Brandywine Maple - 'Acer rubrum 'Brandywine'' The Brandywine Maple resulted from a 1982 cross of Acer rubrum 'October Glory' and A. rubrum 'Autumn Flame' by A.M. Townsend as part of a research project conducted by the U. S. National Arboretum examining the inheritance of fall color, leafhopper resistance, and an effort to improve existing cultivars of red maple. Released December, 1994, the 'Brandywine' has a brilliant red-purple autumn color. It produces only male flowers; thus, no fruit or nuisance seedlings. It has a significant level of tolerance to potato leafhopper, which is better than or comparable to many commercially available red maple cultivars. It can reach a height of 25 feet and a width of 12 feet at a crown spread in 12 years. The Brandywine is a medium-sized deciduous tree with moderately columnar crown and foliage of medium green leaves that average 4.5 inches long and 4.4 inches wide. Bright, enduring fall color begins red and gradually turns brilliant purple red over a long period, often 14 days or more. Fall color peaks between 'Autumn Flame' and 'October Glory' in Maryland (Zone 7). As a red maple cultivar, Brandywine Maples should be propagated only from rooted cuttings or tissue culture because of a high percentage risk of having a problem named graft incompatibility. Graft incompatibility occurs when the tree breaks at the graft union once reaching a mature age. Like all maples, home owners should be mindful of how close it is planted to sidewalks, foundations, driveways, etc. because of its shallow root system. Species name of rubrum (meaning red) is manifest everywhere. From its red flowers in dense clusters in late March to early April, red fruit, reddish stems and twigs to its red buds and exquisite orange-red fall foliage, October Glory ® is one of the most popular cultivars of Acer rubrum available for sale.
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| Common Name: | Brandywine Maple |
| Type: |
Deciduous Shade Tree |
| Family: |
Sapindaceae (Aceraceae) |
| Sun Requirements: |
Full Sun |
| Leaves: |
Emerging leaves are reddish tinged gradually changing to medium to dark green above with a distinct gray cast beneath. Fall colors offer excellent orange to red. Leaves are opposite, simple, 2 to 5 inches long and wide, 3 although often 5 lobed, triangular ovate lobes and sinuses are irregularly toothed. |
| Size: |
40 to 60 feet in height but occasionally reaches 100 to 120' in the wild. The spread is less than or equal to the height. |
| Hardiness: |
Zone 3 to 9. For an idea of your plant zone please visit the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. |
| Habit: |
A good oval-rounded outline of a tree becoming more spreading. This tree makes for wonderful shade. |
| Rate: |
Medium to fast. |
| Flowers: |
FLowers are borne with petals in March. |
| Diseases & Insects: |
Leaf hoppers will cause considerable damage, also borer that attacks young terminals. Brandywine Maple has significant resistance to potato leafhopper. |
| Landscape Value: |
Excellent specimen tree for lawn, park or street; does not tolerate heavily polluted areas; does not grow as fast as Silver Maple; however, it does grow faster than Sugar Maple. It is much preferable because of cleaner foliage, stronger wood and better fall color. Red Maples in general are the light that brightens the fall color sky throughout the northern midwestern and northeastern states; the fall color can be so dazzling, and combined with a backdrop of White Pines paints, it a picture that no master could duplicate; the only thing consistent about the Red Maple fall coloration is the inconsistency from tree to tree; some remain almost green or at best yellow-green, others bright yellow, others flaming orange or red.
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| Soil Preference: |
Transplants readily as a small specimen bare root, or balled and burlapped in larger sizes. Very tolerant of all soils; however, it has a preference for slightly acidic soil with moist conditions. |
| Care: |
Prune in winter and water transplants thoroughly and often. |
| Fertilization: |
Fertilize an area three times the canopy spread of the tree 1 to 2 times a year with a 10-10-10 fertilizer. Only fertilize an established tree.
| | Planting Instructions: |
Dig a hole three times the diameter of the root system, with a depth no deeper than the original soil line on trunk. Break up the soil to the finest consistency possible. Place plant in hole and fill, compacting the fill dirt. Water the plant heavily to seal soil around the roots and remove air pockets. Water well, and remember to water regularly until they have started to grow.
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