6 Types of Maple Trees You Might Find on Your Property

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Maple trees are one of the most unique variety of trees. They produce maple syrup for our pancakes and maple wood smoke flavor for our meats. They are also stunningly beautiful with dense foliage. Maple trees of several varieties have been planted worldwide for hundreds of years. They are also beneficial because they are usually pest-free.

If you’re wondering what type of maple tree you have on your property, here is a list of the six most common types!

Six Types of Maple Trees

1. Japanese Maple

Japanese maple trees are found in two types, upright and cascading. Within these two types, there are several variations based on the type of leaf and the colors ranging from bright green to maroon, purple, orange, red, white, and pink. The maple tree leaves change color throughout the growing season. Cascading maple trees are also called weeping Japanese because their branches are long and must be regularly pruned. The trees are also relatively short, only reaching a maximum height of about 10 feet. The weeping maple tree, a short maple, is used as an accent tree in landscaping.

In contrast, upright maple tree types can grow to 20 to 25 feet tall and provide ample shade in yards. The trees can even be used as accents in more extensive gardens and outdoor spaces. Overall, Japanese maple trees are best used as focal points in landscaping and stay attractive year-round.

2. Norway Maple

Norway maple trees are one type of maple tree you may want to avoid. They tend to be invasive but are also impressive.

They grow very fast and rise to 40 to 60 feet tall and provide a lot of shade. Also, the tree’s leaves are a stunning red in the early summer. The Norway maple was brought to America in the 1700s from Europe and is known for producing tons of seeds that spread everywhere.

In addition, the trees have a shallow root system, making it challenging for surrounding plants to survive and damaging the ecosystem. Overall, the Norway maple is not the most recommended maple tree.

3. Sugar Maple

Sugar maples are stunning in the fall and grow to 65 to 75 feet tall with a rounded canopy. You can find these trees in forests in the northern United States with other forest trees such as hemlock, beech, and white pine. Sugar maples are great because they also adapt to various climates and soils. In the southern United States, two variations thrive, the ‘barbatum’ sugar maple variant and the chalk bark maple variant. These maple trees are similar to their northern cousin but smaller.

They grow to be about 25 feet tall and produce an abundance of beautiful foliage in the fall ranging in colors from bright yellow to yellow-orange. Sugar maples are best for the shade and are known for their fall color.

4. Paperbark Maple

Paperbark maples tend to be small maple trees with multiple trunks. Their bark is a copper color, and their leaves are considered to be compound and made of three leaflets. The tree is attractive in all four seasons, with a unique branch structure and fantastic bark visible in a dense evergreen landscape. The shape of the maple tree’s leaves and its birch-like bark adds a compelling look to the paperbark maple tree with several shades of color. The leaves change from yellow, orange, and red. This tree type is suitable for landscaping under higher canopy trees and grows to about 30 feet tall. Overall, this maple tree is an excellent small shade tree and ideal as a focal point in landscaping.

5. Red Maple

Red maple trees are a popular variety and can be easily spotted due to the red flowers on their branches during winter. The trees also turn a deep red or scarlet in the fall, and the tree is highly adaptable to several climates. As a result, it’s often considered one of the most common trees used in landscaping. They usually grow to be about 40 to 60 feet tall and offer great shade. The red maple is excellent for various landscaping needs and offers plenty of shade.

6. Silver Maple

Silver maple trees are another type of maple to look out for. The tree is known for dropping branches and large limbs and can create several surface roots. These fast-growing trees are nonetheless beautiful, with silvery-looking leaves that sparkle. You can find the silver maple in Ohio and other eastern parts of the United States.

They grow to be 50 to 80 feet tall.

Overall, the silver maple is good in open spaces, with plenty of room for its root system and heavy soil moisture.

What is the most common type of maple tree?

Red maple is the most common maple tree in North America and is found in urban settings and forests. The tree can grow 50 feet tall and offers deep red foliage in the fall and sometimes orange or yellow leaves. Their bark also changes with age and gets darker. However, in some cases, red maples can be considered invasive in forests where they crowd oak trees.

How many types of maple trees are there?

There are 125 different types of maple trees globally. They grow at varying heights and in other locations. For example, sugar maple is primarily found in forests, while Japanese maple is smaller and more like shrubs.

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What is the best maple tree?

Sugar maples produce the maple syrup we love and have lovely sweet sap. They are great for harvesting if you make syrup and offer plentiful shade, growing up to 75 feet tall and up to 50 feet wide. The sugar maple also does a great job in colder climates. Most importantly, the sugar maple has fantastic color. In the spring and summer time, the leaves are rich green, developing shades of gold, orange, and red during fall. This tree has three traffic-stopping colors every spring, causing it to stand out as the prettiest tree on the block.

What are the different types of red maple trees?

Red Sunset Maple

Red sunset maple trees are the standard red maple variety and grow up to 50 feet tall. They have flowers that bloom slightly red with vibrant red-colored leaves in the fall. The red sunset is famous commercially because it grows reliably and is easy to maintain without issues related to pests or disease.

October Glory Maple

October glory maples grow very fast and are smaller than red sunset maples, growing up to 35 feet tall. The trees do well in various soils, from acidic to loamy to clay, and are known for attracting birds. They can be found all over North America.

Supersonic Red Maple

Supersonic red maples need full sunlight to reach their potential and are only found in one USDA zone. This type of red maple is shaped narrowly like a vase and only grows to about 10 feet tall but produces the most stunning red foliage in the fall and red samaras in the spring.

Ruby Frost Red Maple

The Ruby frost red maple is similar to the supersonic maple in that they are from the same zone, but it grows in a unique oval shape. The tree is also sometimes knowns as a “swamp maple” or “scarlet maple” and loves the sun. This type of red maple offers vibrant red leaves and a silver bark.

Other Red Maple Cultivated Varieties

• Armstrong Maple – a cultivated variety of red maple that is up to 45 feet tall and 15 feet wide
• Autumn Flame red maple- a dense and rounded tree growing up to 60 feet high
• Bowhall red maple- a narrow and symmetrical variety
• Brandywine red maple- a seedless male cultivar known for its resistance to leafhoppers Karpick red maple- a middle ground between slim and ovular shapes
• Morgan maple- known as the most rounded of red maples
• Northwood red maple- a hardy variety exclusive to Zone 3
• Red Rocket maple- derived from a Minnesota seed source, this sturdy red maple can withstand the cold.
• Redpointe red maple- which sports a unique pyramidal shape
• Scarlet Sentinel maple- which features a bold upright branch pattern and an almost rectangular outline

Which maple trees turn red in the fall?

Regarding fall color, sugar maples are at the top of the list. These native maples are spectacular in autumn when their foliage turns vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow. In addition, they make excellent shade trees for large backyards.

What is the most colorful maple tree?

The most colorful maple tree is the red maple, which, as its name indicates, turns red in the fall. However, the sugar maple leaves will turn pretty yellow and orange colors in the autumn months. The sugar maple is well-known for the sweet maple syrup produced from its tree sap.

What is the difference between a red maple and a Japanese maple?

There are around 100 species of maple trees, with two of the most common choices for landscaping in North America being the red maple and Japanese maple. Here is some information about both varieties and how they differ.

Red Maple

Red maples grow up to 90 feet tall with a width of 40 feet and provide a generous amount of shade when mature. The red maple is an excellent choice for gaining shade quickly in your yard. However, the tree does drop its seeds in the shape of “helicopters” in the spring, which can be messy. Red maples change from green in the summer to read in the fall and do best in sunny conditions where they receive up to six hours of sun per day.

Japanese Maple

Japanese maples are native to Japan and its surrounding countries and grow up to 25 feet tall and 25 feet wide. However, there are several that only grow to the size of shrubs.

The beautiful trees usually have multiple trunks and look very complex. However, as a focal point in your yard, they are stunning. This type of maple is also very tolerant of shade compared to other maples and can be placed in many locations because of their size.

Over 1,000 cultivated varieties of the Japanese maple create many choices if you opt for one in your yard.

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How fast do maple trees grow?

Maple trees grow around 2 feet a year or less and can reach 75 feet tall and a spread of 50 feet when fully mature. However, this varies by tree variety.

Summary

Maples are a great addition to most yards and offer beautiful fall scenery to your home. Learn about the types of maple trees and which work best in the area where you live when making your landscaping choices. Whether a large, towering red maple or a short Japanese maple, there is plenty of variety from which to choose. Several types of red maples grow very tall, making them very popular. Japanese maples are also an excellent choice for accents or focal points in your yard.