Acer x freemanii ' Autumn Blaze' 12L

Acer × freemanii 'Autumn Blaze' (syn. 'Jeffersred') — 12L Pot

Widely regarded as one of the finest trees for autumn colour, Acer × freemanii 'Autumn Blaze' carries the RHS Award of Garden Merit. This naturally occurring hybrid between the red maple and silver maple combines the vivid autumn display of the former with the vigour and adaptability of the latter. Deeply cut, five-lobed leaves open yellow-green in spring, settle into fresh green through summer, then transform into a brilliant blaze of orange, scarlet and red in autumn — colouring earlier and lasting longer than most other maples, and developing reliably even in a poor autumn.

A fast-growing, large tree with an upright, oval-headed habit, 'Autumn Blaze' makes an outstanding specimen where its scale and seasonal colour can be enjoyed to the full — ideal for larger gardens, parkland or avenue planting. Unlike its red maple parent, it doesn't demand acid soil to colour well, making it a more adaptable choice across a wider range of gardens.

Grow in full sun or partial shade, in any moist but well-drained soil — it copes with wetter ground better than most maples and tolerates urban pollution and exposed sites well, though its fast growth can mean somewhat brittle branches, so a sheltered spot is best for young trees. It's fully hardy (RHS H6) and needs only minimal pruning once established.

Each tree is hand-selected before dispatch, supplied in a 12-litre pot ready for planting straight into its final position.