Acer rubrum Fairview Flame - Maple

Fairview Flame Red Maple is a variety of Red Maple with a pyramidal habit and palmate foliage of a beautiful shiny bright green. In autumn, it undergoes a metamorphosis into a veritable bright red flame with the deciduous foliage changing colour as a result of the cool nights. Few other plants can rival its dazzling appearance. It grows rapidly, and quickly becomes a focal point in the garden, whether planted as a free-standing specimen or in a large bed. It should be planted in an acid to neutral soil, which stays moist in summer, and preferably in full sun. Very hardy, it is completely frost resistant and does well in urban contexts.

Native to the north-east of the United States and Canada, the Acer rubrum is known by various names depending on the region, such as Canadian Maple, Red Maple, or Virginia Maple. It is a large forest tree belonging to the Sapindaceae family (formerly Aceraceae) and can reach 30 m (98 in 5 ft) in height in its native habitat. This light- and semi-shade-loving species can live up to 200 years long. Its wood is commonly used in furniture making.

The Fairview Flame Red Maple was selected primarily for its pyramidal habit and autumn colours. It grows quickly and forms a beautiful tree 15 m (49 in 2 ft) tall and 10 m (32 in 10 ft) in spread, with a dense and closed pyramid-shaped crown that tends to round out with age. Although not really decorative, its grey bark enhances the foliage above it. Its deciduous leaves are divided into five lobes and carried by reddish petioles or stalks. The upper surface is a beautiful shiny green with a greyer tinge on the underside. These palmate leaves undergo a metamorphosis in autumn, becoming one of the most vibrant reds in the plant kingdom. Flowering occurs in March, before the leaves appear. The small red, pollen-rich flowers are arranged in drooping terminal clusters. The abundant fruiting consists of two-winged red fruits called samaras. It only appears on mature specimens and is much appreciated by squirrels... as well as by children who love to throw them in the air and watch them come tumbling down like the blades of a helicopter.

Thanks to its geographic origin, this Maple is extremely hardy, being able to withstand temperatures as low as -30°C (-22 °F). It thrives in deep, moist soil, acid to neutral and clayey, where its autumn colours will be much more intense. A well-established specimen can tolerate poor, stony soils, but chalky or dry soils should be avoided as have a negative impact on autumn colouring, and can even cause chlorosis if the lime content is too high.

Fairview Flame will look stunning in gardens that are large enough to accommodate it, planted as an free-standing specimen on a lawn to show it at its best or paired with other plants in a large bed. You will not be able to resist planting other autumn glories alongside or under its branches, such as the superb Witch Hazels, which not only have magnificent autumn colours in shades of orange and red, but also produce superb, spidery flowers in winter. For a more striking colour contrast, choose a variety of Ginkgo biloba for the golden yellow of its autumn leaves.