Maple

Spectacular autumn color unites this collection, which spans towering sugar maples for shade and syrup to refined Japanese and red Japanese maples for patios and bonsai. Paperbark maple brings peeling, cinnamon-colored bark for winter interest, and Shantung maple adds another graceful option. Lobed leaves and elegant branching carry every species through the seasons. Larger maples shade lawns and streets and support wildlife, while sugar maples can even be tapped for homemade syrup. Maple seed needs differ by species, with many wanting a cold, moist rest and others sprouting with little preparation, so sow each kind on its own schedule.