Common Red Maple Trees
- Red maple trees that grow rapidly do not sacrifice wood strength as other trees do.red maple leaf image by Horticulture from Fotolia.com
The red maple tree has many different varieties, both domestic and foreign. The tree ranges across the United States, thriving in multiple climates and soil types, as well as stretching into Canada. These trees can grow quite large, so if you're thinking of adding one to your lawn you should plan ahead, as any one of these trees can quickly become the centerpiece of a lawn project. - The Japanese maple's foliage is a deep maroon in the summer months and gradually changes to a firebrand red in the fall. This variety of red maple thrives in full or partial sunlight and reaches about 15 feet tall at maturity, with a width between 15 feet and 25 feet. According to the Fast Growing Trees website, the Japanese maple is a hardy grower that easily adapts to the many different soil varieties around the United States.
- The red sunset maple displays bright red foliage throughout the summer, melding into bright oranges and yellows in the fall months. The tree also flowers bright red in the spring. This tree reaches a mature height of between 40 feet and 50 feet and a mature width of 30 feet to 40 feet. It also has good drought tolerance. Because the tree grows so tall and wide, it's important to plan appropriate space for it if you want incorporate it in a landscaping project.
- The October glory maple is one of the fastest-growing maple tree cultivars. This red maple begins the spring with dark-green leaves that gradually turn red through the summer months and finish bright fire-engine red in the fall, with the color lasting for several weeks. The tree generally reaches a height between 40 feet to 50 feet at maturity, with a width between 25 feet and 35 feet. According to the Arbor Day website, this red maple variety tolerates different soil types well but prefers barely acidic, moist soils.
- The autumn flame maple is another fast-growing cultivar of the species, with small leaves that develop bright red hues early in the growing season. According to Gardening Central, a mature maple of this variety can reach reach nearly 60 feet tall, with the trunk measuring approximately 5 feet in circumference. The autumn flame gets its name for the intensity of its foliage through the summer months, which change to a mix of bright reds and oranges. The wood of this tree is also quite strong and is useful in building furniture and other household features such as cabinets.
