Maple - October Glory

The October Glory is one of the most popular maple cultivars in the United States due to its dependable fall color and vigorous growth. This variety of red maple has an oval to rounded shape and is a fast grower with strong wood, reaching a height of 40 to 50 feet. But of course this variety is best noted for its exceptional fall color. Orange to red fall color for this cultivar is brilliant in most years. Leaves retain good green color well into fall (longer than many other A. rubrum cultivars), and in more northern areas are sometimes subjected to frost prior to acquiring fall color. Unless irrigated or on a wet site, it is best used in USDA hardiness zones 5-8. Trees are often seen shorter in the southern part of its range unless growing next to a stream or on a wet site. This tree is much preferred over red maple, silver maple, or boxelder when a fast growing maple is needed. The newly emerging leaves and red flowers and fruits signal that spring has come. They appear in December and January in Florida, later in the northern part of its range. The seeds of red maple are quite popular with squirrels and birds. The tree has no other particular soil preference, but does not tolerate alkaline soil. It is well suited as a street tree in northern and mid-south climates in residential and other suburban areas.

USDA ZONES: Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8