The Best Maple Trees to Grow in Virginia

Maple trees are beautiful to look at and easy to grow. They thrive in the sun or shade, and the leaves dramatically display in springtime. Several species can be grown in your landscape if you live in Virginia. Here are the top 17 best maples to grow in Virginia based on their hardiness, beauty, and ease of care.

Sugar Maple

Sugar maples are beautiful shade trees found in eastern North America, growing up to 100 feet in height. It has a spreading crown and dark green leaves in summer that turn yellow in fall.

Besides being an excellent shade tree, this species provides outstanding fall color and resilience in windswept locations. Sugar maple trees are ideal for streets because they tolerate urban conditions such as compacted soil, pavement heat islands, and pollution.

They have high wind resistance due to their large diameters (at maturity). Well suited for residential areas where strong winds may occur during storms or high gusts from passing vehicles on busy streets or highways nearby.

Silver Maple

The silver maple is native to the eastern U.S. but has been planted throughout the country. They do best in wet areas and tolerate full sun and shade. It grows from 20 feet to over 100 feet tall—though most fall between 40 and 90 feet in height. It has long branches that shade pedestrians from the sun and rain as they hang over sidewalks or streets.

Since it grows so quickly, this is a good tree for street trees. Its rapid growth means that it will provide shade before long! It produces edible seeds that you can use for baking or making nut milk. With proper care, silver maples can also make excellent bonsai specimens due to their disease resistance.

Norway Maple

Norway maples are fast-growing, shade tolerant, and have beautiful fall color. Since they tolerate pollution and heat well, they are ideal for urban environments.

Norway maple is a perfect choice if you want your tree to be visible from many angles. It will grow and provide shade in no time at all! The Norway maple is also known as “the little giant” due to its ability to grow up to 100 feet tall (though it will only reach half that height in its first decade).

Amur Maple

Amur maples are excellent street trees for a number of reasons. It can grow in the sun or shade, thrives in wet or dry soil, and grows fast. Additionally, it tolerates acidic soils very well, making it an excellent choice for those with no gardening experience.

Its only weakness is its short lifespan. In comparison with other trees, the average lifespan is 40-70 years.

Red Maple

Trees such as the red maple are fast-growing and can tolerate a wide range of conditions. It grows well near streams and other wet areas and is often used as a shade tree or windbreak. The tree produces a reasonable amount of sap, which you can use to make maple syrup or firewood. Red maples are an excellent source of hardwood lumber that grows!

Ohio Buckeye

Ohio Buckeye is a medium-sized tree with a rounded crown that grows up to 100 feet tall. It has a short trunk and a broad, spreading crown. In summer, they are dark green and turn yellow in fall; the leaves are opposite, simple, and lobed.

Ohio Buckeye fruit is poisonous to humans, but animals love it! The seeds of this plant can also be spread by wind and birds, which makes it considered invasive in some areas.

Sycamore Maple

Sycamore maples are deciduous trees that grow up to 30 feet high and spread out to 30 feet wide. It thrives in full sun or partial shade, making it one of the most shade tolerant maples. In five years or less, you can expect the sycamore maple to reach its mature size. It is perfect for planting in areas with limited space where you want a big impact quickly due to its fast growth.

Sycamore maple leaves are dark green on top and lighter green underneath. Making them distinct from most other maple leaves, which tend to be either all green or all yellow/orange.

Horsechestnut Maple

Horsechestnut maples can grow up to 60 feet tall. You can plant it as a shade tree, a street tree, or as a hedge.

In Virginia, Horsechestnut maples are hardy and easy to grow, but they take a long time to mature into attractive specimens. It has orange-red bark that becomes darker as they grow, making them very attractive in autumn when their leaves turn red before dropping.

Trident Maple

The trident maple is a medium-sized tree that grows 50 feet tall and wide. It prefers full sun but tolerates partial shade. Trident maples are hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8 and are fast growing, making them perfect for those living in the eastern United States. They have attractive fall colors as well.

Japanese Maple

A Japanese maple tree is a versatile addition to any garden. It can be grown as a single tree or in groups, and there are many colors to choose from. In Virginia, these trees make excellent shade trees and have a beautiful shape.

In North America, Japanese maples are common, but they originate from Japan. They were brought to the United States by early settlers trying to find new ways of growing crops with less land. There are many uses for Japanese maples, including furniture and roof shingles.

October Glory Maple Tree

The October glory red maple tree is a gorgeous, vibrant red color when it’s in full bloom. It’s also one of the best trees to grow in Virginia, making it a great addition to any yard or garden.

Along with its beautiful fall foliage, it grows well all year round. Its leaves are deep green in the spring and turn bright red in the fall and winter. Grayish brown bark with a smooth texture covers the trunk of this tree.

This tree grows best in moist soil but can also take on dry conditions. It’s easy to prune and shape into whatever shape you want. It’s perfect for those who want more control over their landscape design!

Box Elder Maple

This tree’s easy-to-grow and easy-to-maintain qualities make it one of the most popular in the world. It can be grown in large spaces with a height of 70 feet and a spread of 40 feet or more. Its vibrant reds and greens are visible from a distance in the fall foliage.

Hedge Maple

There are many benefits to growing hedge maples in Virginia. You can easily maintain them, they look great, and they offer a lot of benefits for your home. It’s one of the state’s most popular maple trees. It grows up to 30 feet tall with an equal spread and is a deciduous tree. Depending on the climate, the leaves turn red or orange in the fall. Pinkish-white flowers bloom in April or May, followed by fruit that ripens in September and October.

Paperbark Maple

The paperbark maple is an excellent choice for Virginia homeowners. It stands out from other trees with its lovely, textured bark, and its leaves turn bright red in the fall. Because of its excellent resistance to pests and diseases, paperbark maples are one of Virginia’s best growing choices.

Paperbark maples are also very easy to care for. It needs to be pruned every few years to keep its base from becoming too large for the available space, but other than that, you can expect it to grow easily!

Sienna Glen Maple

You can grow the Sienna Glen Maple in Virginia. In the fall, its leaves are beautiful and thrive in most soil conditions.

Depending on the species, this tree can reach a height of 50 feet and spread to a similar width. During the winter, it loses its leaves since it’s a deciduous tree. The leaves have five lobes on each side of the blade. In spring, they’re dark green; in fall, they turn yellow and orange.

It is native to China, Japan, and Korea but thrives in North America. Besides being hardy and beautiful, it is also disease and insect-resistant!

Crimson King Maple

Virginia is home to many maple trees, including the Crimson King Maple. Despite its size, it has a dark, vibrant red color that’s hard to match. It can grow up to 70 feet tall and spread more widely. As a deciduous tree, its foliage won’t be visible until spring. However, it will be stunning when it turns green in the summer.

The Crimson King Maple prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade. It prefers moist soil, but can also tolerate dry conditions. For the roots to establish themselves before winter, it’s best to plant them in the spring or fall.

Tips for Planting Maple Trees

• Your maple tree should be planted in a location that provides enough space for it to grow and develop.

• Ensure the hole is deep enough, but not too deep.

• Remove any unwanted roots before planting your new tree.

• Fill the hole with soil around your new tree until it is well covered.

• Water until you see new shoots growing up from the soil.

How To Take Care of Maple Tree

Find the suitable soil

Loamy, sandy soil is best for maple trees. It is important to ensure your soil is loose enough for a maple tree to grow in Virginia without getting waterlogged in heavy rains or springs since they don’t like clay or wet soil.

Plant it at the right time of year

In Virginia, you should plant maple trees in late winter or mid-spring when there are no frosts expected for several months after planting, so they have time to grow roots before winter returns. Your seedlings might get frozen out if you plant them in the fall unless there is a frost warning on the horizon.

Plant more than one seedling at once

Planting more than one maple seedling at a time will increase your chances of success-especially if the seedlings are from the same parent tree.

Maintain regular watering

It is necessary to water maple trees regularly during their first year of growth, but they can be watered less (but still often). Ensure the entire root ball is wet by watering enough.

Use an all-purpose fertilizer

Use an all-purpose fertilizer at least three times per year—in spring, summer, and fall—to ensure your maple tree receives all the nutrients it needs to stay healthy!

Maintain trees by pruning them

You should prune maple trees every two years to remove dead branches or those that cross, and rub against each other. This will help prevent disease and keep your tree looking great!

Choose Your Best Maple Tree Today!

Hopefully, these trees have helped you decide which one is right for you! If you live in a colder climate, pick the hardiest varieties. Suppose you don’t know what type of tree to get and live near a nursery or garden center. Then we recommend speaking with an expert who will be able to guide your decision based on their experience growing each variety.

Maple trees provide shade during warmer months while allowing sunlight to shine through during winter months. They are beautiful and provide shade during warmer months. Their leaves also grow earlier in spring than most other tree species, so they’re perfect if you want something new without waiting long. Additionally, they can be used to make syrup, cider, and mulch.