Freeman's maple | The Morton Arboretum

This sturdy hybrid is very common in this region, often serving as a parkway or street tree. It has a brilliant, red-orange color in the fall. Freeman’s maple is a hybrid of red maple and silver maple; the cross yields both the strong branch attachment of the red maple and the fast growth rate of the silver maple. Freeman’s maple is also less susceptible to chlorosis symptoms than the red or silver maples. Freeman’s maple offers a number of cultivars and these are more commonly planted than the species.

This species is a hybrid of two trees that are native to the Chicago region according to Wilhelm and Rericha’s Flora of the Chicago Region.

Family (English) Soapberry (formerly Maple)
Family (botanic) Sapindaceae (formerly Aceraceae)
Planting site City parkway, Residential and parks, Wide median
Tree or plant type Tree
Foliage Deciduous (seasonally loses leaves)
Native locale Chicago area, Illinois, North America
Size range Large tree (more than 40 feet)
Mature height 40-60 feet
Mature width 20-40 feet
Light exposure Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily)
Hardiness zones Zone 5 (Northern Illinois), Zone 6 (City of Chicago), Zone 7, Zone 8
Soil preference Moist, well-drained soil
Drought tolerance Moderately tolerant
Other tolerances Alkaline soil, clay soil, Dry sites, Wet sites
Season of interest early fall, mid fall
Flower color and fragrance Inconspicuous
Shape or form Columnar, Oval, Pyramidal, Upright
Growth rate Fast
Transplants well Yes
Planting considerations Commonly planted
Wildlife Insect pollinators
Has cultivars Yes

More Information

Native Geographic Location and Habitat

Freeman’s maple is of hybrid origin, a cross between two native trees, red maple (Acer rubrum) and silver maple (Acer saccharinum).

Bark Description

Its bark is fairly smooth and silver-gray, becoming fissured with age.

Leaf Description

Leaves are simple, in pairs (opposite), and 3 to 5 inches long. The five-lobed leaves are deeply lobed, with toothed sinuses, and often resemble those of silver maple. Leaves are medium green with a silvery underside and fall color is red-orange to yellow, variable by cultivar.

Flower Description

Flowers are inconspicuous. Some trees will have both male and female flowers, some will have only male flowers.

Fruit Description

Fruit are winged seeds in pairs (samaras), and some cultivars produce no fruit.

Care Knowledge

Plant Care

Avoid pruning maples in spring as they are ‘bleeders’ and will lose large amounts of sap.

Drought Tolerance

Freeman’s maple is moderately drought tolerant once established.

Pests, Diseases, and Other Tolerances

Verticillium wilt (fungus) and maple bladder gall are potential problems for maples. This hybrid has the strong branch attachment of the red maple and fast growth rate of the silver maple and is less susceptible to chlorosis (yellowing leaves) than red or silver maples.

Cultivars

These plants are cultivars of a hybrid of two trees that are native to the Chicago region according to Swink and Wilhelm’s Plants of the Chicago Region, with updates made according to current research. Cultivars are plants produced in cultivation by selective breeding or via vegetative propagation from wild plants identified to have desirable traits.

Armstrong Freeman’s maple (Acer x freemanii ‘Armstrong’)

This is an upright, narrow form tree growing 50 to 70 feet high and 15 to 20 feet wide. Fall color is an orange-red, depending upon the year.

Autumn Blaze® Freeman’s maple (Acer x freemanii ‘Jeffersred’)

This cultivar is a rounded to broad oval tree, growing 50 to 60 feet high and 40 to 50 feet wide. It has a strong central leader and better branching habit than silver maple. Fall color is a consistent orange-red. Originally, it was thought to be a male tree, but has produced fruit in some cases. Moderately drought tolerant once established.

Autumn Fantasy® Freeman’s maple (Acer x freemanii ‘DTR 102)

A broadly oval form growing about 50 feet high and 40 feet wide, which produces bright red fall color.

Celebration® Freeman’s maple (Acer x freemanii ‘Celzam’)

A broadly oval form growing about 50 feet high and 35 feet wide. Leaves are similar to silver maple, but this cultivar has a more uniform growth habit, making it more resistant to storm damage. It is more tolerant of urban conditions. Fall color is yellow to orange.

Firefall™ Freeman’s maple (Acer x freemanii ‘AF#1’)

An upright oval form growing 50 feet high and 35 feet wide. The orange-red to red fall color develops a little earlier than other cultivars.

Marmo Freeman’s maple (Acer x freemanii ‘Marmo’)

This cultivar has a uniform, upright to columnar form. It grows 45 to 70 feet high and 35 to 40 feet wide. Has a strong central leader and excellent branching habit. Fall color is an interesting mottled blend of red and green to burgundy, and yellow. Produces no fruit. The parent tree was selected from the collections at The Morton Arboretum. A Chicagoland Grows® introduction.

Sienna Glen® Freeman’s maple (Acer x freemanii ‘Sienna’)

This cultivar has a strong central leader and a uniform, pyramidal shape. It grows 50 feet high and 35 feet wide. Fall color is orange to red-burgundy.