Celebration maple has many attributes. It's disease resistant, tolerant of urban pollution and has attractive autumn foliage. But best of all, it's seedless!
Acer x freemanii 'Celzam,' sold under the registered name Celebration, was developed at Lake County Nursery in
Celebration trees have a contoured, upright, uniform branching structure with a good central leader. The strong crotch angles and limbs withstand wind and snow damage. Celebration does not require trimming or pruning to maintain its naturally symmetrical form.
It's a fast-growing tree when young, yet it maintains its compact structure. There has been little evidence of root upheaval on own-root plants.
Red flowers appear in early spring. In spring and summer, the foliage is crisp green. In autumn, foliage turns red followed by gold. Freeman maple's fruiting characteristics are variable and can be a nuisance in some years, but Celebration is seedless so there is no worry.
A medium-sized tree, Celebration is an excellent choice for street tree planting, both in urban and suburban settings. A quick Web search revealed that Celebration is on the recommended tree list of many
Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association recommended Celebration, among other maple species, as alternatives to ash species, which are being devastated by emerald ash borer. No effective treatments for emerald ash borer have been found.
Culture tips
Freeman maples are hybrids of (red maple) and A. saccharinum (silver maple), with intermediate characteristics of the two species, including faster growth and more dissected leaves than red maples and better branching structure and more intense fall color than silver maples.
Celebration is tolerant of most soils, but you should generally avoid too-wet sites or high pH levels (6.0-7.5 is recommended). Plant Celebration in full sun or partial shade.
Like silver maple, this tree is likely to live long enough to outgrow a small landscape if it is improperly sited. Don't plant Celebration in a lawn less than 6 feet wide nor under power lines.
At Lake County Nursery, these trees are field grown. They transplant readily. Gro Straights are recommended in the spring. Metal stakes are necessary when trees are young.
Propagate by summer mist cuttings. It can be budded on to Acer saccharinum, but growers at
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Specifics
Name: Acer x freemanii 'Celzam' (Celebration)
Common name: Celebration maple.
Family: Aceraceae.
Description: Fast-growing medium-sized tree. Attractive red and gold fall color.
Landscape uses: Urban or suburban landscapes; don't plant under power lines.
For more: Lake County Nursery, P.O. Box 122, Route 84, Perry, OH 44081-0122; (440) 259-5571; fax (440) 259-3114; lcninfo@lakecountynursery.com. Gro Straight Products,
- Kevin Neal