13 Beautiful Species of Maple Trees

Medium-sized maples, often more than 9 metres (30 feet) tall, include the big-toothed maple (A. grandidentatum); some believe it to be a subspecies of sugar maple, a Rocky Mountain tree, often multistemmed, displaying pink to red fall foliage. Coliseum maple (A. cappadocicum) and Miyabe maple (A. miyabei) provide golden-yellow fall colour. The three-flowered maple (A. triflorum) and the paperbark maple (A. griseum) have tripartite leaves and attractive peeling bark, in the former tannish and in the latter copper brown.

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• Utah State University – Yard and Garden Extension – Maples in the Landscape
• The Spruce – 13 Beautiful Species of Maple Trees
• AllMovie – Arsenio Hall
• National Center for Biotechnology Information – PubMed Central – Biochemical characteristics of urban maple trees
• The Canadian Encyclopedia – Maple Trees in Canada
• Turner Classic Movies – Arsenio Hall
• Clemson Cooperative Extension – Home and Garden Information Center – Maple
• San Diego Zoo Animals and Plants – Maple

Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

• Utah State University – Yard and Garden Extension – Maples in the Landscape
• The Spruce – 13 Beautiful Species of Maple Trees
• AllMovie – Arsenio Hall
• National Center for Biotechnology Information – PubMed Central – Biochemical characteristics of urban maple trees
• The Canadian Encyclopedia – Maple Trees in Canada
• Turner Classic Movies – Arsenio Hall
• Clemson Cooperative Extension – Home and Garden Information Center – Maple
• San Diego Zoo Animals and Plants – Maple

Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

Encyclopaedia Britannica’s editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

maple, (Acer), any of a large genus (about 200 species) of shrubs or trees in the family Sapindaceae, widely distributed in the North Temperate Zone but concentrated in China. Maples constitute one of the most important groups of ornamentals for planting in lawns, along streets, and in parks. They offer a great variety of form, size, and foliage; many display striking autumn colour. Several yield maple syrup, and some provide valuable, dense hard wood for furniture and other uses. All maples bear pairs of winged seeds, called samaras or keys. The leaves are arranged oppositely on twigs. Many maples have lobed leaves, but a few have leaves separated into leaflets.

Among the popular smaller maples the hedge, or field, maple (A. campestre) and Amur, or ginnala, maple (A. ginnala) are useful in screens or hedges; both have spectacular foliage in fall, the former yellow and the latter pink to scarlet. The Japanese maple (A. palmatum), developed over centuries of breeding, provides numerous attractive cultivated varieties with varying leaf shapes and colours, many useful in small gardens. The vine maple (A. circinatum), of wide-spreading, shrubby habit, has purple and white spring flowers and brilliant fall foliage. The shrubby Siebold maple (A. sieboldianum) has seven- to nine-lobed leaves that turn red in fall.

Medium-sized maples, often more than 9 metres (30 feet) tall, include the big-toothed maple (A. grandidentatum); some believe it to be a subspecies of sugar maple, a Rocky Mountain tree, often multistemmed, displaying pink to red fall foliage. Coliseum maple (A. cappadocicum) and Miyabe maple (A. miyabei) provide golden-yellow fall colour. The three-flowered maple (A. triflorum) and the paperbark maple (A. griseum) have tripartite leaves and attractive peeling bark, in the former tannish and in the latter copper brown.

The ash-leaved maple, or box elder, is a fast-growing tree of limited landscape use. The Norway maple (A. platanoides), a handsome, dense, round-headed tree, has spectacular greenish-yellow flower clusters in early spring; many cultivated varieties are available with unusual leaf colour (red, maroon, bronze, or purple) and growth form (columnar, globular, or pyramidal).

Large maples, usually in excess of 30 metres high, that are much planted for shade include the sugar (A. saccharum), silver (A. saccharinum), and red (A. rubrum) maples. The Oregon, or bigleaf, maple (A. macrophyllum) provides commercially valuable wood darker than that of other maples; it shows bright-orange fall foliage. The Sycamore maple (A. pseudoplatanus), an important shade and timber tree in Europe, has many ornamental varieties.

In one group of maples, the vertically striped silvery-white young bark provides an attractive winter landscaping feature. These trees are the striped maple (A. pennsylvanicum), the red snake-bark maple (A. capillipes), the Her’s maple (A. hersii), and the David’s maple (A. davidii). The chalk maple, with whitish bark, is sometimes classified as A. leucoderme, although some authorities consider it a subspecies of sugar maple.

13 Beautiful Species of Maple Trees

Vanessa Richins Myers has a BS in horticulture and over 10 years of training and experience as a professional horticulturist and gardener.

Jillian is a freelance journalist with 10 years of editorial experience in the lifestyle genre. She is a writer and fact checker for TripSavvy, as well as a fact-checker for The Spruce.

Many people decide to plant maples because they work well as shade, street, and specimen trees. Maples are renowned for their autumn colors; many species put on a display of oranges, browns, yellows, and reds every year. Some trees may have leaves sporting several of these colors at once. Another desirable trait is the ability of many maples to tolerate drought.

Maple trees include a sizable number of species in the genus Acer within the plant family Aceraceae. Most of the maple species are deciduous woody plants, ranging from multi-stemmed shrubs to large upright trees with massive trunks.

Warning

Most maples are shallow-rooted trees that can push up sidewalks and other paving surfaces if planted too close. Many varieties also develop thick exposed roots that make it hard to mow lawns; these types are better planted in a woodland setting or where the ground around them can be covered with mulch or a living ground cover other than grass. Most maples are also moisture-seekers, and their roots may infiltrate water pipes or sewer lines if they are planted above them. Always check the behavior of the maple species you are considering before planting it.

Here are 13 excellent maple tree species for your landscape.

Amur Maple (Acer ginnala)

The Amur maple is one of the smaller trees in the Acer genus, growing either as a spreading multi-stem shrub or a small tree with a dense, rounded crown. Acer ginnala is sometimes classified as a subspecies of Tatarian maple, carrying the label Acer tataricum subsp. ginnala. It also is sometimes called by the common name Siberian maple. Fall leaf color is red, with yellows sometimes also appearing. The ‘Embers’ and ‘Flame’ varieties have especially vibrant fall colors in both leaves and fruit. Once established, the Amur maple will have some drought resistance.

• Native Area: Korea, Japan, Mongolia, Siberia
• USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
• Height: 30 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Big Leaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum)

As the name suggests, the leaves are quite large on this tree. It has the biggest leaves of any maple; the classic five-lobed, palm-shape leaves can be over 12 inches wide. Other common names for this tree include broadleaf maple and Oregon maple. Big leaf maple is a massive, thick-bodied tree with furrowed gray or reddish-brown bark. Spring foliage is burgundy, turning green in summer, then yellow or yellow-orange in fall. This large tree is an excellent shade tree for large landscapes and parks.

• Native Area: Western North America, from Alaska down to southern California.
• USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 7
• Height: 20 to 100 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to full shade

Hedge Maple (Acer campestre)

The hedge maple is a great choice for the urban garden, as it does well in many difficult environments: drought; acidic, alkaline, or salty soils; shady locations; and climates where there is ozone deficiency. It can also be used as a street tree if the power lines are high enough. Also known as field maple or common maple, the hedge maple is a small- to medium-sized tree that can serve as a shade tree in small landscapes or can be pruned to serve as a hedge plant in larger landscapes. Medium-green foliage gives way to yellow colors in fall.

• Native Area: Europe and southwestern Asia
• USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8
• Height: 25 to 35 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade

Hornbeam Maple (Acer carpinifolium)

Many plant species within a genus have a similar appearance, but there can be surprises, as is the case with hornbeam maple. Its leaves are nothing like what you expect from a maple. Instead, as the scientific and common names note, the foliage more closely resembles that of the hornbeam tree (Carpinus spp.). Rather than the palmate lobes found on the classic maple, this species has lobeless elongated leaves with pointed tips and corrugated texture. The green leaves turn yellow or brownish-gold in fall. This can be a somewhat difficult plant to find for sale, but it can make a good small tree or large shrub in the landscape.

• Native Area: Japan
• USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 7
• Height: 15 to 30 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade

Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)

The Japanese maple is a staple in many Japanese gardens, as well as in the world of bonsai. The leaves are either green or red and come in a wide variety of shapes and textures—there are thousands of cultivars. The leaves typically have more lobes than other maples, and a finer texture. Fall colors vary considerably depending on cultivar; yellows, red-purples, and bronze hues are all available. A Japanese maple can be a focal point in many different types of garden designs. Dwarf varieties are often used as ornamental shrubs, while larger cultivars are planted as small specimen trees. This plant is sensitive to both heat and cold. Even in zone 5, a severe cold spell in winter can cause severe dieback, and in the southern part of the range, it benefits from some shade to prevent leaf scorch.

• Native Area: China, Korea, Japan
• USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
• Height: Varies; usually 15 to 25 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade, may survive full shade

Norway Maple (Acer platanoides)

Known either as Norway maple or European maple, this popular species was brought to North America from Europe in the 18th century. It has since become one of the most prevalent trees. This medium-sized shade tree has an attractive dense crown that is symmetrically round, but it is a shallow-rooted tree. In the right settings, this species may become invasive, so before planting it check to make sure it is not a problem in your region. (Many states and counties have actually declared it legally invasive, so it’s likely best to avoid it all together.) Crimson King is one of the most popular varieties; it features very attractive maroon leaves throughout the growing season, but the fall color is unremarkable, turning a grayish color. Other varieties usually feature yellow hues in fall.

• Native Area: Europe and western Asia
• USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7
• Height: usually 40 to 50 feet; sometimes as much as 90 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade

Paperbark Maple (Acer griseum)

The paperbark maple is often chosen for a landscape because of its cinnamon or reddish-brown colored bark that peels away from the trunk, even when the tree is young. This is a small rounded tree with narrow upright branches. The three-lobed leaves are medium green on the top surfaces, with bottom surfaces that are gray-green. The foliage turns dramatic shades of orange or red in fall. The paperbark maple is an excellent specimen tree for small landscapes, especially when planted near a deck or patio where it can be appreciated. The interesting bark provides plenty of winter interest.

• Native Area: Central China
• USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
• Height: 15 to 30 feet tall and wide
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade

Red Maple (Acer rubrum)

The red maple lives up to its name at many points throughout the year. The red spring buds turn into red seed structure (samaras) hanging from reddish twigs. Reds return to the tree with the fall color change. This medium-sized maple is a common landscape tree in North America, a classic shade tree with a rounded or oval-shaped crown. Three-lobed (or sometimes five-lobed) green leaves usually turn reddish in fall, though the particular hues can be unpredictable. Fall color also varies according to variety, ranging from greenish-yellow to red to burgundy. Regionally, this tree carries many different common names: scarlet maple, soft maple, Drummond red maple, Carolina red maple, swamp maple, trident red maple, and water maple.

• Native Area: Eastern U.S. and Canada
• USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 9
• Height: 30 to 100 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade