Maple trees include a sizable number of species in the genus Acer within the plant family Aceraceae. Most of the maple species are deciduous woody plants, ranging from multi-stemmed shrubs to large upright trees with massive trunks. Here are 13 excellent maple tree species for your landscape.
Native Area: Korea, Japan, Mongolia, SiberiaUSDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8Height: 30 feetSun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Native Area: Western North America, from Alaska down to southern California.USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 7Height: 20 to 100 feetSun Exposure: Full sun to full shade
Native Area: Europe and southwestern AsiaUSDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8Height: 25 to 35 feetSun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Native Area: JapanUSDA Growing Zones: 4 to 7Height: 15 to 30 feetSun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
A Japanese maple can be a focal point in many different types of garden designs. Dwarf varieties are often used as ornamental shrubs, while larger cultivars are planted as small specimen trees. This plant is sensitive to both heat and cold. Even in zone 5, a severe cold spell in winter can cause severe dieback, and in the southern part of the range, it benefits from some shade to prevent leaf scorch.
Native Area: China, Korea, JapanUSDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9Height: Varies; usually 15 to 25 feetSun Exposure: Full sun to part shade, may survive full shade
Native Area: Europe and western AsiaUSDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7Height: usually 40 to 50 feet; sometimes as much as 90 feetSun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Native Area: Central ChinaUSDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8Height: 15 to 30 feet tall and wideSun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Regionally, this tree carries many different common names: scarlet maple, soft maple, Drummond red maple, Carolina red maple, swamp maple, trident red maple, and water maple.
Native Area: Eastern U.S. and CanadaUSDA Growing Zones: 2 to 9Height: 30 to 100 feetSun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Native Area: Eastern U.S. and CanadaUSDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9Height: 50 to 100 feetSun Exposure: Full sun
The sugar maple is a large tree with a densely rounded crown. The leaves are medium-green in color with three or five lobes; the foliage turns yellow-orange in fall. Regionally, this species may be known as the rock maple or hard maple.
Native Area: Northeastern and southern U.S., northeastern CanadaUSDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8Height: 50 to 80 feetSun Exposure: Full sun to full shade
The sycamore maple is one of the more massive maples, featuring a dense rounded crown. The dark-green leaves are quite large, with five lobes, but there is no fall color to speak of—the foliage remains green or may turn a yellowish-brown. It is not a popular landscape tree because it lacks fall color, but the sycamore maple can make a good shade tree and has good tolerance for salty conditions.
Native Area: Europe and western AsiaUSDA Growing Zones: 4 to 7Height: 40 to 60 feet; sometimes as much as 100 feetExposure: Full sun to light shade
Native Area: Central/southeastern Europe and AsiaUSDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8Height: 15 to 20 feetSun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Native Area: JapanUSDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8Height: 20 to 30 feetSun Exposure: Semi-shade
