Rocky Mountain Maple

The Rocky Mountain Maple (Acer glabrum) is a native tree that derives from the southern mountains of Alaska down to Northern California. In the wild, this small- to medium-sized tree plays a major role in the understory of alpine forests dominated by coniferous trees. Its ornamental red fruit in the late summer and yellow-to-red leaves in the fall give it great value as a landscape tree in the warm months, along with its smooth gray bark and notable red twigs in the cold months. \n \nThe Rocky Mountain Maple will do well in partial sun to full sun but has a definite preference to partial sun as its purpose in the wild is as an understory tree. If exposed to extreme heat in open, dry, and windy sites the leaves may scorch. Prefers moist, well drained soils but can do well in most soil conditions.