Maple trees are some of the most popular ornamental and shade trees and for good reason. They are easy to grow, requiring little to no maintenance once they are established. They are also exceptionally beautiful. The most colorful maple trees are Japanese maples and red maples. These maple tree varieties have exceptional color throughout the year or in fall.
Most Colorful Maple Trees
These small maple tree varieties come in upright and weeping forms. Enjoy colorful foliage in spring, summer and fall. Japanese maples can be grown in pots.
Upright Japanese Maples
Bloodgood Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood'
Growing Zones 5-9
Mature Size: 15 to 20 feet tall and wide
This compact ornamental tree offers exciting purples and reds. Enjoy a deep burgundy color in spring and summer and vibrant red in fall.
Acer palmatum 'Sango-kaku'
Growing Zones 5-8
Mature Size: 15 to 25 feet tall and 12 to 15 feet wide
The Coral Bark Japanese Maple provides shade and unique color. It has pink to reddish coral bark and green leaves with red veins and stems. In fall the leaves turn sunny yellow.
Weeping (Laceleaf, Dissectum, Dwarf) Japanese Maples
Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Crimson Queen’
Growing Zones 5-8
Mature Size: 6 to 10 feet tall and 10 to 12 feet wide
This dwarf tree often grows more like a shrub, with branches cascading down to the ground. The striking foliage is lacy and crimson throughout the spring and summer, and a brighter red in fall.
Acer palmatum var. dissectum 'Orangeola'
Growing Zones 5-9
Mature Size: 6 to 8 feet tall and wide
This amazing Japanese Maple has a brilliant orange color in spring and summer with shades of green peeking through in later spring and summer. In fall, you will be dazzled with red and orange hues.
Acer palmatum var. dissectum 'Red Dragon'
Growing Zones 5-9
Mature Size: 8 feet tall and wide
The Red Dragon has phenomenal red color from spring to fall. The dissectum maples add distinctive and lovely texture to your landscape. This Japanese Maple performs well in containers and is full sun tolerant.
Acer palmatum var. dissectum 'Tamukeyama'
Growing Zones 5-8
Mature Size: 6 to 8 feet tall and 8 to 12 feet wide
The Tamukeyama is one of the most prized Japanese maple trees. It has rich purple and red hues through the year. Plant this beauty in your rock or meditation garden and ommmmmm.
Most Colorful Red Maples
Fast growing red maples make excellent shade or street trees. They have fiery autumn leaves that set your landscape ablaze in fall.
Acer x freemanii
Growing Zones 3-8
Mature Size: up to 50 feet tall and 40 feet wide
This fast growing red maple can grow 3 to 5 feet per year. It has gorgeous orange to crimson red fall color and is disease resistant.
Acer rubrum 'Brandywine'
Growing Zones 4-9
Mature Size: up to 50 feet tall and 40 feet wide
The Brandywine Maple is loaded with stunning red color. This shade tree boasts red blossoms and red-tinted green leaves in spring. In fall, the red wine color is a sight to behold.
Acer rubrum ‘October Glory’
Growing Zones 4-9
Mature Size: up to 50 feet tall and 40 feet wide
The October Glory Maple Tree is fast growing and disease and pest resistant. The green leaves turn orange and then true red in fall.
Acer rubrum
Growing Zones 3-9
Mature Size: up to 60 feet tall and 40 feet wide
The Red Maple is a classic. It is native to the United States, cold hardy, easy to grow, and fast growing. This tree boasts red buds, red blooms, red samaras, reddish twigs in spring, and red leaves in fall.
Acer rubrum 'Franksred'
Growing Zones 4-8
Mature Size: up to 50 feet tall and 40 feet wide
The Sunset Maple is an early leaf color changer. It turns from green to orange and red in fall. This colorful deciduous tree requires no maintenance once it is established and can tolerate wet conditions.
No matter what maple tree variety you choose, you are sure to have a gorgeous and colorful tree in your landscape for your lifetime and beyond. These hardy trees come in small and large sizes so there is a maple for every yard. Shop our maple trees for sale! Happy maple planting!
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Japanese Maple Trees
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Japanese Maple Trees Blogs:
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Top 10 Japanese Maple Tree Varieties
Growing Japanese Maples in Pots
