Maples are a popular choice for landscaping accents. Maple trees come in many sizes and can produce stunning foliage. You can use maple trees to create focal points and shade. They also increase property value. But which maple trees are best?
Maple trees thrive in areas that receive a lot of sunlight and are free from underground obstructions. Sugar, Japanese, black, paperbark and crimson King maple trees are some of the best to plant in your yard.
No matter how small your yard is, there’s a maple tree that will fit the bill. We will include trees that are hardy to multiple growth zones, small trees and large trees. Additionally, we’ll discuss any potential pros and cons. Let’s get started!
About The Mighty Maple Tree
Over 125 species of maple trees exist around the globe, but only 12 are native to North America. Maple trees are easily identified by their distinctive five- or seven-lobed leaves. (Remember the Canadian flag?) But there are many other leaf shapes.
Maple varieties can reach over 100 feet high, while others will only grow to five feet. Maple trees are considered deciduous. This means that they lose their leaves when it gets cold, but in certain areas of the Mediterranean, they don’t lose any.
Some maples have shallow roots. They will search for water sources such as drain pipes or irrigation lines.
The majority of maple trees can easily be tapped to extract sap for syrup production. However, the most widely tapped maple variety is the sugar maple. This maple is native to Eastern Canada as well as the Eastern United States.
What Maple Trees Are Best For Your Yard?
Without knowing enough information, this can be a difficult question to answer. Take into account the size of your yard and the number of buildings on your property. Also, consider what you want to do with the maple tree.
Are you looking for shade? Do you want a focal point in your flower garden? Are you looking for beautiful colors in a specific season? Maybe a combination of all three?
You should also consider your specific grow zone and soil type. Some maples can tolerate harsh conditions, but others need special conditions to thrive.
Japanese Maple Tree
Many gardeners and homeowners love the Japanese maple. These trees are often boldly colored and last through the entire growing season or even in the early fall.
They come in a variety of leaf shapes, including those that can be sloping or upright.
There are many types of Japanese maples. We will concentrate on two main varieties: the Bloodgood and dwarf Japanese maple.
Get your Japanese Red Maple Tree here. They will thrive in zones 5-8!
Bloodgood Japanese Maple Tree
| Name | Acer palmatum Bloodgood |
| 15′-20′ | |
| Hardiness zones | 5 – 8 |
| Conditions | Full sun. Well-drained, slightly acidic soil. |
When you think about Japanese maple trees, the most common is the Bloodgood Japanese maple tree. They make a great addition to any garden and are a wonderful accent tree.
Dwarf Japanese Maples Tree
| Name | Acer palmatum (various) |
| 6’to 8′ | |
| Hardiness zone | 5 – 9 |
| Conditions | Partially to full sun Soft, well-drained soils. |
Dwarf Japanese maple trees tend to be slow-growing and can often form mounds of shrub-like trees. These trees are perfect focal specimens because they have many layers of wispy, thin branches with bright, showy or lacy foliage.
These trees are ideal for small yards with no space for large, tall trees.
Pros:
Because they aren’t very tall or wide, Japanese maples can be used in smaller gardens. Because of their small stature, they are easy to trim and show deep, crimson foliage throughout the growing season.
These trees aren’t very tall and don’t get heavy, so you won’t need to worry about them falling onto your home or garage.
They aren’t as intrusive as other maple tree varieties, so they won’t lift your sidewalk or dig into your water pipes.
They can create a focal point for a garden or add color to a yard.
Cons:
The price tag and weak branches are two of the biggest problems facing Japanese maples. Branch breakage can occur from heavy snow, strong winds, and thick ice.
Depending on their species and age, Japanese maples can be very expensive. Even smaller trees that are only a few decades old can cost upwards of $100 to $200.
Although Japanese maples are not susceptible to serious insect infestations or other diseases, cankers, root rot and pests such as mites and aphids can be a problem.
Sugar Maple Tree
| Name | Acer saccharum |
| 50′-75′ high | |
| Hardiness zone | 4 – 8 |
| Conditions | Part shade to full sun Well-drained, moist soil. |
Pros:
These trees produce the sap that can be boiled down to delicious maple syrup. Sugar maple trees are one of the most popular maple syrup trees.
In the fall, they also produce stunning colors. As the temperatures drop, their deep emerald green leaves turn yellow and then to orange and finally to deep red.
The sugar maple is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a tree with beautiful autumn colors that will impress your family and friends.
You should have enough space to accommodate this large tree. Otherwise, it can cause major headaches. These trees must be planted at least 30ft away from any structures or houses.
Although sugar maple roots aren’t considered to be invasive they should still be allowed to grow in your garden. These roots are not considered to be invasive, but they can dig into your underground pools if they are planted near you.
This maple tree is one of the most climate-tolerant species in North America. This variety is suitable for planting trees and surviving harsh winters.
The wood from sugar maple trees can also be used commercially and is great for making firewood . However, you won’t plant it to make furniture or heat your home.
Cons:
Sun scald is a concern when planting saplings in hotter areas. The bark can cause small cracks in the sap during winter. The trunk can suffer severe damage from the heat that damages the soft tissue beneath the bark during the summer months.
Severe sunlight scald can cause severe sunburns to trees, particularly newer sugar maple tree saplings.
Sugar maple trees can establish a dense canopy which makes it difficult for other vegetation to grow under them. Rainwater can drop around the drip edge, creating a blanket of shade that is almost constant. As nature’s umbrella, think of a sugar maple.
While some plants can tolerate the shade (maple trees need more sunlight than shade), few plants can withstand prolonged periods of drought.
To keep your maple trees thriving, you will need to water them regularly or cover them with a large mulch bed.
Sugar maples require a lot of space. Even small yards can’t accommodate all the space they take up. They are also not suited for urban environments, where pollution and emissions could shorten their lifespans.
Certain maple varieties may be more susceptible to insect pests and fungal afflictions than others. Anthracnose fungus and leaf spots could affect sugar maples, as well as the defoliating insects tent caterpillars or gypsy moths.
You can order your Sugar Maple Shade Tree delivered to your home in zones 4-8, especially the eastern side. They can be grown from saplings of 2 to 3 feet in height.
Paperbark Maple Tree
| Name | Acer griseum |
| 20′-30′ | |
| Hardiness zone | 5 – 7 |
| Conditions | Partially to full sun Only requires water in droughts. Can tolerate acidic soil. |
Pros:
Another smaller maple species is the paperbark maple. It can be used in small and medium-sized yards. The tree is similar to birch trees, except that it has a peeling bark and still produces the “winged” seeds pods which some refer to as “helicopter seeds”.
The majority of these seeds are sterile so you don’t need to trim down or pick up tons of paperbark seedlings each year.
Because of their tolerance to shade, the paperbark maple can be planted under larger trees or in areas where the sun is barely visible.
They make great focal points for any garden. The birch-like bark of the tree is able to be removed, revealing the cinnamon-colored bark beneath. This makes them stand out in winter’s bleak and colorless.
Paperbark maple is slow-growing and will eventually grow to 25-30 feet in height. In the fall, the paperbark maple’s green leaves will turn a stunning scarlet red.
Cons:
There are very few downsides to this maple variety. It can make a mess. The smaller branches can fall during storms and the peeling bark may be a nuisance.
The paperbark can be home to leafminers, which can cause extra leaf drop. However, these trees are easy to grow.
Silver Maple Tree
| Name | Acer saccharinum |
| 60′ to 80’ | |
| Hardiness zone | 3 – 9 |
| Conditions | Sunlight. Moist, acidic soil. |
Pros:
The maple tree’s silvery undersides and similar-colored bark are what give it its name. People believe that the silvery leaves indicate a storm is approaching. Strong winds can flip the leaves around and reveal the silver color.
Silver maples are becoming more popular in home landscaping because they are fast growing and can produce lots of shade in a short period.
These trees can reach up to 80 feet tall and have large trunks. This is another striking feature of the silver maple. The trunk and limbs of the silver maple are stunning in winter.
According to The Arbor Day Foundation, silver maples were highly prized during pioneering times. Silver maple sap was also preferred by these settlers to make syrup, even though it didn’t produce as fast as sugar maples.
Cons:
The exceptionally rapid growth comes with weaker wood. Maple varieties can easily drop limbs so be careful where they are planted. It is important to ensure that they are not too close to any buildings.
Silver maple roots are known for being invasive. They can clog septic drain lines or get into small, leaking supply lines. They can also push up sidewalks or paving stones.
These trees grow quickly and require a lot of space. You will need to have a large yard to allow them to free themselves.
Red Maple Tree
| Name | Acer rubrum |
| 40′-60′ | |
| Hardiness zone | 3 – 9 |
| Conditions | Part shade to full sun Tolerates most soil types. |
Pros:
Red maple is named for its tendency to be red in every season.
There are tiny red flowers in spring. The leaf stalks turn red in summer and the leaves glow deep crimson in autumn. In winter, there are red buds everywhere.
The red maple is very much like the sugar maple. The only thing that is fundamentally different, though it’s not very significant, are the leaves. The groove between the lobes of red maple leaves is V-shaped, while that in the sugar maple’s groove is more U-shaped.
The tree is faster than sugar maple trees but slower than silver maples. They are extremely cold-hardy but can also withstand high temperatures, making them suitable for most U.S. growing zones.
Cons:
Red maples are susceptible to fungal infections, which can cause their leaves to fall and become weaker. Tree trunks and limbs can be easily damaged, which can lead to rot. Keep your trees healthy to avoid these problems.
Although their roots are not as intrusive as silver maple, they are still very shallow. This makes it difficult to mow. Driveways and sidewalks that are near red maples can easily be cracked by the shallow root structure.
These are the steps to get your Red Maple Shade Tree started. These live trees can be shipped when they reach 2 to 3 feet tall.
Korean Maple Tree
| Name | Acer pseudosieboldiana |
| 15′-25′ | |
| Hardiness zone | 4 – 8 |
| Conditions | Part shade to full sun Well-drained, moist soil. It doesn’t tolerate drought. |
Pros:
They are similar to Japanese maples in that they are the same size, but can withstand colder temperatures. A Korean maple may be the right choice for you if you tried Japanese maples and they were destroyed by winter.
They are able to grow in shade, can be grown up to a height of about 3 feet, and will tolerate containers. These maple trees bear little purple flowers in the spring, and then the colors continue into autumn, when the leaves turn deep, rich red.
Korean maple trees aren’t very big so you can either plant them in smaller yards or group them together in larger areas.
Cons:
These trees can withstand cold and have few problems. A healthy Korean maple can withstand most of these afflictions.
Tatarian Maple Tree
| Name | Acer tataricum |
| 15′-20′ | |
| Hardiness zone | 3 – 8 |
| Conditions | Part shade to full sun Any soil that is well-drained |
Pros:
These maple trees are great because they can grow in almost any type of soil, provided they don’t stay in water. If the soil drains well, they will grow in clay and loam.
Tatarian maple trees grow fast and are shorter than other trees. They will soon reach their maximum height. After the adolescent growth spurt is over, the trees take on the “dadbod” and grow as tall as they can.
These maples can grow in shade, but they thrive in full sun. They put on a spectacular fall show, just like other maple trees.
They are able to work in small areas where large trees won’t grow because they are relatively small and narrow.
Cons:
Tatarian maple trees are a hybrid of two species that originated in Korea and China.
They can tolerate many temperature extremes and all soil conditions so they are considered to be an invasive species in many places.
Black Maple Tree
| Name | Acer saccharumnigrum |
| 50′ to 75’ | |
| Hardiness zone | 4 – 8 |
| Conditions | Sun full. |
Pros:
The black maple is very similar to the sugar maples. They are actually considered to be a close relative. They can be harvested to make maple syrup, and they will grow to the same height.
Mature black maples grow into pleasing shapes and glow in the fall with yellows, oranges and reds.
A black maple is a good choice if you’re looking for a shade tree. They can reach up to 50 inches in diameter and provide plenty of shade in large open spaces.
Cons:
These trees aren’t susceptible to major problems. Leaf scorch, fungus and boring insects are minor problems. They are not suited for coastal areas because of the salt that will hinder growth.
They are also sensitive to air pollution. These trees prefer country air.
The Best Time To Plant Maple Trees
Although technically trees can be planted at any time that the ground isn’t frozen, it is best to plant them in fall.
Roots that are damaged need to be established before they can start using nutrients and energy for leaf growth. Fall is the best time to stimulate roots.
The tree enters its dormant period and can be replanted before winter sets in.
Planting trees in summer is not a good idea because of the heat and dry conditions. Trees that are stressed or weak will have trouble fighting insects and other ailments.
You can read our article on moving your maple tree.
Why Not Plant Maple Trees In The Spring?
Because they are waking up from dormancy, spring tree planting might seem like the best time to plant them. It would seem like spring is the best time to plant trees because April showers bring forth leaves, and it’s also when they start to grow.
This may hold true for other trees and flowers, but for maple trees, it is not the best time to plant. Maples produce a lot sap and must push the sap through the trunk to reach the leaf buds.
Trees are striving to build strong roots systems. The roots are the heart of the tree. They can’t afford more energy to grow new branches and leaves. Trees will focus on their roots first, and everything else second.
Fall planting will allow the tree to develop a healthy root system, which will then be ready for spring.
Don’t Prune Maple Trees In Spring Either
Pruning is usually done in spring or early winter. Spring pruning can be dangerous for maple trees. Again, this is related to sap production.
Trees can lose some sap, but maple syrup or thank goodness they aren’t a thing, it is necessary to prepare them to produce leaf. Maple trees produce a lot sap and larger maple trees will require more sap to bush the large leaf canopy.
Trees that are affected by excessive sap production or movement time should be cut. This will make them “bleed” more and can lead to a weaker tree. Trees that are not feeling their best can lead to infections just like humans.
Schedule your maple tree pruning for fall. It will not lose as much sap and the wounds will heal faster, making it healthier overall.
How Long Do Maple Trees Live?
A maple tree that is properly maintained can live for between 80 and 300 years depending on its species. Sugar maples are the longest-living of all trees, with some being reported to live up to 400 years.
Red maples can often grow for more than 300 years. Silver maples, on the other hand, live for about 100 years before they die.
Slow-growing Japanese maples can live up to 100 years. You could have a tree that lasts several generations, depending on which variety you choose.
Take a look at this article on the best Maple tree fertilizers if you want to increase the lifespan of your maple tree!
That’s All We’ve Got!
Like all trees, maples have many pros and cons. There are plenty to choose from for your landscaping needs. Silver, red, and sugar maple are all options if you’re looking for a large shade tree that will last a lifetime.
Japanese, Korean or paper bark maples might be the best choice if you are looking for something that is easier to maintain and won’t take over your small yard.
The maple variety on this list will provide you with beautiful fall colors, and some of them will continue to be a vibrant show through the winter.