Acer saccharum 'Commemoration'

Commemoration Maple

Acer saccharum ‘Commemoration’ is an improved sugar maple cultivar selected for its excellent cold hardiness, strong branching structure, and reliable landscape performance, especially in northern climates. It was developed to provide the classic sugar maple form with better consistency and durability than seed-grown trees.

Spring foliage emerges bright green, maturing to rich medium green through summer and forming a dense, symmetrical canopy. In fall, ‘Commemoration’ produces brilliant orange, gold, and fiery red tones, often with excellent uniformity even in colder regions. The growth habit is upright to broadly oval, creating a stately, long-lived shade tree.

‘Commemoration’ performs best in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soils. Like other sugar maples, it does not tolerate compacted or poorly drained soils, but it excels in parks, campuses, and high-quality residential landscapes.

Size



Width: 30 ft



Height:50 ft



Hardiness



USDA Zones: 3–7



Best Uses


Large shade tree for northern landscapes



Parks, campuses, and institutional sites



Residential lawns with ample space



Native and woodland-style plantings



Long-term landscape investments

Plant type

Deciduous Tree, Shade Tree

Height

50'

Width

30'

Hardiness zones

3–7

Sunlight

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Growth rate

Fast

Bloom time

Spring

Leaf color

Green

Fall color

Orange Red

Attracts

Bees

Soil

Clay, Loamy, Well Drained

Landscape use

Accent Plant, Provide Shade, Specimen

Shape

Broad Upright, Oval/Rounded

Bark

Fissured

Deer resistant

Yes

Drought tolerant

Yes

10-year height

10'

10-year width

15'