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Red Sunset Maple Aftercare in the Pacific Northwest

Red Sunset Maple

Red Sunset Maple tree, Acer rubrum 'Franksred', mature specimen — species reference for Pacific Arboriculture homeowners in Auburn and the south Puget Sound.
Red Sunset Maple (Acer rubrum 'Franksred'). Photo: Photo by David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Acer_rubrum_Red_Sunset_5zz.jpg
Acer rubrum ‘Franksred’
  • Reliable, brilliant red-orange fall color earlier than most red maple cultivars
  • Strong upright pyramidal-to-oval form with consistent symmetry
  • Tolerant of urban conditions, wet soils, and a range of pH levels
  • Native red maple genetics — well-suited to PNW conditions

Red Sunset is a selected cultivar of native Red Maple bred for predictable, vivid fall color and a tidy pyramidal form. It throws a more upright, evenly branched canopy than the wild species, holds up better under urban stresses, and produces fall color that arrives 1–2 weeks earlier than most maple cultivars. A reliable choice for parking strips, front yards, and street-side plantings across south Puget Sound cities.

Planting and Care

  1. Planting. Plant in full sun for best fall color. Red Sunset tolerates wet soils that defeat most ornamental maples — useful for south Puget Sound lots with seasonal high water tables. Dig wide rather than deep, place the rootball with the trunk flare visible, backfill with native soil, water in, and mulch.
  2. Watering. Deep watering once a week in the first two growing seasons. Once established, supplemental water during the dry months keeps fall color vivid — stressed trees often drop leaves before color develops.
  3. Fertilizing. Skip fertilizer in year one. From year two, a single light application of balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring is appropriate if soil is impoverished. Avoid high-nitrogen formulations that push soft growth at the expense of root development.
  4. Pruning. Prune in mid-summer or fall to limit sap flow. Maintain a single central leader in the first 5 years, remove crossing branches, and elevate the canopy gradually for street-side or driveway placements.

Red Sunset is one of the most adaptable shade-grade maples for south Puget Sound subdivisions — it handles the heavy clay common in Auburn, Sumner, and Pacific without the structural weakness of Silver Maple.

Need a Pacific Arboriculture ISA Certified Arborist to look at the red sunset maple on the property?
Call (206) 909-2170 or request a free quote — Pacific Arboriculture provides residential and commercial tree services across Auburn, Kent, Renton, Tacoma, Federal Way, Puyallup, Sumner, Bonney Lake, Maple Valley, and the wider south Puget Sound.

Return to Maples aftercare.

Red Sunset Maple Specs

Mature Height45–50 ft
Mature Width30–35 ft
SunlightFull Sun, Partial Shade
Growth RateModerate to Fast
Botanical NameAcer rubrum ‘Franksred’
Planting questions?
(206) 909-2170
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