Acer rubrum ‘Bowhall’ – A columnar or fastigate deciduous tree often used in boulevard plantings, it grows to about 40′ tall and only 15′ wide. The 3 to 5 lobed green leaves have a contrasting greyish-green reverse, with brilliant yellow-red to orange autumn tones. This species tolerates wet soils and has attractive smooth grey bark when young. Hardy to zone 3.
Acer x truncatum ‘Pacific Sunset’ (syn. ‘Warrenred’) – This hybrid of Shantung Maple (Acer truncatum) and Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) has a nice full crown and grows to 30′ tall and about 25′ wide. The large glossy green foliage shifts to a multitude of fall tones – including bright yellow, orange and reddish-purple. This cultivar is hardy to zone 5.
Acer rubrum ‘Sun Valley’ – This is probably the most brilliant orange-red or scarlet I have ever seen on an Acer rubrum, with the colouring quite consistent throughout the crown. This cross of ‘Red Sunset’ and ‘Autumn Flame’ is a male clone, so there are no messy seeds. It also tolerates our slightly moist acidic soils well and grows 30-35′ tall and 20-25′ wide. Hardy to zone 5.
Acer capillipes – One of the Snake-Bark Maples with tri-lobed green leaves that change to sharply contrasting yellow and red autumn tones. This RHS Award of Garden Merit winner has greenish bark streaked with white stripes and new shoots that emerge red. Acer capillipes grows 25-30 feet tall and 15-20 feet wide. Prefers part to full sun. Hardy to zone 5.
Acer palmatum ‘Osakazuki’ – One of the best Japanese maples for consistent autumn colour, provided it is grown in part to full sun. The deep green summer foliage has seven highly tapered lobes and shifts to a brilliant fire engine red with the onset of cooler weather. ‘Osakazuki’ was a 1993 RHS Award of Garden Merit winner and grows 20-25′ tall to 15-20′ wide. Hardy to zone 6.
Mike's Garden Top 5 Plants 