Mountain Maple vs Armstrong Maple - TreeTime.ca

Mountain Maple vs Armstrong Maple

Acer spicatum

Acer x freemanii Armstrong

CUSTOM GROW

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

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Armstrong Maple

Used to growing in the shadows of the damp forest, White Maple (aka Mountain Maple) is a great fit for shady and wet areas, such as beneath larger trees. Unlike most of its cousins, the White Maple is a shrub instead of a tree. It's still a maple, however, with sap that can be made into Maple syrup to prove it!

In May and June, the classic shapes of Maple leaves are joined by clusters of green and yellow flowers. Soon after, red samaras (aka helicopter seeds or whirligigs) appear. This distinctive appearance makes White Maple an excellent choice for giving urban yards a unique (and patriotic) look.

The Armstrong Maple has a narrow, upright columnar growth habit. This stunning tree has showy leaves that range from yellow, orange to red in the fall. It is an attractive hybrid of the Red Maple and Silver Maple. It prefers acidic soils and will have some tolerance for drought once mature.

Edward Murray named the Armstrong Maple in 1969 in honor of Oliver M. Freeman of the National Arboretum, who made the first controlled cross between the two species in 1933.

Mountain Maple Quick Facts

Armstrong Maple Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 3a
Height: 15 m (50 ft)
Height: 15 m (50 ft)
Spread: 15 m (50 ft)
Spread: 6 m (20 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: fast
Life span: long
Life span: long
Suckering: medium
Suckering: high
Maintenance: medium


Fall colour: purple to bright red to yellow
Fall colour: orange/yellow
Bark: thin reddish or greyish
Flowers: yellow and green
Seeds: winged samaras
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: white maple
Other Names: armstrong red maple