October Glory maple (Acer rubrum ‘October Glory’)

For an ornamental, fast-growing tree with great fall color, it’s hard to beat the ‘October Glory’ cultivar of red maple. Although it does best in temperate climates, it can grow in the warm south with extra water and will provide spring flowers, spectacular fall color, and quick growth.

I. Appearance and Characteristics

There are several cultivars of red maple, Acer rubrum, and ‘October Glory’ is a popular one for its spectacular display of fall color. October Glory red maples are also popular because they grow vigorously and easily. If you need a tree that will grow fairly quickly and fill out some space with great color in the fall, this is a good choice.

October Glory grows to a height of 40 to 50 feet (12-15 m.). It grows best in zones 5 through 9. In areas to the south of its range, the trees grow shorter and need regular irrigation or a wet soil. In the spring, this red maple will produce pretty red flowers and will attract birds and squirrels with its seeds in the summer. In the fall, expect to see showy shades of yellow, orange, and red.

II. How to Grow and Care

Sunlight

October Glory maple tolerates partial shade, but it likely will produce superior fall color if grown in full sun. However, the further south you go in its range, the more it can profit from a bit of afternoon shade, especially before it has become established.

Temperature and Humidity

This tree is valued for its cold hardiness. It tolerates the heat and humidity of the South and may perform reasonably well in zone 8. While it can survive in zone 9, there are better choices there.

Watering

Originating from wetlands and commonly found in eastern North America, October Glory thrives in moist soil conditions and exhibits a strong preference for consistent hydration. This species is known for its moderate drought tolerance but performs best when the soil remains evenly moist without becoming waterlogged. For optimal growth, red maple ‘October Glory’ requires watering twice a week. Cultivated primarily outdoors, red maple ‘October Glory’ showcases its vibrant autumn foliage as a deciduous plant, making it particularly sensitive to seasonal water variations.

Soil

October Glory will survive in soil that’s a perfect loam mix, heavy clay, or sandy. But in sandy soil, it will require extra watering. Despite being relatively tolerant in its soil needs, there are a few soil conditions to avoid when growing the October Glory maple tree. Do not grow it in alkaline soil if you want red fall color. Instead, you will get pale yellow leaves.

Fertilizing

Potted seedlings should be given slow-release fertilizer only. For seedlings grown in gardens, fertilizer should be applied three times a year: once in the early spring, once in early summer for the growth period, and once in the fall.

Planting Instructions

The best time for planting or transplanting a red maple ‘October Glory’ is following defoliation in the fall. At this time, the leaves will have fallen off so there is little transpiration and water loss can be avoided. In addition, the root system will still be growing at this time, preparing for regrowth the following spring. Transplanting should be avoided on the coldest days because cold wind can kill some of the shoots and branches. During the winter, in areas that cannot be sheltered from the wind, it is recommended to cover the branches.

Pruning

Any pruning that you do should be minimal and performed when the branch in question is still small. Prune off any branches that form very narrow angles with the trunk or other major branches because wide angles are stronger and help you avoid breakage from storms. Make your pruning cut just outside the branch collar to help the tree close its wound. The best time to prune is at the end of summer or in autumn; the tree tends to bleed sap when pruned in spring.

Propagation

October Glory maple tree is not generally grown from seed, but you can grow a new specimen from an old one by rooting a cutting, which is a frugal way to add more of it to your landscape. Here’s how to propagate October Glory maple from cuttings:

• Prepare by gathering your supplies: pruners, work gloves, rooting hormone powder, potting soil, a clear plastic bag, sticks, isopropyl alcohol, and a container.
• Fill your container with potting soil and poke a 2-inch-deep hole in the middle. Water the soil and set it aside.
• Sterilize your pruners with isopropyl alcohol and take the cutting. The tip of a healthy-looking branch with new growth is best, and the cutting should be about 4 inches long.
• Strip off any leaves that may be present on the bottom half of the cutting, leaving two leaves on the top half.
• Using a blade from your pruners, scrape off 2 inches of the bark from the bottom of the branch, all the way around.
• Dip this now-bare, 2-inch section of cutting in the rooting hormone powder and insert it into the hole that you poked in the soil.
• To create a greenhouse tent, suspend a plastic bag over the container using sticks.
• When the cutting takes root, remove the tent and transfer the container to a sunny window.
• Acclimate your sapling by taking it outside during the day and bringing it inside at night for 10 days. Once it hardens off, plant it in the desired location.

Overwintering

October Glory maple tree is cold-hardy to zone 3. North of that, apply a 3-inch layer of mulch around the base of the tree to insulate its root zone. But avoid piling the mulch up against the trunk, which would invite damage from pests such as voles.

In late fall, prune off any dead, damaged, or diseased branches. Do not fertilize your tree in fall because you want to discourage new foliar growth that would only be damaged by cold temperatures in winter.

Pests and Diseases

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

October Glory maple tree stays relatively free of pest and disease issues. But when a problem does arise, take the necessary steps to keep your specimen in the best possible shape. Here are two examples:

Leaf Spot

Regularly inspect the leaves of your plant so that you can promptly detect the presence of pests and diseases. One disease to be on the lookout for is leaf spot, which takes the form of brown spots on the leaves. A fungal disease, leaf spot often appears first on the lower limbs of the tree, where humidity is highest. Leaf spot does not usually harm the health of your October Glory maple tree or require the use of potent fungicides, but it does mar its appearance. Remove affected branches when you find them so that the disease does not spread. Going forward, use preventive measures, including:

• Ensuring proper spacing to promote better air circulation.
• Watering in the morning so the sun can dry out the area.
• Watering at ground level to avoid moistening the leaves.
• Practicing proper sanitation when putting the garden to bed in the fall.

Scale

At first, you may not recognize scale as an insect pest because it does not move much, making it look like an inanimate lump. When you inspect the leaves, check the undersides for these brownish, scabby pests. They suck nutrition out of your plant but are easy enough to treat with an insecticide such as organic neem oil.

Common Problems

This tree is relatively low-maintenance. But there are a couple of issues that need to be addressed:

Thin Bark

The tree’s bark is thin, making it easy to damage during property maintenance activities, such as mowing or string trimming. Wounds to the bark can allow pathogens to enter and lead to disease issues. Protect the bark with a tree guard.

Salt Tolerance

While the October Glory maple tree is tolerant of urban pollution, it is not tolerant of the salt often used on rural routes to melt the snow and ice in winter. It may perform poorly if grown as a street tree in such areas. Nor is it the best choice for seaside communities, where salt-tolerant pin oak (Quercus palustris) is a better option for red fall color.

III. Uses and Benefits

October Glory maple is a fast-growing red maple cultivar, popular as an ornamental tree and a street tree, but also as a bonsai.