acer autumn blaze tree

Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
Price range: Contact Us
Rating: 4.8/5

Bring a vibrant burst of colour to your garden each year with the exceptional acer autumn blaze tree. Known botanically as Acer freemanii 'Autumn Blaze', this fast-growing deciduous tree dazzles with its brilliant scarlet-red autumn display, making it one of the most sought-after maples for New Zealand landscapes. Famed for its striking foliage, robust health, and adaptability, the acer autumn blaze tree is perfect for anyone wanting to enjoy a show-stopping feature tree with minimal maintenance.

Acer freemanii 'Autumn Blaze'

Acer freemanii ‘Autumn Blaze’ is a magnificent deciduous tree admired for its brilliant autumn display of fiery red and orange foliage. This hybrid maple combines the resilience of Silver Maple with the vibrant colour of Red Maple, making it both hardy and spectacular. It grows strongly in NZ conditions, delivering a striking feature tree that provides year round interest and incredible seasonal impact.

Acer freemanii 'Autumn Blaze'

Acer 'Autumn Blaze' specimen tree with bright red and orange autumn foliage.

Suited to regions:
All regions
Plant type:
Trees
Height:
18.00 m
Spread:
8.00 m
Garden uses:
Parks, Specimen
Garden styles:
Alpine, Architectural, Japanese, Modern

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Key Features of Acer Autumn Blaze Tree

The acer autumn blaze tree is a hybrid between Acer rubrum (Red Maple) and Acer saccharinum (Silver Maple), inheriting the best qualities from both parents. This makes it remarkably tolerant of a variety of soil types and weather conditions, as well as resistant to common pests and diseases. The Summer foliage is lush green, turning a fiery red in late autumn, often holding its colour longer than many other maples.

Reaching heights of 12–18 metres with a moderately wide canopy, it's ideal for larger gardens, parks, or as a specimen tree in rural landscapes. The acer autumn blaze tree provides shade, wind screening, and rich autumn leaf litter that’s wonderful for mulching.

Planting and Caring For Your Autumn Blaze

Plant your acer autumn blaze tree in a position with full sun to dappled shade for the brightest autumn colour. While tolerant of a range of soils, it thrives best in well-drained, moderately moist sites. Young trees benefit from formative pruning to establish a strong, upright structure. Once established, it has good drought tolerance, making it a reliable choice even for less attentive gardeners.

Mulch around the base in spring and autumn to enrich the soil and retain moisture. Avoid fertilising heavily after planting, as this can reduce the intensity of the autumn foliage tones.

Landscape Use and Companions

The acer autumn blaze tree is a fantastic anchor for mixed plantings, and pairs beautifully with other deciduous or evergreen trees for contrasting texture and seasonal interest. Consider planting alongside Betula papyrifera for textural interest, or with native selections like Coprosma arborea (Mamangi) and Olearia traversiorum (Hakapiri) for a blend of exotic and indigenous flora.

For those passionate about maples, you might also enjoy Acer 'Armstrong', renowned for its columnar habit, or the sugar-rich Acer saccharum (Sugar Maple). The similar Acer freemanii 'Jeffersred' offers comparable autumn colour, while Acer negundo 'Kelly's Gold' adds a splash of golden foliage.

Why Choose Acer Autumn Blaze Tree?

Whether you are aiming to create a bold avenue, provide shelter, or simply want a reliable tree with unparalleled seasonal drama, the acer autumn blaze tree stands out for its beauty and ease of care. Its adaptability, fast growth, and resistance to common issues make it an outstanding investment for anyone wanting a classic maple silhouette with contemporary performance.

Explore our full range of maples, including Acer campbellii Gwavas (Acer Gwavas) for more autumn inspiration, and transform your landscape with the enduring allure of the acer autumn blaze tree.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.