Tree recommendation? (maple?) - Page 2

 On Wed, 1 Feb 2006 11:40:00 -0500


James is right, there are plenty of maples that will do the job.
The great thing about Acer is the huge choice and variety.
Given the distance from the house you will need to pick a
tree that wont get too big.  Acer rubrum (Red maple, note
for fall not summer coloring) will probably outgrow the spot, IMO,
if you pick the species, but there are probably some cultivars available
that will stay much smaller, e.g. 'Sunshine' or 'Red Sunset.'

I don't know what exact zone you're in, but here's a few that might do:

Acer x freemanii 'Autumn Blaze"  is a cross between rubrum (Red) and
saccharinum (silver) the latter contributing mostly a fast growing
aspect.  Good deep red fall color, fairly upright in habit but eventually
spreading, hardy to zone 4, eventually to 20 m, which may be too
large for your situation.

Acer platanoides 'Globosum' is smaller than the usual Norway maples
(to 12 m) but with similar leaf (a bit smaller) and color characteristics.  
The crown is a bit spreading, but it has other nice features like yellow
flowers and red bracts in spring.  Also widely available.  Hardy.

Acer pseudoplatanus 'Prinz Handjéry'  is very similar to the popular
'Brillantissimum' but has red shaded under leaf, with the advantage
that it is much less prone to sunburn.  The leaves are also more
deeply cut.  A very remarkable tree with shrimp pink spring foliage
going through orange and yellow before nice summer green.  Not
remarkable fall coloring, though.  To around 12 m maximum.  Hardy.

Acer cappadocicum, the caucasian maple, is also hardy to zone
4-5 and in colder climates makes a smaller tree.  Lovely dark green
leaves emerge red -- also in summer -- and good yellow fall color.

Of course as was pointed out a local nurseryman is your best
source for advice as to what will do well locally.

HTH

-E

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 Fagus sylvatica 'tricolor'

beech trees don't lose all their leaves until the next spring and the leaves
contain much less tannic acid thn oaks...best of all, having them is akin to
having autumn all season long!!!!!
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