Red Maple 'Red Sunset' (Acer rubrum): The Gold Standard for Fall Color

'Red Sunset' (Acer rubrum 'Red Sunset'®, also sold as 'Franksred') is widely considered the most reliable red maple for consistent, brilliant autumn color. Selected for its early, intense red-to-orange display and superior branch structure, it's a top pick for streets, parks, and lawns across North America.

Seasonal Performance

In spring, red flower clusters appear before leaves. Summer foliage is glossy green. But autumn is the show: leaves turn a uniform, glowing orange-red to deep crimson—often 2–3 weeks earlier than seedling red maples—and hold color well. The branching is strongly upright, forming a symmetrical oval crown (45–50 ft tall, 35–40 ft wide).

Classification

• Family: Sapindaceae
• Genus: Acer
• Species: rubrum
• Cultivar: Red Sunset
• Also known as: Franksred, Sunset Red

Culture & Advantages

'Red Sunset' tolerates wet soils better than most maples, resists leafhoppers, and has a strong central leader reducing pruning needs. It's cold-hardy (zone 4) and heat-tolerant (zone 8). For predictable, spectacular fall color in a fast-growing shade tree, this cultivar sets the benchmark.