Well, it certainly performs well here in the PNW!! Fall color is a peachy orange to red, not yellow, and it doesn't mind our winter wet soils although decent drainage is advised. Used often as a street tree in this area.

Not sure what "undesirable characteristics" you are trying to avoid. It is not invasive, requires minimal pruning, very adaptable to a wide range of site conditions.

she is asking if the canopy will be so dense that it will kill the grass under it.. and its roots system so shallow that it will aid in the grass killing and move sidewalks.. as the decades roll by ...

that the 'norway' conundrum

ken

Don't forget that its likely grafted to norway maple!

Won't be as aggressive as lets say the species because of the smaller stature of the grafted plant but roots wills still be more aggressive than a straight Acer truncatum.

Oh thanks all. My local nursery had lots of these trees in stock. I've been looking for a smaller size maple (but not as small & slow growing as JMs). This may fit the bill. Hoping roots will behave.

Said to not color as well in some continental areas as out here. As mentioned above planted in quantity on local streets - but not actually that great for this as it branches low and these branches grow out at just the right angles to conflict with traffic etc. Trees look sort of like star-bursts or snowflakes, with their broadish, pointy heads of straight branches.

Here is a link that might be useful: JFS Introductions - Acer truncatum x A. platanoides 'Warrenred'

This post was edited by bboy on Sat, Sep 7, 13 at 14:44

That will be due to the Norway maple half of the cross. All large-growing maples fill the soil with mats of roots that can make under-planting difficult. Here Norway maples in particular tend to have bare areas beneath them.

I'd agree generally that the introductions of these maple types has not been much of a boon to the plant selector. Norway maples are troublesome enough, these should match them seed for seed, and as Emb says, they just branch out that much lower. We've got a bunch of them on streets but they are not the answer, IMO. What is the question you might ask? Simply put, with the demise of the Am. elm, the appearance of EAB, and a host of other factors, the urban forester has a limited palette from which to choose when it comes to street trees.

+oM

I have a Pacific Sunset Maple for 8 years. It does not turn red and orange. Every year it turns brown in the Fall. Is it the soil? What do I need to do? I live in Idaho.

have you ever had a soil test done through your county extension office ....ken

Likely to not be a soil thing. Likely tree genetics, coupled with your local climate, just don't jibe for good fall color.