Armstrong Red Maple

The Armstrong Red Maple (Acer rubrum ‘Armstrong’) is a large-sized, fast-growing columnar tree. It has notable ornamental value, its 3-5 lobed leaves going from a pronounced green to a soothing red-orange in the fall. It also is one of the first maples to color up after the summer. It is densely branched but has a narrow crown and is preferred over the Sugar Maple and Norway Maple columnar varieties due to its vigorous growth and heat-tolerance. A great option for a street tree or a small, open yard that could do with some shade. 

The Armstrong Red Maple is a hybrid between a Red Maple and a Silver Maple. It was first cultivated by Oliver M. Freeman of the National Arboretum in 1933 but it also grows naturally in the wild. It does well in partial or full sun and can withstand most soil conditions but will grow best in more moist soils.