Gardening Trees, Shrubs & Vines Trees These 15 Maple Trees Will Add Vibrant Color to Your Yard No matter what size yard you have, one of these colorful maple trees will fit your needs and add spectacular color to your landscaping. By Andrea Beck Andrea Beck Andrea Beck served as garden editor at BHG and her work has appeared on Food & Wine, Martha Stewart, MyRecipes, and more. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on October 26, 2023 Reviewed by Joseph Tychonievich Reviewed by Joseph Tychonievich Joseph Tychonievich is a gardening expert with two decades of work in horticulture, the author of three gardening books, and known for his deep knowledge of the science behind techniques for successful gardening. Learn about BHG's Gardening Review Board Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Bob Stefko With their vibrant foliage, maple trees are popular options for adding stunning color to landscapes. No matter how big your yard is or what the weather is like in your location, a variety of maple will work for you. Our list of 15 types of maple trees will help you pick the perfect one for your landscape. The 19 Best Fall Trees and Shrubs for a Burst of Fiery Color Alison Czinkota / BHG 01 of 15 Japanese Maple Bob Stefko Japanese maple trees, with their elegant form and foliage, have been treasured throughout the centuries. There are hundreds of varieties to choose from, with beautifully serrated green or red foliage. In general, Japanese maples remain compact and can fit into tight spaces. You also can grow them as a bonsai. Botanical Name: Acer palmatum Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade Zones: 5–8 02 of 15 Coral Bark Maple Mike Jensen Year-round color! That's what you get with coral bark maple. This type of maple tree has reddish-pink bark and pale green leaves that turn bright yellow in the fall. In the winter, the color of the tree's bark brightens, so it stands out in a snowy landscape. Botanical Name: Acer palmatum 'Sangokaku' Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade Size: 15–20 feet tall, 12 feet wide Zones: 5–8 03 of 15 Paperbark Maple Jane Milliman This gorgeous, slow-growing maple tree is perfect for small yards and develops lovely, peeling, red-brown bark. In addition, this maple variety produces bright green foliage, which turns reddish-yellow in fall. Botanical Name: Acer griseum Growing Conditions: Full sun Size: 20–30 feet tall, 12 feet wide Zones: 5–7 13 Fantastic Small Backyard Ideas 04 of 15 Sugar Maple Denny Schrock When it comes to fall color, sugar maples are at the top of the list. These native maple trees are spectacular in autumn when their foliage turns vibrant red, orange, and yellow. They make excellent shade trees for large backyards. There are several options, but 'Green Mountain' is one of the most popular because it's drought-resistant. Botanical Name: Acer saccharum Growing Conditions: Full sun Size: 50–75 feet tall, 30–45 feet wide Zones: 4–8 05 of 15 Silver Maple Bob Stefko Silver maple is a graceful, fast-growing maple tree that is best planted in moist locations away from buildings because they tend to drop branches. They have aggressive root systems that can infiltrate sewer systems, so plant it away from underground pipes. Hybrids such as 'Silver Queen' or 'Silver Cloud' are less messy and aggressive. Botanical Name: Acer saccharinum Growing Conditions: Full sun Size: 60–80 feet tall, 40–60 feet wide Zones: 3–9 How to Plant a Tree Properly 06 of 15 Red Maple Denny Schrock A North American native, red maple trees form an oval crown of bright green leaves that turn fiery red in autumn. Red maple grows at a moderate rate and makes a sturdy, beautiful shade tree. Look for top varieties such as 'Red Sunset', 'October Glory', 'Red Supersonic', 'Ruby Frost', and 'Columnar'. Botanical Name: Acer rubrum Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade Size: 40–60 feet tall, 30–40 feet wide Zones: 3–9 07 of 15 Hedge Maple Denny Schrock The rounded form of hedge maple is easily sheared to any height to create a privacy screen or living wall. In the fall, this maple tree develops pretty, pale yellow leaves. 'Metro Gold' and 'Royal Ruby' are reliable varieties with bold fall color. Botanical Name: Acer campestre Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade Size: 20–35 feet tall, 20–30 feet wide Zones: 5–8 08 of 15 Crimson King Maple Peter Krumhardt This popular purple-leaf maple tree is actually a form of the common Norway maple. In fall, the foliage of 'Crimson King' maple turns a deep maroon. Like other Norway maples, it can be invasive in some regions. Botanical Name: Acer platanoides 'Crimson King' Growing Conditions: Full sun Size: 35–45 feet tall, 25–30 feet wide Zones: 3–7 Buy It: 'Crimson King' Maple Tree ($35, The Home Depot) 09 of 15 Snakebark Maple Denny Schrock Named for its unique, striped bark, snakebark maple is a relatively compact type of maple tree, making it a good choice for small backyards. Plant these small trees where you can admire their spectacular bark, which becomes more colorful with age. Botanical Name: Acer pectinatum ssp. forrestii Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade Size: 15–20 feet tall, 15 feet wide Zones: 5–9 How to Pick the Best Bushes and Shrubs for Landscaping Your Yard 10 of 15 Korean Maple Denny Schrock If you love Japanese maple trees but live in a region where they won't survive the winter, try Korean maple. These rugged, small trees can tolerate cold temperatures. The trees have deeply lobed, dark green leaves that turn crimson in autumn. This type of maple tree loves full sun and partial shade. In the spring, Korean maples develop small purple flowers that add to the color show. They also grow well in containers. Korean maple does not like hot, dry conditions. Botanical Name: Acer pseudosieboldiana Growing Conditions: Full Sun, Partial Shade Size: 15–25 feet tall, 15 feet wide Zones: 4–8 11 of 15 Trident Maple Denny Schrock Resistant to air pollution, trident maple is a good choice for street-side plantings. In the fall, this variety of maple trees' bright green lobed foliage changes to deep scarlet and orange. Trident maple grows slowly, so it rarely needs pruning. Plant this red maple tree in full sun or partial shade. Trident maple makes an excellent low-maintenance shade tree, especially for smaller yards. It's also relatively drought and disease-resistant. Look for varieties 'Naruto' or 'Ningpoense'. Botanical Name: Acer buergerianum Growing Conditions: Full Sun, Partial Shade Size: 20–30 feet tall, 20–30 feet wide Zones: 5–9 What Is Considered "Full Sun?" 12 of 15 Three-Flowered Maple Denny Schrock Also called roughbark maple, this versatile, small maple tree grows well in shade or sun and develops interesting ridges or knobs on the trunk as it matures. It is one of the few varieties of maple trees that develop fall color even if grown in the shade. You can plant this type of maple in any soil condition—it's very low maintenance. Three-flowered maple looks great in four seasons, has few pest or disease problems, and is drought resistant. Botanical Name: Acer triflorum Growing Conditions: Full Sun, Shade Size: 20 feet tall, 20 feet wide Zones: 5–9 The 10 Best Shade Trees to Block the Sun and Beautify Your Yard 13 of 15 Morton Miyabe Maple Denny Schrock First selected at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois, the award-winning Morton miyabe maple has proved itself a durable, easy-care maple tree with fantastic fall color. This type of maple tree's dense branches make it a terrific shade tree, but it prefers to grow in full sun. This adaptable and hardy maple is tolerant to heat, cold, soil type, and urban pollution. It is not invasive and would be a good substitute for ash trees where ash borer problems exist. Two excellent selections are 'State Street' and 'Rugged Ridge' varieties. Botanical Name: Acer miyabei Growing Conditions: Full Sun Size: 40–50 feet tall, 30–35 feet wide Zones: 4–6 14 of 15 Tatarian Maple Image courtesy of Bailey Nurseries. A relative of Amur maple, tatarian maple is a tough, attractive maple tree that tolerates cold winters and hot summers. Look for varieties of maple trees that develop spectacular scarlet seedpods, such as 'Hot Wings'. These types of seedlings grow fabulously in the summer, preferring full-sun to partial-shade conditions. Variety 'Rugged Charm' is also an excellent option for small yards because it stays compact. Botanical Name: Acer tataricum Growing Conditions: Full Sun, Partial Shade Size: 15–20 feet tall, 15 to 20 feet wide Zones: 3–8 15 of 15 Black Maple Image courtesy of Bailey Nurseries. Although closely related to sugar maple, black maples are more heat and drought-resistant. Otherwise, these close cousins are similar except for leaf shape. Black maple leaves have three lobes, while sugar maples have the traditional five lobes. Black maples form a large, rounded crown, making it an exceptional shade tree. In the fall, their leaves turn brilliant shades of yellow and red. Botanical Name: Acer saccharum nigrum Growing Conditions: Full sun Size: 50–75 feet tall, 50 feet wide Zones: 4–8 Other Trees for Your Yard How to Plant and Grow Poplar Trees How to Grow Magnolia Trees 13 Stunning Crabapple Trees That Add Long-Lasting Color to Your Landscape 20 Best Evergreen Trees for Privacy and Year-Round Greenery How to Plant and Grow a Redbud Tree Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit