{"product_id":"acer-rubrum-october-glory","title":"Acer rubrum 'October Glory'","description":"\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOctober Glory Maple\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eAcer rubrum\u003c\/em\u003e 'October Glory'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFamily:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sapindaceae\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Eastern North America\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deciduous Tree\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eAcer rubrum 'October Glory' is a magnificent deciduous shade tree celebrated for one of the most spectacular — and longest-lasting — autumn colour displays available to temperate Australian gardens. Its broad, symmetrical canopy carries dark, lustrous green foliage through spring and summer before erupting into blazing shades of crimson, scarlet, and violet-red each autumn (May–June in SA). Notably, it is one of the last red maple cultivars to colour and to drop, holding its fiery display well into late autumn and rewarding gardeners with weeks of breathtaking seasonal drama. Fast-growing and long-lived, it suits large gardens, driveways, and parks where it can reach its full, commanding scale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature Size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 10–15 m H × 8–10 m W\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fast to very fast; 60 cm–1 m per year in good conditions; ascending branch structure when young, maturing to a broad, symmetrical rounded canopy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Five-lobed, glossy dark green leaves with distinctive red petioles and grey-tinged undersides; undersides deepen to pinkish-red in autumn, adding depth to the seasonal colour display\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowers:\u003c\/strong\u003e Small, bright red flowers in dense clusters along bare branches in early spring (August–September in SA), before leaf burst; non-fragrant\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSeasonal Interest:\u003c\/strong\u003e Among the finest deciduous trees for SA autumn — one of the last red maples to colour (May–June), holding vivid scarlet-to-violet-red foliage further into late autumn than most cultivars; elegant bare branching structure through winter; fresh lime-green spring flush from late August\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWildlife Value:\u003c\/strong\u003e Early spring flowers attract bees and native pollinators before most trees are flowering; winged samara seeds provide food for small birds and rosellas\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Frost hardy (to approx. −15°C); moderate heat tolerance in well-watered conditions; clay-tolerant with adequate drainage; moderately wind-tolerant once established; not drought-tolerant — irrigation is essential through dry SA summers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlanting Density:\u003c\/strong\u003e Specimen tree: allow 5–8 m clearance on all sides; avenue or group planting: space trees 5–8 m apart; denser shade screen or windbreak row: 3–4 m apart (canopies will eventually merge)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePet Friendly:\u003c\/strong\u003e Wilted leaves are toxic to horses (risk of acute anaemia — keep equines away from fallen foliage); generally considered non-toxic to dogs and cats, though discourage pets from eating large quantities of fallen leaves as a general precaution\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere It Works Best\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSunlight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun to part shade; an open, sunny position produces the most vivid and long-lasting autumn colour — sheltered positions are also well tolerated\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moist, well-drained loam or clay-loam preferred; tolerates heavier clay soils with adequate drainage; does not perform well in dry sandy soils or highly alkaline conditions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater Needs:\u003c\/strong\u003e Establishment (first 12 months): water 2–3 times per week, ensuring moisture penetrates to 30 cm; deep-water weekly through the first two dry summers. Established: water weekly throughout the dry SA summer (November–April); reduce to fortnightly during winter dormancy when the tree is leafless\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaintenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Low once established; prune in late summer (February–March in SA) to avoid sap bleeding; remove crossing or damaged branches during late winter dormancy (July); rake and mulch fallen autumn leaves — they break down into excellent soil conditioner\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLifespan:\u003c\/strong\u003e 80–150+ years in suitable conditions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClimate Zones:\u003c\/strong\u003e Best suited to the Adelaide Hills, outer southern and eastern Adelaide suburbs, and higher-rainfall temperate SA zones; requires cool winters for adequate chill hours to produce best autumn colour; very adaptable to climates with mild winters and hot summers, but less suited to very hot, dry inland SA without significant irrigation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil pH:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mildly acid to neutral (pH 5.5–7.0); slightly acidic soils enhance autumn colour intensity and overall vigour\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLandscape \u0026amp; Design Ideas\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlant as a bold lawn specimen in a large garden or rural property — with up to 10 m spread, it becomes the seasonal centrepiece that defines the entire space each autumn and provides generous shade through summer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLine a long driveway or property boundary with trees spaced 5–8 m apart for a dramatic avenue of scarlet that announces the season with real theatre\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePair with a backdrop of dark evergreen hedging or conifers (Cupressus, Photinia, or Thuja) to amplify the contrast of the blazing autumn canopy; the architectural bare silhouette through winter adds structural interest year-round\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy You Will Love It\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf you've ever wondered what transforms an ordinary garden into something that stops traffic, it is a tree like October Glory. Delivering one of the longest-lasting and most vivid autumn colour displays of any deciduous tree suited to SA, this fast-growing shade tree earns its keep across every season — spring blossom, summer canopy, autumn fire, and winter architecture. For Adelaide Hills and temperate SA gardens with the space to dream big, Acer rubrum 'October Glory' is an investment in decades of unforgettable seasonal spectacle.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Adelaide Plant Co","offers":[{"title":"400mm Pot","offer_id":68049409769724,"sku":"ACER-RUBR-OCTO-GLOR-400MM-SO","price":211.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100L Grow Bag","offer_id":68049409802492,"sku":"ACER-RUBR-OCTO-GLOR-100L-SO","price":562.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"200L Grow Bag","offer_id":68049409835260,"sku":"ACER-RUBR-OCTO-GLOR-200L-SO","price":1218.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/9282\/0220\/files\/acer-rubrum-october-glory-maple-400mm-pot-adelaide-plant-co.jpg?v=1794292754","url":"https:\/\/adelaideplantco.com.au\/products\/acer-rubrum-october-glory","provider":"Adelaide Plant Co","version":"1.0","type":"link"}