A Fast Freeman Maple With Deep Burgundy-Red Minnesota Fall Color

First Editions Matador Maple (Acer × freemanii 'Bailston') is a Bailey Nurseries Freeman maple (red maple × silver maple) bred as an improvement on Autumn Blaze — deeper, richer burgundy-red fall color, a fuller and more symmetrical canopy, and stronger branch structure that holds up to wind and snow. It grows fast, tolerates clay and wetter ground, and is reliably cold-hardy through USDA zone 3. Whether you want quick shade over an Eden Prairie backyard, a bold fall-color specimen in Edina, or a tough boulevard tree in Wayzata, Matador combines speed, structure, and a spectacular autumn show.

First Editions Matador Maple Plant Details

First Editions Matador Maple Uses in Minnesota Landscapes

Fast Shade Tree With Strong Structure

Like other Freeman maples, Matador grows quickly — 2–3 feet a year — but it was selected for a stronger central leader and better branch attachment than older types like Autumn Blaze, so it stands up better to Minnesota wind and wet snow. It's an excellent, quick-establishing emerald-ash-borer replacement.

Bold Fall-Color Specimen

The deep, uniform burgundy-red fall display is Matador's headline feature, glowing richer and more consistently than seedling maples. A single tree becomes the standout in any front lawn each October.

Boulevard and Group Plantings

Its full, symmetrical crown lines a boulevard or fills a group planting cleanly, and its tolerance of urban and clay soils makes it dependable on tougher Twin Cities sites. Keep it back from the heaviest direct road-salt spray.

Wet and Low-Lying Sites

With both red and silver maple in its parentage, Matador tolerates the soggy, poorly drained corners of a property better than most shade trees — handy for low spots and rain-garden edges.

Best Time to Plant First Editions Matador Maple in Minnesota

Plant in spring (late April–May, after the ground thaws) for a full growing season of root establishment, or in early fall (late August–early October) while the soil is still warm. Get it in the ground at least six weeks before the ground freezes — typically mid-November in the Twin Cities. Avoid mid-summer planting in heat and humidity, and never plant after mid-October or before spring thaw.

How to Plant First Editions Matador Maple

1. Dig wide, not deep — 2–3x the root ball width but only as deep as the ball is tall, so the root flare sits at or slightly above grade.
2. Check drainage — Matador tolerates wet soil, but if water pools and never drains, break through any clay hardpan or mound-plant slightly.
3. Backfill with the native soil mixed with 20–30% compost; don't create a pure-compost "container" the roots won't leave.
4. Spacing — give a single specimen 25–30 feet of clearance; space a row or allee 30–35 feet apart.
5. Build a 3–4 inch watering ring to direct water to the roots, then flatten it before winter so it doesn't trap ice.
6. Mulch with 2–3 inches of shredded bark or wood chips in a wide ring, kept 2 inches off the trunk. Never use gravel mulch in Minnesota — it doesn't insulate roots.

Watering First Editions Matador Maple in Minnesota

First Year Watering Schedule

Weeks 1–2: water deeply and slowly every 1–2 days. Month 1–2: every 3–4 days. Month 3–6: every 5–7 days during active growth, easing off when rainfall is adequate (the Twin Cities average about 3 inches a month from June through August). Stop watering 2–3 weeks before the ground freezes — usually late October — so the tree doesn't push tender growth heading into winter.

After Year One

An established Matador largely cares for itself, needing supplemental water only during extended droughts (two-plus weeks with no rain and temps above 80°F). Soak deeply to 8–12 inches every 7–14 days during dry spells and let natural rainfall do the rest.

Will First Editions Matador Maple survive a Minnesota winter? Yes — easily. It's rated to USDA zone 3 and is reliably hardy in Twin Cities winters. Wrap the young trunk the first winter to prevent sunscald and buck rub.

How is it different from Autumn Blaze? Matador is a newer Freeman maple selected to improve on Autumn Blaze — it offers deeper, richer burgundy-red fall color, a fuller canopy, and notably stronger branch structure that resists storm breakage.

How fast does it grow here? Fast — about 2–3 feet per year in good Minnesota soil, one of the quicker large maples you can plant.

Is it native to Minnesota? It's a hybrid of two natives — red maple and silver maple. 'Bailston' is a Bailey Nurseries selection that carries the toughness and wet-soil tolerance of both parents.

Does it handle clay and wet soil? Yes — very well. Both parent species grow in heavy, wet ground, so Matador tolerates clay-loam and low, soggy spots better than most shade trees.

You May Also Like

• Autumn Blaze Maple — the classic, widely planted Freeman maple with brilliant orange-red fall color.
• Firefall Maple — a seedless University of Minnesota Freeman maple with red-orange fall color.
• Sienna Glen Maple — a Minnesota-bred Freeman maple with excellent hardiness and a symmetrical form.
• Red Sunset Red Maple — a fast-growing red maple with brilliant, dependable orange-red fall color.
• Inferno Sugar Maple — a native sugar maple selected for fiery scarlet-red fall color.

How Many Matador Maples Do I Need?

Matador is a large shade tree — one specimen is the anchor for a typical Twin Cities lot. Give a single tree 25–30 feet of clearance from buildings and other large trees so its 35–40-foot crown fills out symmetrically. For a boulevard row or property line, plant 30–35 feet on center; on acreage, a trio spaced 30 feet apart makes a dramatic October block of burgundy-red.

Matador Maple Season-by-Season in Minnesota

• Spring: Small red flowers haze the branches in early April before clean green leaves emerge — an early-season nectar and pollen stop for bees.
• Summer: Full, dense, symmetrical canopy — noticeably fuller than older Freeman maples — grows 2–3 feet a year and casts deep shade.
• Fall: Deep burgundy-red color, richer and more uniform than Autumn Blaze, typically holding for weeks in October.
• Winter: Strong central leader and well-attached branches resist wet-snow breakage; tidy oval silhouette with smooth gray young bark.

At a Glance

✔ Pollinator-Friendly   ✔ Rain-Garden / Wet-Soil   ✔ Four-Season Interest

Plant It With

• Autumn Blaze Maple — the classic Freeman maple; plant both and compare fall shades side by side.
• Firefall Maple — a seedless U of M Freeman maple whose red-orange contrasts with Matador's burgundy.
• Red Sunset Red Maple — a true red maple with the same wet-site tolerance and dependable color.
• Fall Fiesta Sugar Maple — a native sugar maple whose multi-color blend layers beautifully behind Matador's deep red.

Is Matador Maple Right for Your Yard?

Choose Matador if you want fast shade, storm-tough structure, and the deepest burgundy-red fall color of the Freeman maples — it thrives in full sun, tolerates clay and wet corners, and shrugs off zone 3–4 winters. It's not a fit for very high-pH soils (chlorosis risk), heavy direct road-salt zones, or small courtyards — it needs room for a 45–50-foot canopy.