Acer × freemanii A.E. Murray

Occuring both in the wild and in gardens, Acer × freemanii combines the best features of both parents. This somewhat fastigiate clone is 'Armstrong'. Image K. Camelbeke.

Acer × freemanii 'Armstrong' forming a beautiful conic tree 21.5 m tall at the Rural Life Museum, Tilford, Surrey, UK; 14th October 2017. Image Owen Johnson.

Acer × freemanii 23 m tall in central London; September 2021. This example shows rather poor autumn colour. Image Owen Johnson.

A huge old Acer × freemanii at the Savill Garden, Surrey (August 2011), reputedly a chance hybrid from wild-origin seed grown for landscaping purposes in Windsor Great Park during the 18th Century. Image John Grimshaw.

The trunk of the old Acer × freemanii at the Savill Garden, Surrey (August 2011) Image John Grimshaw.

'AF#1'

A cross made at the University of Minnesota between Acer saccharinum ‘Beebe’ and A. rubrum ‘Autumn Spire’, with dissected leaves closer to the former, and the cold hardiness of the latter (Dirr & Warren 2019; Hatch 2021–2022). It is a male clone and has an upright spreading habit, becoming leggy as it ages, with red autumn colour (Dirr & Warren 2019; Hatch 2021–2022).

'Armstrong'

A strong growing, upright clone recommended for for urban use (van Gelderen, de Jong & Oterdoom 1994; Dirr & Warren 2019). Notably quick-growing, it can be excessively vigourous, becoming more columnar than fastigiate (van Gelderen, de Jong & Oterdoom 1994; Dirr & Warren 2019), and is looser, wider and more vigoruous than than ‘Bowhall’ or ‘JFS-KW78’ (ARMSTRONG GOLD™) (Dirr & Warren 2019). It is thus a good choice for difficult conditions where its vigour will be checked (Dirr & Warren 2019).

The ‘original’ ‘Armstrong’ was found in Ohio by Newton Amstrong (van Gelderen et al. 1994), who purchased it for $5 from a farmer at Hartgrove (Jacobson 1996). Amstrong then told Ed Scanlon about it, who propagated it in 1949, first offering it commercially via his Scanlon Nursery in 1955–56 (Jacobson 1996). Yellow to orange or red in autumn, its seasonal performance is noted as unspectacular both in Europe and Vancouver (van Gelderen et al. 1994; Justice, in prep.)

Listed under Acer rubrum by some authors, its hybrid origin was first suggested by Bachtell (1989). Seedlings reportedly look more like rubrum, suggesting that there is only little saccharinum in its parentage (Dirr & Warren 2019). It is a seed-producing clone (Justice, in prep.). The more recent ‘Armstrong Two’, marketed as superior to ‘Armstrong’, has reportedly been shown to be identical to this selection (Dirr & Warren 2019) and is treated as a synonym here.

'Bailston'

Very similar to AUTUMN BLAZE^®, but perhaps with better cold hardiness (Dirr & Warren 2019).

A rather windswept Acer × freemannii 'Bailston' (Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, August 2022). Image John Grimshaw.

'Celzam'

Although often listed as a male clone this is reputed to produce seed (Justice, in prep.) and both male and female flowers are noted by Dirr & Warren (2019). Selected by Lake County Nursery, Ohio and introduced in 1987 (Jacobson 1996), it is fast growing but ultimately smaller than most Acer × freemanii forms, retaining a central leader better than many (Dirr & Warren 2019). Justice (in prep.) suggests it may have the most symmetrical crown of any maple. Its leaves resemble A. saccharinum more than A. rubrum in shape, turning golden to red in autumn (Jacobson 1996; Dirr & Warren 2019).

Acer × freemanii 'Celzam' (CELEBRATION) being buffeted by a gusty wind (Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, August 2022). Image John Grimshaw.

'DTR 102'

A female found by William Wandell of Urbana, Illinois before 1986 (Jacobson 1996). It resembles Acer saccharinum more than many other hybrid clones, though with the red autumn colour closer to its other parent (Dirr & Warren 2019). Developing an open crown, it is suggested as useful for warmer areas where its tendency towards leggy growth is checked and where many other reds don’t succeed (Dirr & Warren 2019).

'Elegant'

Originating at the former nursery De Bie van Aaslst Zundert, The Netherlands, this selection was first thought to belong to Acer saccharinum, and propagated by layering and sold as that species (van Gelderen, de Jong & Oterdoom 1994), Grootendorst decided that it was in fact a hybrid, showing a more compact crown than A. saccharinum. Its leaves are small and deeply lobed (van Gelderen, de Jong & Oterdoom 1994).

'Embers'

ˋEmberś is of unknown origin but appeared in the trade c. 1979–80; later speculation has suggested that it could be the same as ‘Morgan’ (Jacobson 1996). It is thus included here rather than under Acer rubrum, as recorded elsewhere. It develops a pyramidal then rounded form, its leaves turning deep red in autumn (Jacobson 1996).

'Jefcel'

A clone discovered and introduced in Manitoba and proving exceptionally hardy, developing a rounded crown and exhibiting good autumn colour. It also shows good pH tolerance (Dirr & Warren 2019).

'Jeffersred'

A popular tree in both North America and Europe, selected in the late 1960s by Glenn A. Jeffers of Fostoria, Ohio, from a group of seedlings (Jacobson 1996). Intermediate between its parents, it is very quick growing, developing a broad oval crown. However, multiple leaders and tight branch unions within the crown can become problematic, and the tree can become prone to storm damage. Formative pruning is advised to avoid trouble later on. Autumn colour is orange or red.

Acer × freemanii AUTUMN BLAZE nearing its peak in Arboretum Cimetière Parc, Nantes, France, on 8 October 2023. Image Tom Christian.

Although selected firstly for autumn colour, Acer × freemanii AUTUMN BLAZE will also form a shapely tree. This example in Clyne Gardens, Swansea, Wales, planted in 2002, was 16.5 m tall in June 2024. Image Owen Johnson.

'JFS-KW78'

Sometimes listed as a selection of Acer rubrum, though selected from a batch of A. × freemanii ‘Armstrong’ seedlings as an improvement on its parent (Schmidt & Son Co. 2023). Fastigiate, with a tighter crown, it is recommended for use on narrow streets (Schmidt & Son Co. 2023). Its leaves are also smaller, colouring better in autumn, usually orange or golden yellow (Dirr & Warren 2019).

'Jose's Variegated'

Named after its discover, Jose, a propagator at Taylors Nursery of Raleigh, North Carolina, and introduced by Pat McCracken of McCracken Nursery, also Raleigh, its leaves are greyish green, outlined creamy white (Hatch 2021–2022).

'JSC Kingsone'

A very colourful selection, described by the great American authority on cultivars Larry Hatch as having leaves mottled creamy yellow, turning purple, pink, orange and red in autumn (Hatch 2021–2022).

'Lee's Red'

A clone with red autumn colour selected from Ontario, Canada, and introduced by Sheridan Nursery, Ontario before 1987(Jacobson 1996).

'Marmo'

A fast growing selection with strong, upright growth, becoming broader with age (Dirr & Warren 2019). It develops heavy but strong branching, demonstrating storm resistance (Dirr & Warren 2019). Its leaves are more toothed and lobed than many Acer × freemanii selections; traits inherited from A. saccharinum. Autumn colour varies from yellow to deep purple, depending on preceding conditions (Justice, in prep.). The original ‘Marmo’ grew at The Morton Arboretum, Illinois, thought to have come from a nursery in Wisconsin (van Gelderen, de Jong & Oterdoom 1994).

'Morgan'

Selected at the Morgan Arboretum of MacDonald College, Quebec (Hatch 2021–2022). Female, it was introduced in 1972–73 by Sheridan Nursery, Ontario and is very fast growing (Hatch 2021–2022). Developing an upright crown, it is noted by Dirr & Warren (2019) as being less susceptible to storm damage than some other forms. It turns orange to deep red in autumn (Dirr & Warren 2019; Justice, in prep.).

A young Acer × freemanii 'Morgan' at the Yorkshire Arboretum, UK. 21 October 2021. Image Tom Christian.

Acer × freemanii 'Morgan' at the Yorkshire Arboretum, UK. 21 October 2021. Image Tom Christian.

Vivid autumn colour on a young Acer × freemanii 'Morgan' at the Yorkshire Arboretum, UK. 21 October 2021. Image Tom Christian.

Both male and female flowers are present on this specimen of Acer × freemanii ˋMorgan' the Yorkshire Arboretum (March 2024). Image John Grimshaw.

'New World'

Bred at the US National Arboretum, reportedly selected from a cross between Acer rubrum ‘October Glory’ and A. × freemanii ‘Autumn Flame’ (Justice, in prep.). In circulation since 1997 (Justice, in prep.), it forms a upright crown, becoming narrowly oval with age (Dirr & Warren 2019). Male, it is noted as adaptable to many soils and reputedly has improved resistance to pests and diseases (Hatch 2021–2022; Justice, in prep.). Autumn colour is orange (Dirr & Warren 2019).

'Satzam'

A form introduced by Lake County Nursery, Ohio in 2003 (Hatch 2021–2022). It has an upright pyramidal form, with strong branches that show some storm resistance. It has larger leaves than typical for Acer × freemanii, turning red in autumn (Hatch 2021–2022).

'Scarsen'

A selection derived from a tree found near Interstate 90 in Ashtabula, Ohio, by Schichtel Nursery of Orchard Park, New York, and introduced by J.F. Schmidt Nursery of Boring, Oregon in 1972 (Jacobson 1996; Hatch 2021–2022). A much-grown male form of broadly columnar habit (Jacobson 1996), it has large leaves but, although vigourous, colours unreliably, often lacking the red tints for which it was (presumably) given its tradename (Dirr & Warren 2019).

'Sienna'

A Minnesota selection with strong form and extra cold hardiness (Dirr & Warren 2019). Pyramidal in youth, it becomes broadly oval as it ages (Dirr & Warren 2019). Its leaves turn rusty orange in autumn (Dirr & Warren 2019).

'Waukesha'

Selected from seedlings raised from wild plants found by a graduate student of Dr. Ed Hasskelkus, of the University of Wisconsin, in Waukesha County (Hatch 2021–2022). Its distinguishing characters are unknown.