RED ROCKET MAPLE

• Lifespan: With proper care, these maples can live for 50-70 years, adding lasting vertical beauty to your landscape.
• Canopy Size and Spread: This narrow cultivar maintains a spread of only 10-15 feet at maturity, perfect for small spaces.
• Growth Rate: Moderate grower, adding 1-2 feet per year after establishment.
• Canopy Height: Reaches a mature height of 30-40 feet, offering a tall, slender presence.
• Soil Preference: Adapts to various well-drained soils, but prefers slightly acidic conditions.
• Water Needs: Moderately water-dependent, especially during the first few years after planting and during dry spells. Regular watering is beneficial, but they are drought-tolerant once established.
• Light Preference: Full sun exposure is ideal for optimal growth and the most vibrant fall color.
• Hardiness Zone: Hardy in USDA zones 4-9.
• Flowers: Small but showy clusters of red flowers bloom in early spring before the leaves emerge, lasting for about a week.

Interesting Facts

• A Cultivated Gem: Red Rocket is a cultivar of the red maple, specifically selected for its columnar growth habit and vibrant fall colors. It doesn’t occur naturally in the wild.
• Award-Winner: The Red Rocket Maple has been recognized for its ornamental value, receiving the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Gold Medal Award.
• Pollinator Magnet: The early spring flowers, though small, attract bees and other pollinators seeking an early nectar source.
• Early Spring Interest: Red Rocket is one of the first trees to show color in spring, with clusters of small red flowers appearing before the leaves emerge.
• Shallow Roots: Like many maples, the Red Rocket can have shallow roots, so care is needed when planting near sidewalks or foundations.