The Tree of the Year is a community outreach program sponsored by the Iowa Nursery and Landscape Association to highlight specific trees determined to have superior qualities for Iowa landscapes. One of the best cultivars of red maple, Red Sunset' grows 50 to 60 feet tall with a width of 40 to 50 feet. It does well in large open areas, but not parking lots. Good branch structure and long fall color display are two more attributes of this year's selection. Before planting Red Sunset, carefully consider soil pH and site conditions.
Red maples prefer acidic soils.
They perform poorly when planted in areas with large amounts of reflected light from parking lots, sidewalks and buildings. Remember the AAS vegetable winners and the tree of the year when selecting new plants to include in this spring's garden.