Freeman maple is a hybrid in the maple family (Sapindaceae) taking the best qualities of 2 native trees, the red and silver maples. These trees hybridize in the wild to produce a tree that grows fast, with less invasive roots, stronger wood and good fall color. The species is named for Oliver M. Freeman of the U.S. National Arboretum. The tree will grow 45-70 feet tall and 35-50 feet wide. It prefers well-drained moist, acidic soil in the full sun to partial shade, can tolerate heavy clay soils and even occasionally wet soils. Once trees are established they can tolerate some drought. This tree doesn't always bloom but if it does the sparse spring flowers are followed by winged samaras. The leaves turn a red-orange in fall. Leaves can be variable in shape but are usually somewhere between a silver maple and a red maple leaf. There are several cultivars available for this tree. It makes an excellent shade, lawn, or street tree. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems though leafhoppers, borers and scale can affect immature trees. See potential insect and disease problem fact sheets to the left. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common maple diseases and insect pests. VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University More information on Acer .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
Available space
24-60 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 45 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in. | Width: 35 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect; Oval
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Palmatifid
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Deeply cut five-lobed palmatifid leaves with the central lobe wider towards the tip than at its base, the sides often concave. The upper surface is dark green, smooth and glossy, paler and smooth underneath. They are 4-6 inches long and wide. Good fall color of orange-red.
Fall color
Orange; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Insignificant; Red/Burgundy
Flower form
Insignificant
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Blooms in April but rarely flowers and blooms are not very noticeable. Blooms in dense red clusters at the ends of one year old branches.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow
Fruit type
Samara
Fruit detail
The 2-winged samaras are sparsely produced. Matures to yellow-brown.
Bark color
Light Gray
Bark detail
The bark is fairly smooth and silver-gray, becoming fissured with age.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Gray/Silver; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Branchlets are red to reddish-brown and smooth, older branches turn grayish like the trunk.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
USA, Maine, Vermont
Wildlife value
Bees are attracted to the early nectar source of the flowers. Members of the genus Acer support Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Flower nectar attracts bees and other pollinators. Seeds are enjoyed by birds. The fruit, along with the buds, are a primary food source for gray squirrels in late winter and early spring. Sprouts are a favorite food for white-tailed deer, but this tree is moderately resistant to damage.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Moths; Small Mammals; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Samara
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Cottage Garden; Rain Garden
Design feature
Shade Tree; Street Tree
Garden tags
#low maintenance #street tree #drought tolerant #lawn tree #shade tree #rain garden #wet soils tolerant #parks #fall interest #landscape plant sleuths course #HS304