Cosmic Flare™ Sugar Maple - Acer saccharum

Cosmic Flare - summer Cosmic Flare - autumn

Description:

This selection originated from a seedling propagated boulevard tree in Fargo, North Dakota. Similar shape as Apollo® sugar maple but wider making it an excellent boulevard tree candidate. Extremely dense foliage during the summer with earlier fall shutdown as compared to other commercially available cultivars.

Hardiness:

USDA hardiness zones 3b to 6

Mature Size:

Height: 30'
Spread: 18'

Form (Shape):

Pyramidal-Rounded

Growth Rate:

Medium

Foliage: 

Deciduous
Spring/Summer: excellent medium green color throughout the summer showing no signs of chlorosis on a soil pH greater than 7.8
Autumn: ranges from yellow-orange to orange-red, depending on the year.

Texture:

Medium

Flower:

Produced in drooping corymbs before the leaves emerge. Short-lived spring interest, not overly showy.

Fruit:

Schizocarp (two-winged samara) ripening in fall, not showy.

Light Preferences:

Full sun exposure

Soil Preferences:

Prefers a deep, well-drained, non-droughty soil, will tolerate higher pH levels than the species.

Propagation:

Summer budding onto northern sugar maple rootstocks.

Ornamental Attributes

Extreme density of the summer foliage and pyramidal-rounded form which sets it apart from the species (upright oval to rounded with a height of 45 feet and 40-foot spread) and other sugar maple cultivars.

Landscape Attributes:

Excellent medium green color throughout the summer showing no signs of chlorosis on a soil pH greater than 7.

Patent Status:

  • U.S. Trademark - pending
  • Canadian Trademark - pending

Comments

The mature form is similar to Greenspire® linden (Tilia cordata 'PNI 6025') which is one of the most commonly planted littleleaf linden cultivars. Littleleaf lindens have been overplanted in many regions and Cosmic Flare™ would be an excellent substitute for planting diversity.

Licensing Status:

This cultivar is available for non-exclusive licensing.

Availability

Not available commercially yet

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