Maple Trees

Shop Maple Trees at Trees.com: Striking, Colorful Fall Foliage

Maple Trees have vibrant hues of fiery red, electric orange, and calming yellow. Known best for its tasty syrups, building furniture and much more, the Maple Tree is the perfect option for a guaranteed showstopper during the fall.

From Sugar Maples to Japanese Maples, the maple tree is the ideal way to add blazing fall color to your landscape. Learn more about maple trees and different species below:

Where do Maple Trees Grow?

Maple trees grow across most of the country, though the range varies by variety. Ours are hardy anywhere from Zone 3 through Zone 9, so check your growing zone before you settle on one. If you're not sure which zone you're in, our hardiness zone map will tell you, or enter your ZIP code above to see only what grows where you live.

You should plant your Maple Tree in an area that gets full to partial sun. We suggest that you plant in an area that gets 3 to 6 hours of sun daily, preferably in the morning or early afternoon when the sun isn’t too harsh. And as always, well-drained soil is ideal for your Maple Trees.

How and When to Plant Maple Trees

Dig a planting hole for your maple that is three to four times the width of your tree’s root ball and equal depth. Remove your maple from its container and ensure root moisture. Place your tree in the planting hole, keeping the top of the root ball even with the ground. Spread the roots out evenly and surround them with dirt to avoid air pockets, which can dry out the roots of your tree. Fill a small amount of the soil into the hole to maintain the tree’s upright position, and water thoroughly. Once the water has absorbed into the root ball and surrounding soil, fill the remaining soil into the planting hole. Pack firmly and water a second time.

Generally, we recommend planting in the early spring or fall. But both seasons are fine, as long as there's no threat of frost to freeze the ground.

How to Prune Maple Trees

Pruning your Maple Tree is very important. Because this tree grows so tall, dead branches can be a safety hazard to all. Make sure to prune your tree during the winter, when the tree is dormant because it will promote new growth.

Make your cuts at a 45-degree angle using clean, sterilized pruning shears. And ensure you remove competing branches as well as weaker branches. Sunlight should penetrate your tree's canopy for the healthiest growth.

How to Identify Maple Trees

It's a common misperception that the foliage of all maple trees turns red. Some have a more orange or yellow color, like the Celebration Maple and the October Glory. If you’re looking for bright red foliage, try our Autumn Blaze Red Maple.

Shade Maples vs. Japanese Maples: Which One Fits Your Yard?

Most of the maples on this page fall into one of two groups, and they solve different problems. Knowing which one you're after narrows the list quickly.

• Shade maples are the large, full-size trees: Autumn Blaze, October Glory, Red Sunset, Sugar Maple, and Silver Maple. Expect 40 to 60 feet tall with a canopy 25 to 40 feet wide at maturity. Plant one of these when you want real shade over a lawn, a patio, or the west side of the house, and when you have the open ground to give it. Browse more full-size options in our shade trees collection.

• Japanese maples stay much smaller and work as a focal point rather than a canopy. Bloodgood, Coral Bark, Tamukeyama, Crimson Queen, and Emperor mature anywhere from 6 to 25 feet depending on the variety, with finely cut leaves and colored bark that hold interest through the year. These are the maples for a courtyard, an entryway, a bed near the front walk, or a large container on the patio. See the full range in our Japanese maple trees collection.

Growth rate follows the same split. Shade maples like Autumn Blaze put on around 3 feet a year, so you get usable shade within a handful of seasons. Japanese maples grow 1 to 2 feet a year, which is part of why they stay in scale with a small space for decades.

Why Do Maple Trees Change Color?

Many are not aware of this, but there are a few factors that come into play when it comes to your foliage turning red. For instance:

• If the weather is too warm, especially at nighttime, the membrane will not grow and the leaves will not turn red.

• If it is not planted in a sunny location, the red fall foliage won’t form.

• If the tree is 3 years old or younger, it is very common to not turn colors right away.

• Too much fertilization. Maples do not need fertilizer right away.

• Poor soil conditions. Getting your soil tested can help in determining why the red color is not producing.

Types of Maple Trees

Maple Trees have strong roots that allow it to resist ice damage and high winds. Because of its powerful roots, this tree can live for hundreds of years! Take a look below to see which tree works best for you.