{"product_id":"northwood-red-maple","title":"Northwood Red Maple","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA University of Minnesota Red Maple Bred for Our Coldest Winters\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNorthwood Red Maple (\u003cem\u003eAcer rubrum\u003c\/em\u003e 'Northwood') is a University of Minnesota selection bred specifically for cold-climate performance, pairing the classic red maple's vibrant orange-red fall color and graceful oval form with extra hardiness all the way to USDA zone 3. It grows at a good clip, adapts to a wide range of soils — including wetter ground — and was developed right here for Upper Midwest conditions. Whether you're planting a dependable lawn specimen in Maple Grove, a boulevard tree in St. Paul, or a hardy shade tree for an exposed lot in Lakeville, Northwood was built for Minnesota.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNorthwood Red Maple Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAttribute\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDetail\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eAcer rubrum\u003c\/em\u003e 'Northwood'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNorthwood Red Maple, Red Maple, Swamp Maple\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40–50 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Width\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30–35 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate to fast — about 1.5–2.5 feet per year in Minnesota\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSun\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun (6+ hrs); tolerates light afternoon shade\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate. Tolerates average rainfall and handles wet or poorly drained sites better than most shade trees.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–7 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a) — exceptionally cold-hardy\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoil\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHighly adaptable. Prefers slightly acidic, moist loam but tolerates Minnesota clay-loam and wet ground. Can show leaf yellowing (chlorosis) in very high-pH soils.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFoliage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeciduous — drops in fall after an orange-red to red display\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFall Color\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable orange-red to red\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to USDA zone 3 — bred at the U of M for the Upper Midwest\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeer Resistance\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerately deer-resistant; protect the trunk from buck rub the first 2 winters\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNative Status\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRed maple (\u003cem\u003eAcer rubrum\u003c\/em\u003e) is native to eastern and southeastern Minnesota; 'Northwood' is a University of Minnesota selection\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNorthwood Red Maple Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold-Climate Shade Tree\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBred at the University of Minnesota for our winters, Northwood is one of the safest red-maple bets for exposed or northern Twin Cities sites where hardiness is the first concern. It establishes quickly and makes a dependable, fast-growing shade tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eReliable Fall-Color Specimen\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlanted alone in a lawn, Northwood lights up orange-red to red each October with the grafted consistency that seedling red maples can't match — a clean focal point for any front yard.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBoulevard, Street, and Mass Plantings\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts uniform oval crown and tolerance of urban soil make it a strong boulevard and commercial-landscape tree, holding up well in mass plantings. Keep it back from the heaviest direct road-salt spray.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWet and Low-Lying Sites\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike other red maples (also called swamp maple), Northwood thrives in soggy, poorly drained corners where other shade trees struggle — useful for rain-garden edges and low spots in Woodbury and Maple Grove.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Northwood Red Maple in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant in \u003cstrong\u003espring (late April–May, after the ground thaws)\u003c\/strong\u003e for a full growing season of root establishment, or in \u003cstrong\u003eearly fall (late August–early October)\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Northwood Red Maple\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDig 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCheck drainage — Northwood tolerates wet soil, but if water pools and never drains, break through any clay hardpan or mound-plant slightly.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackfill with the native soil mixed with 20–30% compost; don't create a pure-compost \"container\" the roots won't leave.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpacing — give a single specimen 20–30 feet of clearance; space a row or allee 25–35 feet apart.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuild a 3–4 inch watering ring to direct water to the roots, then flatten it before winter so it doesn't trap ice.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMulch 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Northwood Red Maple in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWeeks 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). \u003cstrong\u003eStop watering 2–3 weeks before the ground freezes\u003c\/strong\u003e — usually late October — so the tree doesn't push tender growth heading into winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn established Northwood 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill Northwood Red Maple survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — better than almost any red maple. It's rated to USDA zone 3 and was bred at the University of Minnesota specifically for our cold winters. Wrap the young trunk the first winter to prevent sunscald and buck rub.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow fast does it grow here?\u003c\/strong\u003e Moderately fast — roughly 1.5–2.5 feet per year in good Minnesota soil with adequate moisture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it native to Minnesota?\u003c\/strong\u003e Red maple (\u003cem\u003eAcer rubrum\u003c\/em\u003e) is native to eastern and southeastern Minnesota and across eastern North America. 'Northwood' is a University of Minnesota selection chosen for extra cold-hardiness and reliable fall color.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it handle clay and wet soil?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — better than most shade trees. Its wild ancestor grows in swampy bottomlands, so it tolerates heavy clay-loam and wet ground. In very alkaline soil it can show leaf yellowing, which a slightly acidic amendment helps prevent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I plant it near the road?\u003c\/strong\u003e It makes a fine boulevard tree and tolerates urban soil, but keep it back from the heaviest direct road-salt spray.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRed Sunset Red Maple\u003c\/strong\u003e — a larger, fast-growing red maple with brilliant, dependable orange-red fall color.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eScarlet Jewell Red Maple\u003c\/strong\u003e — a red maple that turns brilliant scarlet weeks earlier than most.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSienna Glen Maple\u003c\/strong\u003e — a Minnesota-bred Freeman maple with excellent hardiness and a symmetrical form.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInferno Sugar Maple\u003c\/strong\u003e — a native sugar maple selected for fiery scarlet-red fall color.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRiver Birch\u003c\/strong\u003e — a fast-growing, peeling-bark native that also thrives in wet, low spots.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Northwood Red Maple Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNorthwood is a full-size shade tree, so one is usually the right answer for a typical city or suburban front yard. Give a single specimen 20–30 feet of clearance from the house, driveway, and other trees. For a boulevard row or allee on a larger property, space trees 25–35 feet apart on center — about 3–4 trees per 100 feet of frontage. For a naturalized grouping on acreage, plant in odd-numbered clusters of 3 at roughly 25-foot spacing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNorthwood Red Maple Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e One of the first trees to wake up — clusters of small red flowers tint the bare branches in early spring before the leaves emerge, an early nectar source for bees. Fresh green foliage with red leaf stems follows quickly.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e A dense, uniform oval crown of clean green foliage casting full shade — a real backyard cooler. Handles wet stretches and stormy Minnesota summers without fuss.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e The headline act — dependable orange-red to red color in October, with the grafted consistency seedling red maples can't promise.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Smooth gray bark and a tidy branching silhouette stand up to zone 3 cold; wrap the young trunk the first couple winters against sunscald and buck rub.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Minnesota Native   ✔ Pollinator-Friendly   ✔ Rain-Garden \/ Wet-Soil   ✔ Four-Season Interest\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant It With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/red-sunset-red-maple\"\u003eRed Sunset Red Maple\u003c\/a\u003e — a larger red maple with equally brilliant orange-red fall color for bigger lawns.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/scarlet-jewell-red-maple\"\u003eScarlet Jewell Red Maple\u003c\/a\u003e — colors up weeks earlier, stretching your fall display.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/sienna-glen-maple\"\u003eSienna Glen Maple\u003c\/a\u003e — another Minnesota-bred maple with a tidy pyramidal form for variety in a row.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/river-birch\"\u003eRiver Birch\u003c\/a\u003e — a peeling-bark native that loves the same wet, low ground Northwood tolerates.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Northwood Red Maple Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoose it if you want a proven, U of M-bred shade tree with knockout fall color for full sun and average-to-wet soil — it's one of the safest picks for exposed, cold, or low-lying Twin Cities lots. It's not a fit for very alkaline soils, where its leaves can yellow with chlorosis, or for tight planting strips that can't accommodate a 30–35 foot crown.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"1.75\"BB","offer_id":54260806648113,"sku":"GT-T0495","price":425.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2\"BB","offer_id":54260806680881,"sku":"GT-T0500","price":466.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"2.5\"BB","offer_id":54260806713649,"sku":"GT-T0510","price":535.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"3\"BB","offer_id":54260806746417,"sku":"GT-T0512","price":589.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/northwood-red-maple.jpg?v=1779426695","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/northwood-red-maple","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}