Zone 4 is a difficult area where many perennials and even trees cannot survive the long, cold winter. One tree that comes in many varieties that can endure zone 4 winters is the maple. Keep reading to learn more about cold hardy maple trees and growing maple trees in zone 4.
Cold Hardy Maple Trees for Zone 4
There are plenty of cold hardy maple trees that will make it through a zone 4 winter or colder. This only makes sense, as the maple leaf is the central figure of the Canadian flag. Here are some popular maple trees for zone 4: Amur Maple– Hardy all the way to zone 3a, Amur maple grows to between 15 and 25 feet (5-8 m.) in height and spread. In the fall, its dark green foliage turns bright shades of red, orange, or yellow. Tatarian Maple– Hardy to zone 3, tatarian maples usually reach between 15 and 25 feet (5-8 m.) high and wide. Its large leaves usually turn yellow, and sometimes red, and drop a little early in the fall. Sugar Maple– The source of ever popular maple syrup, sugar maples are hardy down to zone 3 and tend to reach between 60 and 75 feet (18-23 m.) in height with a 45 foot (14 m.) spread. Red Maple– Hardy to zone 3, the red maple gets its name not just for its brilliant fall foliage, but also for its red stems that keep providing color in winter. It grows 40 to 60 feet (12-18 m.) high and 40 feet (12 m.) wide. Silver Maple– Hardy to zone 3, the undersides of its leaves are silver in color. Silver maple is fast growing, reaching between 50 and 80 feet (15-24 m.) high with a spread of 35 to 50 feet (11-15 m.). Unlike most maples, it prefers shade. Growing maple trees in zone 4 is relatively straightforward. Apart from the silver maple, most maple trees prefer full sun, though they will tolerate a little shade. This, along with their color, makes them excellent standalone trees in the backyard. They tend to be healthy and hardy with few pest problems.