What soil does Freeman maple grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, acidic.

Is Freeman maple hardy?

Hardy down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

How far from the house should Freeman maple be planted?

Plant it at least 4.5 m from buildings. Keep it at least 2.5 m from paving.

How much water does Freeman maple need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

Freeman maple

Acer × freemanii

Freeman maple (Acer × freemanii) is a large tree. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -34 °C. Drought tolerance: medium.

Illustration of Freeman maple — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A hybrid of red and silver maple: it grows as fast as silver maple but with stronger branching, and it reliably turns orange-red to scarlet in autumn. It becomes a large tree, so give it a roomy garden as a specimen or shade tree. It looks best on neutral to slightly acidic, moist soil; on strongly alkaline, limy ground the leaves turn yellow, so do not plant it there.

Watch out for

It copes with lime better than red maple, but on strongly alkaline, limy soil it still develops iron and manganese chlorosis (yellow leaves), a common problem on the calcareous soils of Central Europe: growth is poor there and the autumn colour fails. It needs watering in the years after planting and in hot, dry summers. Young trees can be attacked by leafhoppers, scale insects and borers, and verticillium wilt of maples can occur. Cultivars differ in size and shape: Autumn Blaze is broadly oval, Armstrong narrowly columnar.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 8 m × 5 m
Hardiness: down to -34 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D March–April, red

Group	Large tree
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	8 m × 5 m
Ultimate size	12–21 m × 9–15 m
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Acidic
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	March–April, red
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Medium
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 4.5 m
Distance from paving	at least 2.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	1000 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For children	no data
Typical price	no data

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

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