All Species
Acer buergerianum
Trident maple Ht 10-15m
Small Tree / Deciduous / Attractive autumn colours - yellow / Attractive autumn colours - orange / Attractive autumn colours - red / Shelter / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Japan and E. China. Broadly spreading, deciduous. Good autumn display of yellow to red leaves. Bark peels in scaly plates leaving a dappled trunk. Tolerant of drought and exposure. Street tree in Japan, well worth growing.
Acer capillipes
Red snake bark maple Ht 10-20m
Small Tree / Deciduous / Attractive autumn colours - orange / Attractive autumn colours - red / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Japan. Broadly columnar, deciduous. Bark green and grey with vertical white stripes. Branches ascend at a narrow angle from a short bole. Leaves red in autumn on red stalks.
Acer cappadocicum ssp. sinicum
Chinese Cappadocian maple Ht 5-10m
Small Tree / Deciduous / Tolerates dry sites / Attractive autumn colours - orange / Attractive autumn colours - red / Attracts bees / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Himalayas and SW China. Dense round crown, deciduous. Lobes of leaves long pointed, turning yellow, orange and red in autumn. Yellow flowers in spring. Drought tolerant and still rare in NZ. Hardy to -10C.
Acer davidii
David's maple Ht 10-15m
Small Tree / Deciduous / Attractive autumn colours - yellow / Attractive autumn colours - orange / Attractive autumn colours - red / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
China. Broadly spreading, deciduous. A snake bark maple with vertical white stripes on green bark. Good autumn colour of red and orange in late May.
Acer palmatum (green)
Japanese maple (green) Ht 10-15m
Small Tree / Deciduous / Attractive autumn colours - yellow / Attractive autumn colours - orange / Attractive autumn colours - red / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Broadly spreading, deciduous. In autumn the colours change to orange and red, a magnificent sight. Shelter from strong winds, but remarkably drought tolerant.
Acer palmatum (mixed colours)
Japanese maple (mixed colours) Ht 5-10m
Small Tree / Deciduous / Attractive autumn colours - yellow / Attractive autumn colours - orange / Attractive autumn colours - red / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Broadly spreading, deciduous. In autumn the colours change to orange and red, a magnificent sight. Shelter from strong winds, but remarkably drought tolerant. Varying leaf shape, colour and style of growth - an intriguing range each season.
Acer palmatum dissectum
Japanese maple - Lace-leafed Ht 1-3m
Shrub / Deciduous / Attractive autumn colours - orange / Attractive autumn colours - red / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Broadly spreading, deciduous. Variable coloured leaves, green, bronze or purple finely dissected. Grown from seed. Usually develop as a 2m domed mound of living leaves, a stunning sight. The branch framework is interesting in winter.
Acer rubrum
American red maple Ht 15-25m
Medium tree / Deciduous / Tolerates wet sites / Attractive autumn colours - yellow / Attractive autumn colours - orange / Attractive autumn colours - red / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Attracts bees / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
East and Central North America. Broadly columnar, deciduous. Clusters of small red flowers before the leaves. Bluey-white under the leaves, which turn bright red in autumn. Prefers moist soils and will tolerate swampy soils.
Acer rubrum 'October Glory'
Red maple clone 'October Glory' Ht 15-25m
Medium tree / Deciduous / Tolerates wet sites / Attractive autumn colours - yellow / Attractive autumn colours - orange / Attractive autumn colours - red / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
N.E.USA. Rather upright habit, deciduous. Holds autumn colour of crimson and orange-red longer than most. Prefers a moist site. Not suitable for windy sites.
Acer rubrum 'Red Sunset'
Red maple clone 'Red Sunset'
Medium tree / Deciduous / Tolerates wet sites / Attractive autumn colours - orange / Attractive autumn colours - red / Attractive flowers or catkins / Attracts bees / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
Selected clone with brilliant orange and red autumn colour lasting several weeks, beginning before October Glory. Red Sunset judged the best clone for warmer Southern USA, may be best for milder parts of NZ.
Acer saccharinum
Silver maple Ht 25-30m
Medium tree / Deciduous / Tolerates wet sites / Attractive autumn colours - yellow / Attractive autumn colours - orange / Attractive autumn colours - red / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Attracts bees / Timber / Cold hardy (H4) (-10 to -5C)
East North America. Broadly columnar, deciduous. Grows in moist soils and riverbanks in its native habitat. Vigorous grower. Attractive autumn tints. Maple timber is highly prized in the USA for flooring.
Acer saccharum
Sugar maple Ht 20-30m
Medium tree / Deciduous / Attractive autumn colours - yellow / Attractive autumn colours - orange / Attractive autumn colours - red / Attractive berries fruits or cone / Attracts bees / Timber
Broadly columnar, deciduous. Appears to need fertile soils for good growth. Also known as rock maple. Spring sap is processed into maple syrup in USA and now in NZ. Orange is the predominant autumn colour, quite spectacular. Cold hardy.