Autumn Blaze Maple - 15g
Autumn Blaze Maple (Acer × freemanii 'Jeffersred') is a vigorous, hybrid maple prized for its rapid growth, reliable form, and spectacular fall color. It combines the best qualities of silver and red maples: fast-growing, strong structure, and brilliant red-orange autumn foliage.
Mature size
Height: 40–50 feet (occasionally up to 60 feet in optimal sites).
Spread: 30–40 feet, forming a broadly oval to rounded crown.
Growth rate: Fast — typically 2–3 feet per year when young.
Trunk: Upright habit with a single leader; bark smooth when young, developing furrows with age.
Growing conditions
Hardiness: USDA Zones 3–8.
Light: Full sun for best fall color; tolerates light afternoon shade but color and form are best in full sun.
Soil: Adaptable to a wide range of soils — sandy, loamy, or clay — and tolerates both slightly acidic and neutral pH. Prefers consistently moist, well-drained soil but tolerates short periods of wetness or drought once established.
Drainage: Moderate drainage is ideal; avoid prolonged waterlogged soils.
Urban tolerance: Good tolerance of urban stresses, including compacted soils and some salt exposure.
Pests and diseases: Relatively resistant to common maple problems but can be susceptible to leaf scorch in hot, dry conditions, verticillium wilt (uncommon), and occasional aphids or scale. Proper siting and care reduce risks.
Maintenance: Low to moderate. Prune to maintain a strong central leader and remove any crossing or weak branches. Mulch to conserve moisture and moderate soil temperature.
Planting instructions
Select the site: Choose a location with full sun (at least 6 hours daily) and enough space for the mature spread — avoid planting too close to buildings, sidewalks, or utilities. Ensure soil has reasonable drainage.
Timing: Plant in early spring or fall to allow roots to establish before extremes of heat or cold.
Prepare the hole: Dig a hole 2–3 times wider than the root ball but no deeper than the root ball’s height. A wide, shallow hole encourages lateral root growth.
Inspect the root ball: Remove burlap, wire, or string from around the trunk. If roots are circling or tightly bound, gently tease them outward or make a few vertical cuts through the root mass to encourage outward rooting.
Position the tree: Place the root crown so the top of the root ball sits slightly above surrounding soil level (about 1–2 inches) to allow for settling and to prevent crown rot. Ensure the trunk is vertical and oriented as desired.
Backfill: Refill the hole with native soil, breaking up large clods. Lightly tamp to eliminate large air pockets but avoid compacting the soil. Do not add excessive amendments that create a “pot” effect around roots.
Watering: Water thoroughly after planting to settle soil around roots. For the first growing season, provide regular deep watering — roughly once or twice weekly depending on rainfall — ensuring the root zone stays moist but not waterlogged. Reduce frequency as the tree establishes (second year onward).
Mulch: Apply a 2–4 inch layer of organic mulch (wood chips or shredded bark) extending to the drip line but keep mulch 2–4 inches away from the trunk to prevent rot and rodent damage.
Staking: Stake only if necessary (unstable site or large nursery root ball). Use flexible ties and remove stakes after one growing season to allow trunk strengthening.
Early pruning: During the first few years, prune to establish a single, strong central leader and remove low or crossing branches. Avoid heavy pruning in the first year unless removing damaged or dead wood.
Long-term care: Monitor for signs of stress, pests, or disease. Fertilize only if soil tests indicate deficiency; typically a slow-release balanced fertilizer applied in early spring is sufficient.
Landscape uses
Street and specimen tree where space permits.
Shade canopy for lawns and parks.
Rapidly establishes mature cover in transitional plantings.
Autumn Blaze Maple is an excellent choice when a fast-growing, colorful, low-to-moderate maintenance shade tree is desired. Proper siting and initial care will ensure strong structure and the brilliant red-orange autumn display that makes this cultivar so popular.
Autumn Blaze Maple (Acer × freemanii 'Jeffersred') is a vigorous, hybrid maple prized for its rapid growth, reliable form, and spectacular fall color. It combines the best qualities of silver and red maples: fast-growing, strong structure, and brilliant red-orange autumn foliage.
Mature size
Height: 40–50 feet (occasionally up to 60 feet in optimal sites).
Spread: 30–40 feet, forming a broadly oval to rounded crown.
Growth rate: Fast — typically 2–3 feet per year when young.
Trunk: Upright habit with a single leader; bark smooth when young, developing furrows with age.
Growing conditions
Hardiness: USDA Zones 3–8.
Light: Full sun for best fall color; tolerates light afternoon shade but color and form are best in full sun.
Soil: Adaptable to a wide range of soils — sandy, loamy, or clay — and tolerates both slightly acidic and neutral pH. Prefers consistently moist, well-drained soil but tolerates short periods of wetness or drought once established.
Drainage: Moderate drainage is ideal; avoid prolonged waterlogged soils.
Urban tolerance: Good tolerance of urban stresses, including compacted soils and some salt exposure.
Pests and diseases: Relatively resistant to common maple problems but can be susceptible to leaf scorch in hot, dry conditions, verticillium wilt (uncommon), and occasional aphids or scale. Proper siting and care reduce risks.
Maintenance: Low to moderate. Prune to maintain a strong central leader and remove any crossing or weak branches. Mulch to conserve moisture and moderate soil temperature.
Planting instructions
Select the site: Choose a location with full sun (at least 6 hours daily) and enough space for the mature spread — avoid planting too close to buildings, sidewalks, or utilities. Ensure soil has reasonable drainage.
Timing: Plant in early spring or fall to allow roots to establish before extremes of heat or cold.
Prepare the hole: Dig a hole 2–3 times wider than the root ball but no deeper than the root ball’s height. A wide, shallow hole encourages lateral root growth.
Inspect the root ball: Remove burlap, wire, or string from around the trunk. If roots are circling or tightly bound, gently tease them outward or make a few vertical cuts through the root mass to encourage outward rooting.
Position the tree: Place the root crown so the top of the root ball sits slightly above surrounding soil level (about 1–2 inches) to allow for settling and to prevent crown rot. Ensure the trunk is vertical and oriented as desired.
Backfill: Refill the hole with native soil, breaking up large clods. Lightly tamp to eliminate large air pockets but avoid compacting the soil. Do not add excessive amendments that create a “pot” effect around roots.
Watering: Water thoroughly after planting to settle soil around roots. For the first growing season, provide regular deep watering — roughly once or twice weekly depending on rainfall — ensuring the root zone stays moist but not waterlogged. Reduce frequency as the tree establishes (second year onward).
Mulch: Apply a 2–4 inch layer of organic mulch (wood chips or shredded bark) extending to the drip line but keep mulch 2–4 inches away from the trunk to prevent rot and rodent damage.
Staking: Stake only if necessary (unstable site or large nursery root ball). Use flexible ties and remove stakes after one growing season to allow trunk strengthening.
Early pruning: During the first few years, prune to establish a single, strong central leader and remove low or crossing branches. Avoid heavy pruning in the first year unless removing damaged or dead wood.
Long-term care: Monitor for signs of stress, pests, or disease. Fertilize only if soil tests indicate deficiency; typically a slow-release balanced fertilizer applied in early spring is sufficient.
Landscape uses
Street and specimen tree where space permits.
Shade canopy for lawns and parks.
Rapidly establishes mature cover in transitional plantings.
Autumn Blaze Maple is an excellent choice when a fast-growing, colorful, low-to-moderate maintenance shade tree is desired. Proper siting and initial care will ensure strong structure and the brilliant red-orange autumn display that makes this cultivar so popular.