I know that shantung maple can turn pure yellow but I doubt that's what you saw. I've seen southern sugar maple turn pure yellow over here in Texas.

I'm going to take pics tomorrow. I saw a street about half a mile from our house full of maples with color yellow leaves. The one I saw today where at Route 47. I can't believe the weather tomorrow, 72F for November?!

Living in Chicago as well, you probably either saw a Norway Maple, or a Silver Maple. Both change leaves later than most other trees and both are in the process of changing now across Chicago.

Norway Maples are usually more round or oval shaped, unless they are very old (like 70 years) in which they can be much more broad at the top of their crown. Norway Maples also have much larger leaves in general.

Silver Maples are more upright in shape and can have a V shape. Silver maples grow much faster and can get taller, especially a tree in the 20 to 50 year old range. Silver maples also have deeply forked leaves.

Norway Maple
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Silver Maple
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I hope this helps you out

Jeff

First three pics are Norway Maple, second three are Silver Maple

Resin

Isn't that how they are labeled Resin?

Ooops! I didn't see they were from a different poster, thought they were the trees the original poster was asking about! Sorry!

Resin

yes jlaitar, those are the same color of trees I have seen. So they are Norway maple! It's really gorgeous! Is there any maple tree like that but not round and changes yellow in fall?

Hey, I never make mistakes posting Resin.

Welcome to the club. ;)

Thanks for the knowledge you add to this forum.

Shantung maple can have brillant yellow fall color without the invasive of Norway Maple. It is more of upright up and looks kinda similar to Norway.

I'm providing a link to Metro Maples website and scroll down to see a picture of fall yellow which is more typical in seedlings.

Here is a link that might be useful: Shantung maple

There are several forms of Norway maple, including a few fastigate varieties.

Pretty much around Chicago the two most common maples that turn yellow in the fall are the Norway and Silver Maples. Norway Maples have better color, since Silver Maples can be hit of miss. Silver Maples do grow much faster than a Norway, however their wood is weaker because of this. Norway Maples, similar to Red and Sugar Maples have a rounded crown, especially when young. However around North Central College in Naperville there are are some very old Norway maples that are more upright, and have a broad crown at the top, similar to an oak. They are in the 60-70 foot range. And considering they are infront of houses that are 80-100 years old, that is probably how old they are too.

Also Norway Maples can be invasive if in the wild. I wouldn't worry about that too much if you have one infront of your house. I have a Norway Maple in front of my house and every spring I have a couple baby trees growing in my yard or flower garden and I just pull them out. It's been a good tree for me.

Jeff