 and 20 fundament , severally .

‘ Royal Ruby ’ has foliage that starts out its increase in shade of dark pinkish - red , before transition into its typical dark green chromaticity .

6. Japanese

Tracing its native roots to China , Japan , Korea , and Taiwan , A. palmatumowes its plebeian name to the fact that the Japanese masses have cultivated this plant for propagation .

It has since been introduced to other parts of the world like England and the United States , and grows optimally in USDA Hardiness Zones 6 to 8 .

The Nipponese maple can be grown as a little tree diagram or multi - caulescent shrub while the foliation tends to be dark dark-green during the originate season in many cases , later turning shades of purple , carmine , bronze , orange , and/or xanthous in fall .

A close up vertical image of a paperbark maple growing in the garden pictured on a soft focus background.

Each two- to five - inch - long leaf has five to nine deep lobe , with serrate perimeter . These typically reach 15 to 25 feet grandiloquent at maturity , with an adequate or greater spread .

But this system of measurement can motley significantly – some mound varieties only attain six- to eight - foundation tiptop , while some specimen can snap up to 50 foot improbable in the wild .

Ornamentally , thisAcerspecies is very flexible in the landscape painting . Specimen , accent , wraith Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , bonsai , group , borderline … whatever the role , a Japanese maple can play it .

A square image of the foliage of a large paperbark maple tree.

And speaking as an American nurseryman in the United States , this tree bring with it a welcome splashing of zen wherever it ’s planted , more so than other maples .

There are almost too many cultivars to name … but as a primer , A. palmatumcultivars fall in one of two ingroup : those with dissected leaves and others with non - dissected leaves .

Dissected leave are feathery , with finely abridge and serrate lobes , while non - dissected foliage has smooth , broader lobes .

A close up horizontal image of the red fall foliage of Acer rubrum.

‘ Crimson Queen ’

For a dissected leaf cultivar,‘Crimson Queen’has dark purplish - red leaf and a cascade growing riding habit . Trees are available in several sizesfrom Fast Growing Trees .

If a diversity with non - analyse leaves is the move for you , then check out the ‘ Hogyoku ’ cultivar , with its bright orange fall foliage that turn from gullible to the colour of ripe pumpkins in the fall .

A square image of a large Acer ‘Red Sunset’ tree growing in a park in evening sunshine.

For more data aboutgrowing Nipponese maples , fit out our guide .

7. Korean

Native to Manchuria , China , and Korea , A. pseudosieboldianumis pretty like across the board toA. palmatum , save for leaves that are double - serrated with unevenly - sized lobes that decrease in size of it the closer they emerge from the stem .

With fall color of deep red , ruby-red , and orangish , it ’s reasonably bad to tell this one asunder from its Japanese relative .

There ’s no vie with a Japanese maple … but since the Korean maple optimally grows in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 7 , this tree makes for an amazingA. palmatumsubstitute in Zones 4 to 5 .

A square image of Acer ‘October Glory’ trees growing in a park pictured in bright sunshine.

But a Korean maple is definitely beautiful enough to grow for its own sake !

8. Norway

aboriginal to Norway and the rest of continental Europe , A. platanoidestend to reach 40 to 50 feet in height , with an equal or slightly smaller spread .

Best tame in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 7 , the Norway maple has dark unripe , glistening leaves that are four to seven inches long and wide , with five sharply pointed lobes .

The foliage crap for a very dense and symmetrical canopy , and the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree can stomach air contamination and many different types of filth .

A close up horizontal image of a shantung Acer truncatum growing in the garden.

Come drop , the leaf sour a gorgeous yellowness , and the barque ’s texture is also really interesting to face at , especially when the tree diagram is spare in wintertime .

A. platanoidescultivars tend to perform better than the actual specie . ‘ Crimson tycoon ’ is a variety that has reddish - maroon leaves all throughout the growing season , which is nice if you want some foliage that is n’t green right from the get - go .

‘ Emerald Queen ’ is a speedily originate cultivar that ’s about half the size of the species , which constitute it ideal for fitting into tight urban spots .

A close up horizontal image of the dramatic fall foliage of the silver maple tree.

A. Platanoides

For a three- to four - foot - magniloquent bare rootA. platanoides , visit The Home Depot .

notice tips on grow Norway maple here .

A square image of the foliage of a silver maple tree pictured in bright sunshine.

9. Paperbark

maple are n’t normally uprise for their cosmetic bark , butA. griseumis definitely an exception .

aboriginal to key China and well - adapted to USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 8 , this multi - cauline , clip-clop tree develop to be 20 to 30 feet in superlative , with a gap lay out from half that to an equal space .

The folio are trifoliate , with a dark green to bluish - green color in summer that changes to bronze or orange red in fall .

A close up horizontal image of the flowers and foliage of Acer pensylvanivum pictured on a soft focus background.

The bark is cinnamon - colour , cherry-red - browned barque it flake off from the trunk in a way similar to paper birches .

It ’s a very cool flavor that is n’t normally catch with maple trees , and it ’s the bark that truly makes this a gorgeous specimen worth add to any maple accumulation .

Paperbark Maple

A vertical image a a solitary Acer saccharum tree growing in a park.

Nature Hills Nurseryhas paperbark maple available for purchase .

10. Red

Hardy in USDA zone 3 to 9 and native to central and eastern region of North America , A. rubrumis a landscape staple over here in the New World .

Growing 40 to 60 feet in height and feast , the red maple is well known for the gorgeous tint of red that the leaves take on in fall , hence the name .

Each leaf is three- to five - lob , with triangular lobes and red petiole .

A square image of a large sugar maple tree growing in a park.

The slow leaf provides heavy spook , do it a perfect tree to open your blanket under for a child’s play or simply to flap the heating system .

evenly proficient as a specimen or a complement to other perennial planting that might grow under its canopy , the flushed maple is most at menage in lawns , parks , or as a street planting .

The available cultivars for this metal money are legion , and tend to improve on the fall color of the mintage flora .

A close up horizontal image of the blooms and foliage of Acer tataricum.

‘ October Glory ’ has long - live and brilliant red crepuscule color that gloriously emerges in October , while ‘ Red Sunset ’ combines an early emergence of orange - red autumnal hues with special dusty - hardiness , all in one splendid package .

‘ Red Sunset ’

flying arise Treeshas four- to five - foot ‘ Red Sunset ’ specimens available .

You canfind ‘ October gloriole ’ at Fast Growing Treesas well .

‘ October Glory ’

discover and caring for this species in our guide to   growingA. rubrum .

11. Shantung

An Asiatic native that grow best in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 8,A. truncatumreaches a height and spreading of 20 to 25 feet , and has a notably mellow tolerance for urban conditions .

This tree ’s habit is neatly rounded , regularly branch , and densely packed with foliage . The leaves have five to seven lobe , come out with a purple - red chromaticity , mature into a glossy dour K , and change into shades of yellow - orange - red in fall .

This tree definitely scratches the ornamental itch one might get for a red maple , but in a stocky package that allow street planting well .

It ’s also tolerant to high temperature , drought , and leaf scorch , so if you ’ve ever wanted a less - wimpyA. rubrum , A. truncatumis theAcerfor you .

There are definitely some interesting cultivars for this one . ‘ Crimson Sunset ’ has yr - round purple foliage , while ‘ Fire Dragon ’ has splendid red fall foliage with yellow perimeter , along with extra permissiveness for hoarfrost or block harm , wind , and alkaline soil .

12. Silver

Native to what can essentially be described as the easterly one-half of the United States and Canada , A. saccharinumreaches 50 to 70 feet in height , with a ranch about two - thirds that of its perpendicular measurement .

Hardy in USDA Zones 3 to 9 , the silver maple is the fastest - growing maple tree in North America – two to three foot of vertical growth per twelvemonth is typical in a smooth-spoken maple ’s early years .

This is neat for when you need some tone as soon as possible , or if you just want to be capable to savour the full stature of a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that you implant within your lifespan .

The leaves ofA. saccharinumare five - lobed , three to six inches across , and so deeply jagged that they almost appear like oak tree leaves . A large tip for plant designation is to check the bottom of the leaves : they ’ll be eloquent , just like their name indicates !

Silver maple can handle being planted in dry soil , but are also well - adapted to mature alongside streams or in moist forest .

If the dirt in question is poor , thenA. saccharinumis a groovy candidate , especially if you need to grow a red maple in a certain area , but ca n’t due to improper soil .

‘ Silver Queen ’ is a notable cultivar with salient crepuscule coloration that the specie lacks . to boot , ‘ Abingdon Dwarf ’ is an eight - substructure - grandiloquent and three - foot - wide gewgaw variety of silver maple , which is adorably small in comparability to a standardA. saccharinum .

Silver Maple

Nature Hills Nurseryhas silver maples usable for purchase .

13. Striped

A North American native that grows dependable in USDA Hardiness zone 3 to 7 , the strip maple is named for the greenish - clean erect stripes that streak the barque of untried arm .

Growing 15 to 20 infantry marvellous with an adequate or somewhat smaller spread , A. pensylvanivumis an awesome planting for established landscape painting .

The leaf is tri - lobed with shallow sinuses between the apex of each lobe . Striped maple leaf emerge tinge pink , mature to bright green , and become a truly outstanding yellow in fall .

The autumnal leaf , combined with the striped bark , giveA. pennsylvanicumits ornamental boundary .

These trees are a fleck susceptible to warmth , drought , and urban conditions , but their beauty is well worth your cultivation efforts .

An interesting cultivar is ‘ Erythrocladum , ’ which has coral - pink - to - cerise root word that are striated with white , and specially attractive when the tree is defoliated in winter .

14. Sugar

TheAcerthat I would fence is responsible for the success of Eggo waffle , A. saccharumis one sweet tree , both ornamentally and literally , at least as far as the sap it produces is concerned .

Native to cardinal and eastern parts of the United States and Canada , the sugar maple is hardy in USDA Zones 4 to 8 , and typically gain matured heights of 60 to 75 base , with a scatter about two - thirds of that .

With dense leaf and a rounded oval habit , this flora ’s sap has twice the clams cognitive content of otherAcerspecies , make it the first choice for anyone looking to glean maple sirup – though they will have to waitress for a while .

you may read more about tapping trees for syrup in this guide fromour sister site , Foodal .

This tree is no slouch in the landscape , either . Ornamentally , the foliation is like the jobber between red maple and facile maple leafage , with green summer leave-taking that turn white-livered , orangish , and red in fall .

Whether it ’s planted for eventual maple syrup tapping , or for use as a tone - give way specimen in astray - open spaces , the sugar maple by all odds clear its keep in telephone exchange for the requisite real estate in your garden .

For a pair of warmth - resistant and tatter - proof varieties , check off out ‘ Autumn Splendor ’ and ‘ Oregon Trail . ’ The former hasorange - red leaves in fall , while the latter ’s autumn leaf is more of a straight - up red .

Sugar Maple

Fast Growing Treeshas the standard species uncommitted .

For more info on school sugar maple , ascertain out our guide .

15. Tatarian

Native to southeastern Europe and western Asia , A. tataricumis best mature in USDA Hardiness zone 3 to 8 . With a height and spread of 15 to 20 feet , the Tatarian maple is tolerant of alkaline soil and has no serious disease or insect problem to note .

That ’s not to say that this species is immune to trouble , but with proper care , it ’s a variety sleep together for its robustness .

The mature leaves on this maple are unlobed , which is pretty singular for anAcer . This foliage is twice serrate , colour green in summertime , and turns xanthous , cerise , and bronze do fall .

The Tatarian maple works as a street tree , specimen , or as part of a group .

Rad varieties include ‘ Rubrum , ’ which has blood - scarlet autumnal foliage , as well as ‘ Pattern Perfect , ’ a cultivar with leaves that are more of an orange - violent hue in declension .

Top-Tier: It’s the Gist of This List

I stand by my title – these 15 coinage are the best that theAcergenus has to volunteer .

Of course , everyone ’s entitled to their opinion . You may think some of these maples are game , maybe if they ’re unsuited to your region , or that others excluded from this list are in reality the greatest … and that ’s totally nerveless !

Here ’s the top - hidden , insider scoop on garden writing : real “ horrible ” plants that are n’t worth plantingsomewhereare reasonably heavily to come by . One person ’s invasive can be another ’s gem , look on the environs .

Except for yellow nutsedge . Those guys are the bad .

For moreroundups of premium landscape trees to institute at plate , check out this smorgasbord of articles next :

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Joe Butler