“October Glory” (Acer rubrum “October Glory), a cultivar of the red maple (Acer rubrum) is native to the East Coast of the United States. It was developed in the latter part of the 20th century. During the spring and summer, the deciduous tree has shiny dark green leaves. Tiny red flowers also appear in the spring. In the fall, the tree dazzles with gleaming crimson and orange-red leaves. The leaves begin to fall late in the season. This cultivar is a popular choice for landscaping.
October Glory maples have maple leaves with palmate-serrated lobes. The leaf blades are 2 to 4 inches long. The tree’s fruit consists of 1- to 3-inch reddish-brown samaras, small pods with papery thin wings. Overall, the tree grows between 40 to 50 feet tall with a 25 to 35 feet spread. It also attracts birds, squirrels and other small wildlife. An October Glory Maple tree can live for around 70 years.
October Glory maple fare best in partial to full sun. The tree tolerates a variety of soil including clay, loam and sand. Ideal conditions include well-drained, slightly acidic soil. The tree is not drought- and salt spray-tolerant. It grows about 24 inches each season. Landscapers and gardeners use red maple as shade trees, screens, to line roads, in parks and even for bonsais. The tree can also produce syrup, but the quality is inferior to black and sugar maple syrup.
October Glory maple are resistant to most serious pests and diseases. The presence of sap-sucking aphids is generally not a problem. Severe infestations can lead to leaf drop. Natural predators of aphids such a lady bugs control the population of the pests. If the tree suffers injuries from weed trimmers and lawn mowers, pests such as borers can enter, feed on bark and weaken branches. Young trees may die from borer infestations. The roots of trees planted near sidewalks may cause damage by lifting the pavement.
October Glory maple trees are usually sold in temporary containers. If you choose to continue to grow your tree in a pot rather than in the ground, choose one that is made of concrete or clay. These heavy, sturdy materials are much better suited to support the large size of the tree than plastic. The pot should have drainage holes on the bottom. These trees can grow more than two feet per year, however, so eventually you will need to chose a location in the ground and out in the open; preferably away from sidewalks. The roots of these trees can lift cement.
Other Red maple cultivars include “Armstrong,” which has a more upright and columnar crown. The “Bowhall” and “Scanlon” also grow upright. The “Autumn Flame” only grows to about 45 feet tall and has a round crown. The “Gerling” is even smaller and only grows to about 35 feet tall and has a pyramidal crown. The “Red Sunset” is one of the most reliable cultivars for producing trees full of red and orange foliage from early fall. The crown of the “Tilford” has a globe shape.
October Glory likes wet soil and will grow in all soil types although it may develop chlorosis, or lack of iron, in alkaline soil. It is well suited to line streets in suburban and residential areas, although its shallow roots can buckle sidewalks and driveways and make it difficult to mow surrounding lawns. It is grown for shade on lawns, beside decks and lawns, on buffer strips and beside residential streets.
October Glory Maple vs. Autumn Blaze Maple
- ”October Glory” (Acer rubrum “October Glory), a cultivar of the red maple (Acer rubrum), and the hybrid “Autumn Blaze” (Acer x freemanii “Jeffersred”) both show spectacular red foliage.
- “October Glory” will grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9, “Autumn Blaze” is limited to slightly colder USDA zones 3 through 8.
- “October Glory” has a rounded to oval crown and grows from 40 to 50 feet with a 23- to 35-foot spread. “Autumn Blaze” grows rapidly — from 3 to 5 feet a year — significantly faster than most red maples. It grows to 40 to 45 feet tall and 30 to 40 feet wide.
- “October Glory” has attractive red flowers in the spring before its glossy, dark green leaves appear. The leaves, which have red stems, are 3 to 6 inches across with three to five lobes. “Autumn Blaze” has insignificant flowers. Its medium green leaves have five lobes, deep red veins and red stems but at 3 to 4 inches wide, they are smaller than “October Glory’s” leaves.