If you'd like to work maple trees into your Iowa landscape this year, these are some of the most dynamic picks you can plant for beauty, shade, privacy, and of course, all of the other benefits of planting trees! Come see us at the garden center for some expert advice on choosing the right maple for your garden and how to make sure it survives the Iowa weather for years to come. Plan carefully if you want one of these maples in your landscape! Some favorite cultivars of the Norway maple include the Crimson King (for its burgundy foliage), Royal Red and the Norway Hybrids like Ruby Sunset, Crimson Sunset, and Urban Sunset.
These are stand-alone trees with large canopies and shallow root systems, which make it hard for anything to grow directly underneath. They are also resistant to pests and disease and are prolific spreaders, making them invasive in some parts of North America. Norway maples are incredibly tough trees and can tolerate a wide range of poor growing conditions. If you're after some great-looking hybrids, try the Autumn Blaze and Sienna Glen, which are half red maple and half silver maple. Some of our favorite red maple and hybrid maple trees for the Iowa landscape include the Acer Royal Red, Armstrong, Brandywine, Red Pointe, October Glory, and Sun Valley. Make sure their soil stays moist with regular watering and give it some loose, well-draining loamy soil for the best overall health. Red maples thrive in full sun but will tolerate partial shade if you can give them 4-6 hours of sun per day. Some varieties will stay smaller like Brandywine and some are seedless like Brandywine and Sun Valley. They are great choices for offering shade in a front or backyard garden and can grow up to 60 feet in about 25 years. Red maples are usually fast-growing deciduous trees and easy to care for, with bright green leaves in spring and summer that turn dark red in the fall. Five species are found growing native in Iowa: boxelder, mountain maple, black maple, sugar maple, and silver maple. If you love those deep, rich autumn colors as much as we do, you'll definitely want to consider a red maple tree for your landscape this year. The maples are among our most important timber trees.