Acer saccharum 'Commemoration'

Commemoration Sugar Maple

Acer saccharum ‘Commemoration’ is an improved sugar maple cultivar selected for its exceptional cold hardiness, strong branch structure, and reliable performance in northern climates. It was developed to provide the classic sugar maple look while offering better adaptability 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’ delivers brilliant orange, gold, and fiery red tones, often with excellent consistency even in colder regions. The habit is upright to broadly oval, producing a stately, well-shaped large 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, lawns, and long-term landscape installations.

Size



Width: 25-35 ft



Height: 40-55 ft



Hardiness



USDA Zones: 3–7



Best Uses


Large shade tree for northern landscapes



Parks, campuses, and institutional sites



Residential lawns with adequate space



Native and woodland-style plantings



Long-term landscape investments

Plant type

Shade Tree, Street Tree

Height

45-50'

Width

25-30'

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

Provide Shade

Shape

Broad Upright

Bark

Fissured

Deer resistant

Yes

Drought tolerant

No

10-year height

10'

10-year width

15'