{"product_id":"scarlet-jewell-red-maple","title":"Scarlet Jewell Red Maple","description":"\u003ch1\u003eThe Red Maple That Turns Scarlet First Each Minnesota Fall\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eScarlet Jewell Red Maple (\u003cem\u003eAcer rubrum\u003c\/em\u003e 'Bailcraig') is a Bailey Nurseries introduction selected for early, brilliant scarlet fall color and a tidy, rounded-oval crown. It colors up weeks ahead of most other red maples, stretching out the autumn show, and its slightly more compact size suits smaller Twin Cities lots. Hardy through USDA zone 4 and tolerant of a wide range of soils — including wetter ground where many trees sulk — it's an easy, dependable shade tree. Whether you're planting a front-yard specimen in St. Paul, a boulevard tree in Minneapolis, or a fast fall-color accent in Woodbury, Scarlet Jewell delivers early and reliably.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eScarlet Jewell 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 'Bailcraig' (SCARLET JEWELL)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScarlet Jewell 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\u003e25–35 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\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\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 early, brilliant scarlet display\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFall Color\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBrilliant scarlet — turns earlier than most red maples\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\u003eRed maple (\u003cem\u003eAcer rubrum\u003c\/em\u003e) is native to eastern and southeastern Minnesota and across eastern North America\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eScarlet Jewell Red Maple Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEarly Fall-Color Specimen\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eScarlet Jewell's claim to fame is timing — it ignites brilliant scarlet weeks before neighboring maples, extending the fall display on your property. Planted alone in a front lawn, it's the first tree on the block to turn and one of the most striking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eShade Tree for Smaller Lots\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt a mature 40–50 feet tall and a tidier 25–35 feet wide, Scarlet Jewell fits Twin Cities yards that can't accommodate a full-size maple. It's a great fast-establishing replacement for ash trees lost to emerald ash borer on tighter properties in Bloomington and Maplewood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBoulevard and Street Tree\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts rounded, uniform crown and tolerance of urban soil make it a clean boulevard tree, though it's best kept 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), Scarlet Jewell thrives in the soggy, poorly drained corners of a property where other shade trees struggle — handy for rain-garden edges and low spots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Scarlet Jewell 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 Scarlet Jewell 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 — Scarlet Jewell 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 Scarlet Jewell 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 Scarlet Jewell 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 Scarlet Jewell Red 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\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, a bit quicker than a sugar maple.\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 throughout eastern North America. 'Bailcraig' is a Bailey Nurseries selection bred for early, reliable scarlet fall color and a tidy form.\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 handles 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\u003eNorthwood Red Maple\u003c\/strong\u003e — a Minnesota-bred red maple selected for extreme cold-hardiness.\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\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\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 Scarlet Jewell Red Maples Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne Scarlet Jewell anchors a typical yard — give a single specimen 20–30 feet of clearance from buildings and other large trees. For a driveway row or property-line allee, space trees 25–35 feet on center (a 100-foot run takes 4 trees at 30-foot spacing). Pairing it with a later-turning maple like Red Sunset stretches the scarlet season across a full month.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eScarlet Jewell Red Maple Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Small red flowers stud the bare branches in early April — valuable first forage for emerging bees — followed by clean green leaves.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e A tidy rounded-oval canopy adds up to 2.5 feet a year and casts dependable shade without outgrowing a smaller lot.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e The headline — brilliant scarlet weeks before other red maples turn, making it the first show on the block.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Smooth silver-gray bark and a symmetrical crown stand cleanly against the snow; wrap young trunks 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   ✔ Deer-Resistant   ✔ 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 — turns orange-red later than Scarlet Jewell, extending the fall display across weeks.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/northwood-red-maple\"\u003eNorthwood Red Maple\u003c\/a\u003e — the Minnesota-bred sibling for the coldest, most exposed corners.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/inferno-sugar-maple\"\u003eInferno Sugar Maple\u003c\/a\u003e — fiery native sugar maple for the drier, sweeter ground.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/river-birch\"\u003eRiver Birch\u003c\/a\u003e — peeling cinnamon bark and the same love of moist low spots.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Scarlet Jewell Red Maple Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eScarlet Jewell thrives in full sun and moist, slightly acidic soil, handles clay and wet low spots well, and its 25–35 foot spread fits lots too tight for a full-size maple. If early, brilliant fall color is the goal, this is the tree. Keep it clear of overhead wires and the heaviest road-salt spray, and wrap the young trunk the first winters. It's not a fit if your soil is strongly alkaline — expect chlorotic yellowing — or you need a tree under 30 feet at maturity.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"2\"BB STG25","offer_id":54260806943025,"sku":"GT-T0580","price":397.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2.5\"BB","offer_id":54260806975793,"sku":"GT-T0581","price":466.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/scarlet-jewell-red-maple.jpg?v=1779426694","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/scarlet-jewell-red-maple","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}