The Autumn Blaze scientific name is Acer x Freemanii. This is the fastest growing maple at an average of 3 feet per year, totaling 40 to 50 feet over its total lifespan, and 30 to 40 feet in width of branches. Being a hybrid of both the red maple (acer rubrum) and the silver maple (acer saccharinum), but exceeding their popularity. The growth rate is 4 times faster than the red maple, and has bark like the silver maple, but is white in color while still young. Popular sites for these trees are in large backyards due to their size, professional landscapes, parks, and walkways. The bark is damaged rather easily so it is best to keep away from high traffic areas. In 2004 it was made the Urban tree of the year and in 1997 tree of the year by the Nursery and Landscape Association out of Iowa. The Autumn Blaze is very insect and disease resistant, but can suffer from bacterial blight and iron chlorosis. A good quality it has is being able to tolerate many different types of soil, insect, and climatical conditions such as drought, wet and dry sites, clay, snow, high winds and leafhoppers. A small amount of pruning is required so it is not high maintenance due to its uniform shape. The particular way it grows such as the dense and balanced branching through out, reduces splitting which maples are known for, therefore reducing verticullium wilt. The high nitrogen level it has also helps it to grow at its fast pace. There are at least 7 different selections of the acer freemanni, but the Autumn Blaze has the best scarlet red color to it. In fall the leaves are an amazing reddish-orange color with red stems, as in the summer months it is a gracious green. Even after the leaves drop in the fall, the tree retains its beautiful red color, and there is minimal mess especially because of how it barley contains seeds. The insignificant flowers, which are female, have almost no seeds at all to them. When it has reached its maturity, it has an oval to rounded shaped crown. The leaves grow 8 to 10 centimeters in size and take on the look of its hybrid father the silver maple but are opposite of each other, has tooth margins, and is 5 lobed as well. You will want to make sure it gets planted in a spot where it will get full sun. They will transplant fairly easy except for climates with a colder autumn weather. Be sure to make the planting hole 3 to 5 times as wide as the root ball, and no deeper than that. It has to have a lot of room to grow and be spacious underneath as well as up top. Propagation works best with root cuttings, because they tend to grow great. Water infrequently but deeply during dry periods, and have a proper layer of mulch on the bed. Here at the Tennessee Nursery, we offer these trees at 2.5 to 3.5 inches that were professionally dug with a caliper machine. We only offer the best of the best, so we do not disappoint our loyal customers. We have an endless list of perennials, berry trees and flowers. Come see our Wetlands and find some native items such as grasses, other trees, and shrubs.
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