Maple - Autumn Blaze

The Autumn Blaze Maple - Acer x Freemanii 'Jeffersred' is one of the most coveted trees in Alberta and for good reason. This maple is a cross between a silver and red maple and has inherited the best qualities of each of the parents. This tree grows well to -45c despite what some might say. We have a good number now growing in St. Paul, Alberta which have seen those lows with no die back and not only will the Autumn Blaze grow with the speed and vigor of a poplar tree, but it does not have weak wood that you would typically end up with. The structure of this maple is phenomenal and consistent. It will fit beautifully in a smaller front yard as long as you prune the bottom branches to walk under it. The fall color is a brilliant glowing red which sometimes look fuchsia in certain light conditions. It will light up in early October typically and stay that way for typically 10-14 days.

If you are looking for the perfect way to make your neighbors jealous, look no further. There are a couple growing conditions that you will want to be aware of though as this tree is from the eastern United States which typically sees far more precipitation than Alberta.

Guide to growing the Autumn Blaze Maple: You will want to make sure this tree has ample water for the first 3-5 summers if there are any stretches of dry weather. This maple will become drought tolerant once the roots have grown enough but until then, it will suffer without the proper water. A drip irrigation system makes this much easier. You should also use a mulch bowl around the outside of the root system when it is planted in the ground and make sure to have proper drainage as to not flood the root system.