Maple, Amur (ACER GINNALA) - 'Flame'
Reliable blazing red fall color and bright red samaras in summer make ‘Flame’ a standout specimen in a landscape of any size. This shapely, small, adaptle and extremely hardy tree is perfect for smaller areas as an accent tree, hedge, or in mass plantings. The abundant, showy scarlet samaras form in late summer to contrast against it's dark green foliage. The dense, lobed leaves cast wonderful shade during the summer months, then turn an incredible shade of scarlet in the fall. 'Flame' Amur maple is often multi-stemmed with a rounded crown, but can also be found single trunked; both can be successfully tailored to specific landscape requirements by pruning.
This small tree stands at 15 feet tall and wide at maturity and is very cold hardy sitting at USDA Hardiness zone 2 (some sources say it performs best in zones 3-6). Grows well in both full sun to light shade and can tolerate a wide range of soil types. It is not picky as to pH and is very adaptable to both dry and moist sites, but does best in well-drained soils. Once established, 'Flame' is tolerant of wind, dry soil, drought, and heavy pruning as long as it is only pruned in summer after the leaves have fully developed. If pruning is done in late winter or early spring, it may 'bleed' sap.
Can be grown as a container plant and is easy to transplant. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 4 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 60 years or more. Listed as a selection in the University of Wyoming "Conservation Trees & Shrubs For Wyoming" guide.