Acer rubrum ‘Sun Valley’ – Sun Valley Maple

Botanical Name: Acer rubrum ‘Sun Valley’

Alternate Name: Sun Valley Red Maple

The Sun Valley Maple (Acer rubrum ‘Sun Valley’) is a cross between Acer rubrum ‘Red Sunset’ and Acer rubrum ‘Autumn Flame’. It is a male variety, with no seed production. This medium sized deciduous maple grows to 40 feet tall and 35 feet wide. Its canopy starts approximately 6 feet above the ground. This tree is too tall to be planted under power lines.

Sun Valley Maple has a symmetrical, rounded-oval crown, making it suitable for planting as a shade tree. It is also known for its long-lasting, vibrant, red fall color.

This maple develops showy red flower clusters before the leaves emerge in early spring.  The medium green leaves which follow are relatively large – 4 inches in size. These create a coarse texture for landscaping use, which contrasts well with fine-textured conifers or Japanese Maples.

The Sun Valley Maple gives its best show in late fall, when some trees are already losing their leaves. It provides a show-stopping, bright red-crimson display.

Acer ‘Sun Valley’ will tolerate many different soil types. It prefers acidic, wet, or moist, well-drained soils. It also resists drought and urban pollution – making this tree ideal for urban landscapes. It is also somewhat tolerant to the potato leafhopper.