Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Deciduous Tree Of The Day

Acer x freemanii 'Celzam'
Freeman Maple
Type Tree, woody plant
Hardy range 4A to 8A
Height 50' to 60' / 15.20m to 18.20m
Spread 35' to 40' / 10.60m to 12.20m
Growth rate Fast
Form Oval
Exposure Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence Deciduous

Bloom Color White
Bloom Time Spring

Environment This plant tolerates some drought and occasional wetness.
This plant will grow in dry to occasionally wet soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is an acidic to slightly alkaline (less than 6.8 to 7.7) soil.

Leaf Color Green
Fall Color Orange and red

This plant has attractive fall colors.

Culture Notes This is a natural cross between A. rubrum and A. saccharinum with fabulous fall color. Foliage is more like the A.saccharinum than the A.rubrum with deep lobes This cultivar is hardy in zone 5a and has brilliant red and orange fall color and is much wider than `Armstrong' and `Armstrong Two'. Branches ascend but leader often remains dominate. The Freeman maples possess the tough attributes of silver maple which makes it tolerant of urban landscapes. Trees compartmentalize decay well and are well suited for urban landscapes.
The wood is considered diffuse porous which means that there is little difference in size between the spring wood pores and the summer wood pores. Plant pollen can cause significant allergy problems for some people. 'Autumn Fantasy', Indian Summer' and 'Morgan' cause no problems because they are female.

Maintain adequate mulch areaClear all turf away from beneath the branches and mulch to the drip line, especially on young trees, to reduce competition with turf and weeds. This will allow roots to become well established and keep plants healthier. Prune the tree so trunks and branches will not rub each other. Remove some secondary branches on main branches with included bark. This reduces the likelihood of the main branch splitting from the tree later when it has grown to become an important part of the landscape. Locate the tree properly, taking into account the ultimate size, since the tree looks best if it is not pruned to control size. The tree can enhance any landscape with its delightful spring flush of foliage. It can be the centerpiece of your landscape if properly located.

Spring transplanting bestBalled-and-burlapped and bare root trees recover best when transplanted in late winter or early spring in the cooler portions of North America. This usually corresponds to the initiation of root growth.

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