Northwind Maple Information: Tips On Growing Northwind Maples

Jack Frost maple trees are hybrids developed by Oregon’s Iseli Nursery. They are also known as Northwind maples. The trees are small ornamentals that are more cold-hardy than regular Japanese maples. For more Northwind maple information, including tips for growing Northwind maples, read on.

Northwind Maple Information

Jack Frost maple trees are crosses between Japanese maples (Acer palmatum) and Korean maples (Acer pseudosieboldianum). They have the beauty of the Japanese maple parent, but the Korean maple’s cold tolerance. They were developed to be extremely cold-hardy. These Jack Frost maple trees thrive in USDA zone 4 in temperatures down to -30 degrees F. (-34 C.).

The official cultivar name for Jack Frost maple trees is NORTH WIND® maple. The scientific name is Acer x pseudosieboldianum. These trees can be expected to live for 60 years or more.

The Northwind Japanese maple is a small tree that usually doesn’t get taller than 20 feet (6 m.). Unlike its Japanese maple parent, this maple can survive into zone 4a without any signs of dieback.

Northwind Japanese maples are truly lovely little deciduous trees. They add color charm to any garden, no matter how small. The maple leaves appear in spring a brilliant orange-red. They mature into light green, then blaze into crimson in the autumn.

Growing Northwind Maples

These maple trees have low canopies, with the lowest branches only a few feet (1 m.) above the soil. They grow moderately fast.

If you live in a chilly area, you may be thinking of growing Northwind Japanese maple trees. According to Northwind maple information, these cultivars make an excellent substitute for less hardy Japanese maples in zone 4.

Can you start growing Northwind maples in warmer regions? You can try, but success is not guaranteed. There is not a lot of information about how heat tolerant these shrubs are.

This tree prefers a site offering full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions but will not tolerate standing water.

Northwind Japanese maples are otherwise not picky. You can grow them in soil of almost any pH range as long as the soil is moist and well-drained and is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution.