{"product_id":"royal-red-norway-maple","title":"Royal Red Norway Maple","description":"\u003ch1\u003eThe Bold Purple-Leaf Shade Tree That Stands Out All Summer\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRoyal Red Norway Maple (\u003cem\u003eAcer platanoides\u003c\/em\u003e 'Royal Red') is the gold-standard purple-leaved Norway maple, holding dramatic burgundy-to-near-black foliage from spring leaf-out clear through fall. Few trees make a stronger architectural statement, and this one is tough as nails — adaptable to clay, compacted soil, and tough urban sites, and hardy through USDA zone 4. Whether you want a bold focal point in a Plymouth front yard, a striking contrast tree against a light-colored home in Edina, or a hardy, low-fuss shade tree in Burnsville, Royal Red commands attention.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eRoyal Red Norway 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 platanoides\u003c\/em\u003e 'Royal Red'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRoyal Red Norway Maple, Purple Norway Maple\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e35–45 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 — about 1–2 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) — best foliage color in full sun\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate. Tolerates average rainfall once established; quite adaptable to dry spells.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4–7 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoil\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVery adaptable — tolerates Minnesota clay-loam, compacted, and urban soils. Prefers well-drained loam but handles tough sites.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFoliage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeciduous — deep burgundy to near-black, holds color all season\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFall Color\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReddish bronze\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliably hardy through USDA zone 4 — proven in Twin Cities winters\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\u003eNot native — native to Europe. A tough, widely planted ornamental; casts dense shade and has shallow roots, so plan placement accordingly.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eRoyal Red Norway Maple Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBold-Color Focal Point\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe deep purple canopy makes Royal Red an instant lawn centerpiece, holding its dramatic color all summer rather than fading to green like lesser purple maples. It reads especially well against light brick, siding, or a backdrop of green foliage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTough Urban and Clay-Site Shade Tree\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNorway maples earned their reputation for toughness, tolerating compacted, clay, and urban soils that defeat fussier trees. Royal Red is a dependable, low-maintenance shade tree for hard sites in Bloomington and Burnsville where you also want standout color.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eContrast and Accent Plantings\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts uniform shape and saturated foliage make it a strong accent in larger landscapes. Because it casts dense shade and has shallow, competitive roots, give it an open spot rather than expecting lawn or perennials to thrive directly beneath it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Royal Red Norway 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 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 Royal Red Norway 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 for clay hardpan — if water pools and won't drain, break through the clay layer or mound-plant slightly to improve drainage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackfill with the native soil mixed with 20–30% compost; don't build a pure-compost \"container\" the roots won't grow beyond.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpacing — give a single specimen 25–30 feet of clearance; keep it away from spots where you want lawn or garden directly beneath, since it shades and roots heavily.\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 Royal Red Norway 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\u003eOnce established, Royal Red is very low-maintenance and quite drought-tolerant, needing supplemental water mainly during extended droughts (two-plus weeks with no rain and temps above 80°F). Soak deeply to 8–12 inches every 7–14 days when needed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill Royal Red Norway Maple survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes. It's rated to USDA zone 4 and is reliably hardy in Twin Cities winters. Wrap the young trunk the first winter to prevent sunscald and buck rub.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill the purple color last all summer?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — that's Royal Red's main advantage. It holds deep burgundy foliage from spring through fall, where many purple-leaf maples green up by midsummer. Color is richest in full sun.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it native to Minnesota?\u003c\/strong\u003e No — Norway maple is native to Europe. It's a tough, widely planted ornamental. Because it casts dense shade and has shallow, competitive roots, place it where you don't need lawn or a garden directly underneath.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it tolerate clay and urban soil?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — exceptionally well. Norway maples handle compacted, clay, and tough city soils better than most shade trees, which is a big part of their popularity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I grow grass under it?\u003c\/strong\u003e Not easily. Its dense canopy and shallow roots make the ground beneath dry and shady, so plan for mulch or shade-tolerant groundcover rather than turf.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCrimson Sentry Maple\u003c\/strong\u003e — a narrow, columnar purple-leaf Norway maple for tighter spaces.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEmerald Lustre Norway Maple\u003c\/strong\u003e — a tough green-leaf Norway maple with glossy foliage and golden fall color.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRed Sunset Red Maple\u003c\/strong\u003e — a fast-growing native-type maple with brilliant orange-red fall color.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eState Street Miyabe Maple\u003c\/strong\u003e — a tough, salt- and clay-tolerant maple for boulevards and hard sites.\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\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Royal Red Norway Maples Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRoyal Red is a bold specimen — one is usually the right number for a typical yard, with 25–30 feet of clear width so the rounded crown develops evenly. On a larger property, a staggered pair set 30 feet apart frames a long driveway dramatically. Avoid mass planting; the saturated purple color works best as an accent against green, not as a wall of dark foliage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eRoyal Red Norway Maple Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Clusters of small yellow flowers appear with leaf-out — an early nectar stop for bees — followed by glossy new leaves that emerge deep burgundy from the start.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e The signature season — a dense canopy of burgundy-to-near-black foliage that holds its color through August instead of fading green.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Leaves turn reddish bronze before dropping, a quieter finish than the fiery native maples.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e A uniform, rounded silhouette with stout gray branches — wrap young trunks against sunscald and buck rub the first two winters.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Pollinator-Friendly   ✔ Deer-Resistant   ✔ Drought-Tolerant\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant It With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/crimson-sentry-maple\"\u003eCrimson Sentry Maple\u003c\/a\u003e — the same purple-leaf look in a narrow column for the tight side of the lot.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/emerald-lustre-norway-maple\"\u003eEmerald Lustre Norway Maple\u003c\/a\u003e — a glossy green Norway maple that makes Royal Red's burgundy pop by contrast.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/red-sunset-red-maple\"\u003eRed Sunset Red Maple\u003c\/a\u003e — brilliant orange-red fall color to carry the show after Royal Red's bronze finish.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/inferno-sugar-maple\"\u003eInferno Sugar Maple\u003c\/a\u003e — a native sugar maple with fiery scarlet fall color for the open lawn.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Royal Red Norway Maple Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRoyal Red thrives in full sun — which keeps the foliage richly purple — and handles clay, compacted, and urban soils that defeat fussier trees, with good drought tolerance once established. Give it 30 feet of width and an open spot where nothing needs to grow underneath. It's not a fit if you want lawn or a garden under the canopy (dense shade plus shallow, competitive roots), or if you're planting a native-focused landscape — it's a European species, so choose a red or sugar maple instead.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"1.75\"BB","offer_id":54260806844721,"sku":"GT-T0338","price":370.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2\"BB","offer_id":54260806877489,"sku":"GT-T0340","price":452.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2.5\"BB","offer_id":54260806910257,"sku":"GT-T0342","price":493.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/royal-red-norway-maple.jpg?v=1779426693","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/royal-red-norway-maple","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}