Autumn Blaze Freeman Maple Tree

Autumn Blaze Freeman Maple (Acer x freemanii 'Autumn Blaze') is the deciduous shade tree to plant when you want a result inside a decade. It grows fast to roughly 12m tall and 8m wide, holds a neat oval crown without much shaping, and turns brilliant scarlet in autumn far more reliably than a seedling maple. In summer it throws deep, useful shade.

Why you'll love it

• Dependable autumn colour. The scarlet display is a trait of this selection rather than a lottery, so it colours the same way every year.
• Fast where speed matters. It puts on serious height early, which is what makes it worth planting on a new block instead of a slow classic.
• Shade in summer, sun in winter. The canopy is dense through the hot months, then bare from mid autumn, letting winter sun back into the house.
• Copes with difficult ground. Frost hardy, tolerant of poor soil, and one of the few large trees that will take periodically wet feet.

Where it works best

Shade trees. One tree over a lawn or entertaining area does the whole job. Give it at least 8m of clearance from the house and well away from pipes and paving.

Driveways and avenues. Plant 8m to 10m apart so each crown develops its full oval. Closer spacing forces the trees upward and thins the colour.

Feature planting. On a large block a single specimen in open lawn is the best use of it, since the autumn display needs space and a clear background.

Growing Autumn Blaze Freeman Maple in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun. This is a tree for cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and it is thoroughly frost hardy. Colder districts get the strongest colour, because the display depends on cold nights. It is not a tree for subtropical or tropical gardens.

Soil. Adaptable, including poor and heavy soils, and it handles ground that stays wet after rain better than most large trees. It still prefers depth, so break up compacted subsoil rather than digging a narrow hole.

Water and feed. Water deeply once or twice a week through the first two summers, then only in extended dry spells. A complete slow release fertiliser each spring is enough. Mulch 100mm deep, kept clear of the trunk.

Pruning and root care. Prune in winter while dormant, removing crossing limbs and lifting the lower branches for clearance. The roots are vigorous and surface feeding, so keep the tree well back from pipes, paths and driveways.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in six sizes: 300mm and 400mm pots, then 45L, 75L, 100L and 200L. The 300mm and 400mm plants are young whips, usually a single stem with light branching, and they catch up quickly at this tree's pace. From 45L upwards you are buying a formed tree with a clear trunk, and the 200L specimens carry real height on arrival.

Deciduous trees are often dispatched bare of leaves in the cooler months, which is normal and is actually the easiest time for them to travel. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse more trees and shrubs with autumn colour.
• Compare the full deciduous tree range.
• Read about the best canopy trees for shade.
• See formed specimens in advanced trees.

Common questions

How fast does it actually grow?

Around a metre a year in good conditions once established, which is quick for a tree of this size. Growth slows as it approaches its mature height.

Will it colour up in a mild climate?

It colours best where autumn nights turn genuinely cold. In mild coastal and Mediterranean gardens the display is later and softer, though still worthwhile.

Does it drop a lot of leaf litter?

Yes, in one concentrated period through mid to late autumn. That is the trade for winter sun, and the leaves compost quickly once raked up.