Red Maple
The Red Maple tree, Acer rubrum, is a deciduous tree which will typically grow 40-60' tall with a rounded to oval crown. In northern states, red maple usually occurs in wet bottomland, river flood plains, and wet woods, but in the south, it typically frequents drier, rocky upland areas. Leaves are shiny green above and pale green beneath, 3-5 lobed and 3-6" across. Species name of rubrum (meaning red) is everywhere in evidence: red flowers in dense clusters in late March to early April (before the leaves appear), red fruit (initially reddish, two-winged samara), reddish stems and twigs, red buds, and, in the fall, orange-red foliage color. This maple tree grows faster than Norway and Sugar maples, but slower than silver maple. Sap of this tree can be used to make a maple syrup that is inferior in quality to syrups made from the sugar maple. Red Maple trees are widely planted and admired. ... more information
Prairie Gold Aspen The Prairie Gold Quaking Aspen, 'Populus tremuloides ‘Prairie Gold’, is a fast-growing tree that grows in everything from moist sandy soil to shallow rocky soils and clay. It has attractive cream-colored bark, beautiful silvery catkins in early spring, and lustrous dark green leaves that flutter in the slightest breeze, finally turning yellow in fall. This selection was discovered growing near a northeast Nebraska creek by the late, dedicated plants man, Allen Wilke, where it had survived and thrived for years. ‘Prairie Gold’ has performed well in the landscape and seems to thrive in the heat and high humidity of eastern Nebraska. This selection does not seem to be affected by the host of diseases that usually plague this species. It should perform well in other parts of the Great Plains and the front range of the Rockies as well. . Grows to 35-40’ high and 20-30’ wide.
