Question
I planted what I thought was an Autumn Blaze Maple several years ago.  The tree has done great.  Although, we may have planted too close to the house (the trunk is probably 12 feet from the house.  In any event, a friend of mine who works at a nursery, said the tree is not an Autumn Blaze Maple, but rather a Silver Maple.  He said in 10 years time the tree will have roots protruding from the ground, making it difficult to mow.  We also planned on patio close to it, which won抰 work if we have this root problem.  The grass will also have a difficulty growing.  I told him I bought an Autumn Blaze but he抯 convinced it抯 a Silver Maple.  He suggests I cut it down now before it become a problem.  What are your thoughts on this?  And, how can I tell which tree I really have?  Thanks for your help.

Answer
This is a hybrid cross of red maple and silver maple. Acer x freemanii, rubrum x saccharinum. It has excellent orange-red fall color that persists later than many others, and is extremely fast-growing. Under good conditions, it can grow 3 ft. or more per year. It is tolerant of clay soils and drought and has a dense, oval head with strong branching. Developed in North Central Ohio, this tree will grow in a wide range of climates from Michigan to central Florida. It grows 50 ft. high and 40 ft. wide. Every yard should have one of these trees. Autumn Blaze is very adaptable to a wide range of climate and soil conditions. It tolerates clay soil, and will withstand wet soil conditions and drought. This tree will grow in a wide range of climates from Wisconsin to central Florida, and is hardy in USDA zones 3-9.

Consider it for a site that isn抰 right for red or sugar maple, or as a more colorful alternative in place of silver or Norway maples. Like its silver maple parent, Autumn Blaze grows quickly. The growth rate of this cultivar is about four times faster than that of a red maple. Under optimal conditions it can grow 3 feet or more per year. Eventually it will grow to 50 feet tall and 40 feet wide. At maturity it will have an oval to rounded crown with ascending branches and a well-
defined central leader. This tree is not as susceptible to storm damage as silver maple because it has superior crotch angles and a well-balanced branching habit (inherited from its red maple parent) but still has the weaker wood characteristic of the silver maple. It grows in a very uniform shape, so it requires little pruning.


Without seeing the tree I will defer to the person on the ground and if he thinks it is silver it maybe.