Maple - Red Rocket (Email to join Waitlist)
The Red Rocket Maple is a fairly new cultivar of Red Maple that is quickly becoming a popular choice for small front yards in Edmonton. It is a slower-growing cultivar that will turn an incredible, blazing red fall color at the end of September each year. The unique red flowers in early spring (April or early May) give a splash of color before any other trees show life. Plant requirements: As with other maples from eastern North America, you will need to water this tree more than your typical local trees as they have a heavier requirement for good growth and health. If you mulch bowl around the roots, it will greatly reduce the amount of water required and slow watering will reach the roots much deeper than with a quick flow. It is best to keep the white plastic wrap on the trunk for the first few winters as it will help prevent the trunk from cracking on very cold, sunny days. It will grow out of this as it gets older.
Red Rocket Maple — The Firestarter 🔥
If you want early color, late color, and serious impact in between, this is your move.
The Red Rocket Maple (Acer rubrum 'Red Rocket') is already showing off while everything else is still waking up. Early spring: deep red flowers bloom before most trees even think about leafing out.
Summer: clean green leaves form a tight, upright shape—perfect for small yards or privacy rows.
Fall: it erupts into blazing red 🔥, stopping people mid-drive. Not orange. Not “kind of red.” Full fire.
Rebel take: A little more care… for a lot more payoff.
Mature Size: 30' x 10'
Why it belongs in your yard:
- Blood-red spring flowers before anything else blooms
- Classic maple leaf look, tight and refined
- Insane fiery red fall color 🔥
- Perfect for small yards or privacy lines
- Cold-hardy (tested to Zone 2 in St. Paul)
- High-impact, premium feature tree
Rebel tip: Keep soil moist and well-drained, add a mulch ring, and protect the trunk with a wrap for the first few winters.
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Growing Requirements in Alberta: This maple tree requires a bit more care than your average tree. Water well during the first couple summers and fertilize when looking for extra growth. Do not allow long periods of drought to dry out the soil. The tree is most happy with rich, well drained soil that is moist most of the time.
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