Checklist of Cultivated Maples I. Acer Rubrum L.

In recent years, nurserymen, horticulturists, and arborists have turned to the production and use of cultivars of important landscape trees and shrubs. What is a cultivar? The term was coined from CULTIvated VARiety and was established in the first edition of the International Code of Nomenclature of Cultivated Plants published in 1953 by the Royal Horticultural Society. The most recent edition of the Code (Brickell et al. 1980) is available from the American Horticultural Society.

The popularity of most present-day cultivars rests in their uniformity with regard to form, flower, and foliage. In the future more cultivars will be selected for “survival” characteristics such as pest resistance and stress tolerance. Even though must cultivars are propagated vegetatively, many are not, in the strict sense of the word, clones (Santamour 1976). Trees budded or grafted on rootstocks of different origins are not genetically similar in all parts. It should also be noted that a “cultivar” is a nomenclatural entity while a “clone” is a biological entity.

Before January 1, 1959, many cultivars were described as “varieties” or “forms” and given Latin names. These names are still valid as cultivars even though descriptions must be given fancy names (in other than Latin) and be accompanied by some sort of description.

The American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta (AABGA) has responsibility for appointing National Registration Authorities for cultivar names in genera of woody landscape plants. Of the 25 genera currently assigned to North American institutions or organizations, few could be considered as major landscape tree groups. For many years, the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University has served as temporary International Registration Authority for unassigned genera and, in the course of time, took on the responsibility for such trees as Cornus, Fagus, Gleditsia, and Ulmus. On January 1, 1981, this temporary authority for unassigned genera passed to the U.S. National Arboretum. Along with this authority came the responsibility for establishing credible checklists of present cultivars of important landscape tree species. This compilation of cultivars in red maple (Acer rubrum L.) is our first installment in what we hope will be an extensive series in this Journal.

Checklists are published to encourage a stability of nomenclature, based on the prevailing rule of taxonomic priority, for cultivated woody plants. They are not intended to serve as recommendations or evaluations nor can they be used as buyer’s guides. Any attributes as to growth, form or other virtues are derived solely from the reference descriptions.

A new woody plant cultivar does not have to be patented in order that its name be officially registered. We urge all nurserymen and scientists who intend to introduce a new maple (or a plant of the many other unassigned genera) to contact Dr. T.R. Dudley at the U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, D.C. 20002 for registration forms and other information.

It is our desire to produce checklists that are reasonably complete and accurate and which, in addition, could be easily used by practicing arborists, horticulturists, and urban foresters. For many of the older names, we are indebted to the scholarship of Murray (1970). The Plant Sciences Data Center of the American Horticultural Society compiled lists of the living collections of 42 major North American arboreta and botanical gardens in 1979, and these are available on microfiche from the Society. Cultivars still grown in European gardens were taken from Bean (1970) and Krussmann (1959). Data on the more modern cultivars were gleaned from nursery catalogs, plant patents, and other published sources.

Although in normal correct usage, cultivar names are enclosed by single quotation marks (e.g. Acer rubrum October Glory’) or preceded by the abbreviation “cv.” (e.g. Acer rubrum cv. October Glory), we have deviated from this practice to emphasize the status of the cultivar names. VALID CULTIVAR names are shown in boldface capitals and INVALID CULTIVAR names are shown in lightface capitals.

There appears to be general agreement on the use of th scientific name Acer rubrum L., as proposed by Linnaeus in 1753, to denote the common eastern U.S. tree generally known as “red maple.”

ABLAZE (Sarcoxie Nurs., Sarcoxie, Missouri, Wholesale Price List, Spring 1974, p. 4, 7) — has a well-rounded head, brilliant red autumn color, holds foliage late into autumn.

ALBO-VARIEGATUM (F. Schwerin, Mitt. Deutsch. Dendr. Ges. 10: 58-65, 1901) — leaves flecked white.

ARMSTRONG (E.H. Scanlon, Trees Mag. 11(5): 10-11, 22-23, 1951 — as ‘Newt. Armstrong’, fastigiate) — Name changed by E.H. Scanlon, Trees Mag. 12(1): 12, 1951, who stated that the original tree was discovered about 1947 by Newton Armstrong of Windsor, Ohio. A strong fastigiate form with narrow habit similar to Lombardy poplar — to 35 ft., E.H. Scanlon & Assoc., Olmsted Falls, Ohio, Wholesale Cat. No. 7, Fall 1955-Spring 1956, p. 4.

ARMSTRONG II = ARMSTRONG TWO (Trade-marked).

ARMSTRONG TWO (E.H. Scanlon & Assoc., Olmsted Falls, Ohio, Wholesale Price List, 1976, p. 9, Trade-marked) — selected in 1960 from planting of Armstrong’ for superior autumn leaf color. Originally named ‘Armstrong II,’ E.H. Scanlon & Assoc., Wholesale Price List No. 16, Spring 1965-Fall 1965, p. 19, having “tighter form, narrower crotches, and more tightly ascending branches” than ‘Armstrong.’

AUREO-VARIEGATUM (F.A. Wiegers, Collection d’Arbres, Arbrisseau, Plants, p. 4-5, 1809) — leaves flecked gold.

AUTUMN BLAZE — Name found in T.D. Sydnor and J.R. Holman, Sources of Shade Trees in the United States-1980, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), Special Circ. 105, 1980 as Acer X ‘Autumn Blaze’ without description. Apparently a tree selected by Glenn Jeffers, Fostoria, Ohio, from a group of seedlings of putative red maple X silver maple parentage, and the tree does appear to be a hybrid. Although it is under test at OARDC in Wooster, Ohio, the name ‘Autumn Blaze’ has not been validly published and because of possible name change following patenting, it is not validated here. Probably should be referred to A. X freemani? E. Murray (A. rubrum X saccharinumļ as defined by E. Murray, Kalmia 1: 1-42, 1969.

AUTUMN FLAME (W.H. Collins, Amer. Nuseryman 120(3): 31. 1964) — selected for early and brilliant autumn leaf color, leaves more persistent than normal. Also in A. McGill & Son, Fairview, Oregon, Wholesale Price List, Fall 1964-Spring 1965, p. 8. Plant Patent 2377, March 17, 1964.

AUTUMN GLORY (Davey Tree Expert Co., Kent, Ohio, Nurs. Cat., Fall 1967-Spring 1968, p. 9) — foliage exceptional red Fall coloring. Upright, oval spreading. Tree selected by M.W. Staples, Kent, Ohio. Plant Patent No. 2431, August 4, 1964. Orange-red autumn foliage color.

BOWHALL (E.H. Scanlon, Trees Mag. 11(5): 10-11, 22-23. 1951) — pyramid. Probably propagated from parent tree described by E.H. Scanlon, Trees Mag. 8(6): 11. 1948. Original tree with 15 ft. crown spread at 35 ft. height. Named for road on which discovered.

COCCINEUM (R. Weston, The Universal Botanist & Nurseryman, p. 1-2, 1970) — may be A. saccharinum.

COLUMN (H.P. Kelsey and W.A. Dayton, Standardized Plant Names, p. 4-5, 1942) = COLUMNARE.

COLUMNARE (A. Rehder in L.H. Bailey, Cycl. Amer. Hort. Vol. 1, p. 12, 1900) — of upright columnar habit.

COLUMNAR WALTERS (Manbeck Nurs. Inc., New Knoxville, Ohio, Wholesale Cat. Fall 1975, p. 6) — upright, with good fall color. Apparently a selection made by Richard Walter of Maplewood, New Jersey. As Acer rubrum f. co!umnare (Walter selection) in Trees for New Jersey Streets (First revision, 1965, N.J. Fed. of Shade Tree Commissions, p. 14) — rapid growth; flowers, fruit, red autumn foliage attractive; leaves fall over short period.

COLUMNARE WALTERS — Name found in records of Plant Sciences Data Center of the American Horticultural Society. Plant received at Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, in 1958 from Princeton Nurseries, Princeton, New Jersey, but not listed in their catalogs. = COLUMNAR WALTERS.

CURTIS (Pacific Coast Nurs. Inc., Portland, Oregon, Wholesale Price List Fall 1967-Spring 1968, p. 6) — straight, upright-growing, nice fall color.

DORIC (E.H. Scanlon & Assoc., Olmsted Falls, Ohio, No. 17, Spring 1967-Fall 1967, p. 24-25) — patterned after the columns of the Parthenon, branches at 30-degree angle and may ascend to two-thirds the height of the tree, glossy and leathery leaves that turn a brilliant blood red in the fall. Narrow columnar form. Plant Patent 2823, July 30, 1968.

DRAKE (Anon., Avant Gardener 8(5): 35, 1975) — roundheaded form, early leaf coloration. Without further description in S.A. Spongberg, AABGA Bull. 11:13-15, 1977. = V.J. DRAKE.

DWARF (H.P. Helsey and W.A. Dayton, Standardized Plant Names, p. 4-5, 1942) = GLOBOSUM.

EXCELSIOR (Handy Nurs. Co., Portland, Oregon, Wholesale Price List, Fall 1978-Spring 1979, p. 18, Trade-marked) — has broad pyramidal form, attained in early years of growth.

FLORIDANUM (W.G. Lauche, Deutsche Dendrol. p. 452-462, 1880) — autumn leaf color red.

FULGENS (H.M. Willkomm, Laubholzer, Zierbaume und Straucher des Hochfurstlich von Rohanschen Garten zu Sichrov, p. 1-2, 1879) — leaves subtomentose beneath.

GERLING (E.H. Scanlon & Assoc., Olmsted Falls, Ohio, Wholesale Cat. No. 7, Fall 1955-Spring 1956, p. 4) —a cone-shaped red maple of fine growth habit and neat appearance. Selection made by E.H. Scanlon in 1950, E.H. Scanlon & Assoc., Wholesale List No. 14, Fall 1962-Spring 1963, p. 20. Named for Jacob Gerling, Rochester, New York.

GLAUCUM (G. Dieck, Haupt-catalog der Obst und Geholzbaumschulen des Ritterguts Zoschen bei Merseburg, 1885, p. 19) —without description. L. Spath Baumschule, Berlin, Cat. No. 98, 1896-1897, p. 65, leaf underside bright steel-blue.

GLOBOSUM (Parsons & Sons Co. — Kissena Nurs.-Flushing, New York, Cat. 1887, p. 12) — compact, dwarf form, flowers scarlet.

MAGNIFICUM (F. Schwerin. Mitt. Deutsch Dendr. Ges. 19. 287-289, 1910) — autumn leaf margin red.

MORGAN (Sheridan Nurs., Canada, Trade List, Fall 1972-Spring 1973, p. 17) — selected at Morgan Arboretum, Macdonald College, Quebec. Noted for its consistent, brilliant scarlet fall color, even on young plants. Registered January 1, 1971 with Canadian Ornamental Plant Foundation.

NEWT. ARMSTRONG = ARMSTRONG.

NORTHWOOD (H. Pellett, L. Snyder, F. de Vos, Minn. Agr. Expt. Sta. Mise. Rpt. 1 75, 1980, 2 p.) — tree produces a round oval crown with branches from the trunk at approximately a 45-degree angle. Also in S.A. Spongberg, AABGA Bull. 15: 67-70, 1981.

OCTOBER GLORY (Princeton Nurs., Princeton, New Jersey, Wholesale Price List, Fall 1961-Spring 1962, p. 10) — dependable crimson-red autumn leaf color, leaves retained later than most red maples. Plant Patent 2116, December 26, 1961. Trade-marked.

PALLIDE RUBRUM (R. Weston, The English Flora, 1775, p. 1) = A. saccharinum L.

PALMATUM (F.L. Spaeth, Gartenflora 41: 63, 1892) = PENDULUM.

PAUL E. TILFORD = TILFORD.

PENDULUM (G. Kirchner in E. Petzold and G. Kirchner, Arboretum Muscaviense, Gotha, 1864, p. 186) — branches pendent, leaves large, 5-lobed; may = A. saccharinum L.

PHIPPS FARM (Weston Nurs., Weston, Massachusetts, Cat. 1977, p. 48) — selected for long lasting red fall foliage.

PYRAMIDALE (Parsons & Sons Co. — Kissena Nurs. — Flushing, New York, Cat. 1887, p. 12) — without description.

RED SENTINAL — Name found in records of Plant Sciences Data Center of the American Horticultural Society. Plant at Univ. Minn. Landscape Arb. Apparently mis-named by nursery.

RED SUNSET (Cole Nurs. Co., Circleville, Ohio, Fall 1966 Trade List, p. 13) — “very promising new red maple selection with outstanding form and foliage — heavy-textured leaves persist and fall color is better than any we have seen.” Apparently a selection made by J. Frank Schmidt and Son Co., Troutdale, Oregon (Trade-marked).

RODESDOORN — Name found in records of Plant Sciences Data Center of the American Horticultural Society. Apparently taken from a Netherlands nursery catalog — Rode Esdoorn means “red maple” in Dutch.

SANGUINEUM (P.A.M. Lavallee, Arboretum Segrezianum, p. 26-30, 1877) — leaves blood-red in autumn, undersides glaucous, base cordate.

SCANLON (E.H. Scanlon & Assoc., Olmsted Falls, Ohio, Wholesale Cat. No. 7, Fall 1955oSpring 1956, p. 4) — compactly branched, conical shaped tree, with brilliant orange-umber and red autumn leaf coloration. Plant Patent 1722, July 1, 1958. Named for Edward H. Scanlon, Olmsted Falls, Ohio.

SCARLET SENTINEL (Milton Nurs. Co., Milton-Freewater, Oregon, Wholesale Trade List, Fall 1974-Spring 1975, p. 17) — “vigorous growth extending late into the season, very smooth and shiny bark, probably the most vigorous of the upright maples.” Plant Patent No. 3109, April 11, 1972.

SCHLESINGER (H.P. Kelsey and W.A. Dayton, Standardized Plant Names, p. 4-5, 1942) = SCHLESINGERI.

SCHLESINGERI (F. Schwerin, Mitt. Deutsch. Dendrol. Ges. 5: 224-229, 1896) — splendid autumn color, color and leaf size better than typical. Apparently discovered by Prof. C.S. Sargent (ca. 1888) on the private grounds of a person named Schlesinger in America and named after this person. In the nursery trade as ‘Schlessenceri,’ brought about by Sargent’s illegible writing. First advertised in L. Spath Baumschule, Berlin, Cat. No. 98, 1896-1897, p. 65.

SHADE KING (Handy Nurs. Co., Portland, Oregon, Wholesale Price List Fall 1973-Spring 1974, p. 13, Trade-marked) — “grows to 50 feet with an upright oval head and dark green foliage.”

SPLENDENS (K. Koch, Dendrologie 1: 518-545, 1869) — similar to TOMENTOSUM.

TILFORD (E.H. Scanlon, Trees Mag. 11(5): 10-11, 22-23, 1951-as ‘Paul E. Tilford,’ globe) — cultivar names ‘Paul E. Tilford’ and ‘Tilford’ were used interchangably until 1961, E.H. Scanlon & Assoc., Olmsted Falls, Ohio, Wholesale List No. 13, Fall 1961-Spring 1962, p. 9. Since that time ‘Tilford’ has been the accepted name. Large globe headed tree, about as wide as tall. Named for Paul E. Tilford, Wooster, Ohio.

TOMENTOSUM (L. Spath Baumschule, Berlin, Cat. No. 98, 1896-1897, p. 65) — leaf underside tomentose, in autumn deep red.

V.J. DRAKE (J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co., Boring, Oregon, Wholesale Price List, Fall 1977-Spring 1978, p. 21-22) — “a red maple having distinctly colored leaves turning from green to a colored border through shades of blue-violet to red and yellow.” Plant Patent 3542, May 7, 1974. Cultivar name valid with permission of patent owner.

VARIEGATUM (J. Groinland, Rev. Hort. 34: 88-91, 1862) — leaves variegated.

WAGENERI = WAGERI.

WAGERI (K. Koch, Dendrologie 1: 518-545, 1869) - large leaves, 5-lobed, branches pendulous.

WAGNERI = WAGERI.

WOOLLY (H.P. Kelsey and W.A. Dayton, Standardized Plant Names, 1942, p. 4-5) — probably = TOMENTOSUM.

YELLOW FLOWER — Name found in records of Plant Sciences Data Center of the American Horticultural Society. Plant at Holden Arboretum, Mentor, Ohio. Apparently an appellation given to a staminate tree by Cole Nursery Co. and propagated, but not sold or widely distributed.

• © 1982, International Society of Arboriculture. All rights reserved.