Acer rubrum ‘Sun Valley’
Sun Valley Red Maple | Franklin Brothers Nursery & Greenhouse
Brilliant red fall color, dependable shade, and a beautiful upright form make ‘Sun Valley’ Red Maple an outstanding choice for Southern landscapes.
Quick Care
Feature Details
Botanical Name Acer rubrum ‘Sun Valley’
Common Name Sun Valley Red Maple
Light Full sun to partial shade
Water Moderate; keep consistently moist during establishment
Mature Size 20–35 ft. tall × 15–25 ft. wide
Growth Rate Moderate to fast
Soil Moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil
Hardiness USDA Zones 4–9
Fall Color Brilliant, long-lasting red
Description
‘Sun Valley’ Red Maple is a beautiful deciduous shade tree prized for its outstanding fall color, attractive branching, and manageable mature size. Developed by the U.S. National Arboretum, this improved red maple cultivar produces a spectacular display of brilliant red foliage each autumn.
Its upright, symmetrical growth habit makes it an excellent choice for residential landscapes, streetscapes, and larger lawns. Unlike some seed-grown red maples, ‘Sun Valley’ offers more consistent fall color and a predictable growth habit.
Why You'll Love It
Spectacular fall color: Brilliant red foliage creates a stunning autumn display.
Attractive shape: Develops a uniform, upright, oval crown.
Excellent shade tree: Provides welcome summer shade without becoming excessively large.
Seedless selection: A male cultivar that does not produce the winged seed clusters common to many maples.
Adaptable: Performs well in a variety of landscape settings when properly planted.
Best Uses
‘Sun Valley’ is an excellent choice for front lawns, shade gardens, residential streets, and landscape focal points. Its relatively compact growth habit makes it especially useful where a large shade tree is desired but space is somewhat limited.
Plant it where its brilliant autumn foliage can be appreciated from the home, driveway, or street.
Planting & Care
Plant in full sun for the best growth and fall color, although partial shade is tolerated. Choose a location with adequate room for the mature canopy and root system.
Planting: Dig a hole two to three times wider than the root ball, but no deeper. Keep the root flare at or slightly above soil level.
Watering: Water deeply during the first two growing seasons, especially during hot, dry weather.
Mulching: Apply 2–3 inches of organic mulch around the root zone, keeping mulch away from the trunk.
Fertilizing: Fertilize in early spring only when soil testing or growth indicates a need.
Pruning: Remove damaged or crossing branches during dormancy. Maintain a strong central leader while the tree is young.
Franklin Brothers' Central NC Advice
‘Sun Valley’ Red Maple is a good choice for landscapes throughout the North Carolina Piedmont, particularly where dependable fall color and an attractive shade tree are desired.
For best performance in our region, plant in moisture-retentive, slightly acidic soil and provide supplemental irrigation during extended summer droughts. Avoid extremely dry planting sites and highly alkaline soils.
Allow plenty of distance from sidewalks, driveways, and foundations because red maples develop shallow, spreading root systems.
Good to Know
‘Sun Valley’ was introduced by the U.S. National Arboretum in 1994 as a cross between ‘Red Sunset’ and ‘Autumn Flame’ Red Maples. It has demonstrated good tolerance to potato leafhopper, an insect that can damage young maple growth.
Because it produces only male flowers, ‘Sun Valley’ does not develop the familiar helicopter seeds. Mature size estimates vary among growers, with some listing trees approaching 40 feet tall and 35 feet wide. Fall color may be less consistent in warmer Southern climates than in northern regions.
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Sun Valley Red Maple | Franklin Brothers Nursery
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Shop Sun Valley Red Maple at Franklin Brothers Nursery in Henderson, NC. Enjoy brilliant red fall color, attractive shade, and a seedless growth habit.
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For the published product page, I recommend listing the mature size as approximately 30–40 feet tall and 25–35 feet wide, allowing for variations in growing conditions. The hardiness range most conservatively supported by the National Arboretum is Zones 4–7.