Acer x freemanii

Freeman Maple
 

Native Range

Horticultural origin, a hybrid of Acer rubrum (red maple) with Acer saccharinum (silver maple).

Flower and Fruit Details

Flowers have red petals, appearing in mid to late March into April, stigmas, styles and petals are all ornamental. Fruits are samaras with wings 0.75" long, usually but not always reddish, maturing into brown, May-June, borne on pedicels 2-3" long and held at a 60-degree angle.

Leaf and Bark Features

Leaves have a silvery underside, somewhat ornamental. Bark is often a beautiful silver-gray

Culture and Care

Tolerant of a variety of soils but prefers moist, slightly acid conditions, shows chlorosis in high pH soil, tolerant of ozone and sulfur dioxide, not particularly tolerant of urban conditions. Leafhoppers may cause considerable damage, also may have problems with some borers.

Suggested Uses

Cultivars of this species are often used as specimen or street trees.

Taxa and Plants of this Species at BCA

The following taxa are (or were) represented in the collections at Boone County Arboretum. Additional taxa may be available in the trade that are not included here.

  • Acer x freemanii 'Armstrong' // Armstrong Freeman Maple
    Tree. Grows 50-70' tall and 15' wide, medium to fast growth rate, reaching 12-15' in 5-7 years. Fall color is variable yellow orange to orange red, often of poor quality.
    BT001440 - BT002780 - BT002790

  • Acer x freemanii 'Celzam' // Celebration® Freeman Maple
    Tree. Grows to 45' tall and 20-25' wide, with a compact, pyramidal form. This is a male cultivar, seedless. Dense foliage is deeply lobed, resembling that of Silver Maple. Fall color is red turning to gold, starting early October finishing mid to late October. Very resistant to insects and disease, and strong crotch angles resist storm damage. Introduced by Lake County Nursery, Perry, OH.
    BT001179

  • Acer x freemanii 'Jeffsred' // Autumn Blaze® Freeman Maple
    Tree. Fast growing to 50' tall and 40' wide. This cultivar has excellent orange-red fall color, lasting later than many other cultivars. And because it is seedless, it won't contribute seedlings to the rest of your garden beds. New growth has a tinge of red color, through the winter until the next growing season. After that first year, bark becomes more light gray as is typical for the Freeman hybrid. Susceptible to typical maple diseases, though this particular cultivar has fewer problems with leafhoppers and verticillium wilt.
    BT001400 - BT001410 - BT001420c - BT001670

  • Acer x freemanii 'Sienna' // Sienna Glen® Freeman Maple
    Tree.
    BT001306