The Red Maple tree, Acer rubrum, is considered one of the best trees for early fall color. This is a large deciduous tree that has pyramidal form when young becoming rounded with age. Glossy green leaves turn brilliant orange-scarlet, extremely showy. Full sun. Grows faster than Norway and sugar maples, but slower than silver maple.

The Red Sunset's leaves are shiny green above and pale green beneath, 3-5 lobed and 3-6" across. Species name of rubrum (meaning red) is everywhere in evidence: red flowers in dense clusters in late March to early April (before the leaves appear), red fruit (reddish two-winged samara), reddish stems and twigs. The Red Sunset is one of the best red maple cultivars available in commerce, with outstanding orange to red fall color.

‘Red Sunset’ has strong wood and is a vigorous, fast-grower, reaching a height of 50 feet with a spread of 25 to 35 feet. Trees are often seen shorter in the southern part of its range unless located on a wet site. This tree is preferred over Red Maple, Silver Maple or Box elder when a fast-growing maple is needed, and will take on a pyramidal or oval silhouette. The newly merging red flowers and fruits signal that spring has come. They appear in December and January in Florida, later in the northern part of its range. Leaves retain an attractive high gloss throughout the growing season. The seeds of ‘Red Sunset’ Red Maple are quite popular with squirrels and birds.

Height: 45 to 50 feet
Spread: 25 to 40 feet
Crown uniformity: symmetrical canopy with a regular (or smooth) outline, and individuals have more or less identical crown forms
Crown shape: oval; upright / Crown density: moderate