The iconic maple that lights up North American forests. In April, the rich green fire-retardant leaves turn to fiery-red, signalling the threat of summer fires has passed. A tall and handsome tree with a pyramidal habit when young, becoming rounded as it ages to quickly produce a cooling shade. Impressive all year, with its tiny red flowers in clusters emerging before the leaves in spring, followed by red-tinged new foliage, dark green lush summer leaves with a whitish underside, spectacular yellow and red autumn colour and attractive smooth grey bark, often furrowed with age as a winter highlight. Perfect as a specimen tree or focal point in the garden. Fast growth rate.