Acer Tartaricum, the Tartarian Maple was introduced into North America in 1759 from the cold regions of eastern Europe and western Asia. It is a little more upright in habit than the Amur maple and is growing in several Truckee locations as a small tree. The bush form will grow 15’tall by 10’ wide. The Tartarian maple does best in sun and will turn red, yellow or orange in fall.

Canyon or Bigtooth Maple (Acer grandidentatum) is an excellent choice for Truckee. It is a sugar maple relative and is native to most western states at 5-8,000’. Although it is not native to California, it is well adapted to Truckee. It is a large, dense shrub growing 20’tall and 15’ wide excellent for screening. It grows in full sun or in light shade as an understory plant. The fall color ranges from peach to red. It is planted in front of the Eaton Houses downtown and there are beautiful, mature specimens on Jacobs Court in Prosser Heights.

Acer campestre (Hedge maple) is infrequently planted in Truckee but it does very well here especially as a companion to canyon maple. They are beautiful in a large mixed screening hedge. Hedge maple is large like the Canyon maple, has bright yellow fall color and will tolerate some shade.

Vine maple (Acer circinatum), is an excellent choice for partial shade. Vine maples grow in the understory of pines and firs in northern California and the pacific northwest. They are large brambling, vine like shrubs in their native habitat. When they are grown in light shade they often attain specimen quality. They can grow 20’ tall and 15’ wide at maturity here in Truckee. They are the last maples to turn color in Truckee. They begin turning yellow and then orange and red, often a month later than the Amur maples.

Maples and other shrubs and trees can be planted until at least the first of November and often later.