Maple, Sugar: Caddo John Pair, Autumn Splendor, FLASH FIRE®
Acer saccharum
Maple, Sugar: Caddo John Pair, Autumn Splendor, FLASH FIRE® (Acer saccharum) is a tree suited to the Colorado Front Range, rated "Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List. It matures to about 40–50 ft tall and 30–40 ft wide, slow-growing, needs low to medium water, and prefers full sun to partial shade. Sugar maple struggles with our alkaline pH, intense sun, and dry summers, better suited to the eastern US.
low to medium water40–50 ft tall and 30–40 ft wideXeric / water-wise
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At a glance
- Rating
- Recommended
- Botanical name
- Acer saccharum
- Variety / cultivar
- Sugar: Caddo John Pair, Autumn Splendor, FLASH FIRE®
- Type
- Tree
- Mature size
- 40–50 ft tall and 30–40 ft wide
- Mature form
- Oval / upright
- Spacing / clearance
- ~40 ft of clearance
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4–8
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Lifespan
- Long-lived
- Fall color
- Orange, red, yellow
- Water needs
- low to medium water
- Sun
- Best in full sun; tolerates partial shade.
- Colorado native
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Soil
- clay, loam, sandy
- Soil pH
- 5.5–7.3
- Hail tolerance
- moderate
- Wind tolerance
- moderate
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Pollinator value
- high
Site factors to consider
- Critical: Cold HardinessThe average low suits it fine; our real cold risk is the swings, late frosts, and intense winter sun, so wrap young trunks and give it shelter.
- Watch: Leaf ScorchIts leaf edges brown in hot, dry wind, so give it steady summer water and some shelter from the worst afternoon blast.
Wildlife & ecology
- Pollinator value
- high
- Deer
- Not deer-resistant
Common problems on the Front Range
- Aphids and honeydew
- Verticillium wilt on some species
- Leaf scorch in hot, dry, windy sites
These are general tendencies for this group of plants on the Front Range, not a diagnosis. Many are stress-driven and preventable with good siting and watering. For a specific plant or an active problem, consult a certified arborist or your local CSU Extension office.
Planting & establishment
Water deeply every 7–10 days through the first 2 summers. Winter water 1–2×/month October–March when soil is dry and unfrozen, winter desiccation is a top killer of newly-planted trees. Year 3: taper to 2×/month in summer, then rely on natural precipitation.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Maple, Sugar: Caddo John Pair, Autumn Splendor, FLASH FIRE® good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Maple, Sugar: Caddo John Pair, Autumn Splendor, FLASH FIRE® is a well-suited tree for Colorado's Front Range, rated "Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List.
- How big does Maple, Sugar: Caddo John Pair, Autumn Splendor, FLASH FIRE® get?
- It matures to about 40–50 ft tall and 30–40 ft wide.
- How much room does Maple, Sugar: Caddo John Pair, Autumn Splendor, FLASH FIRE® need?
- Give Maple, Sugar: Caddo John Pair, Autumn Splendor, FLASH FIRE® about 40 ft of clearance from buildings, fences, and other trees so the mature canopy isn't crowded.
- What shape does Maple, Sugar: Caddo John Pair, Autumn Splendor, FLASH FIRE® grow into?
- Maple, Sugar: Caddo John Pair, Autumn Splendor, FLASH FIRE® typically grows into an upright-oval crown, taller than it is wide. This is the species' usual mature form, named cultivars (columnar, weeping, or compact selections) can differ, so check the specific cultivar.
- Is Maple, Sugar: Caddo John Pair, Autumn Splendor, FLASH FIRE® hardy on the Front Range?
- Maple, Sugar: Caddo John Pair, Autumn Splendor, FLASH FIRE® is hardy in USDA 4–8. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b–6a, so it is well within range. That said, it carries a cold-hardiness caution: The average low suits it fine; our real cold risk is the swings, late frosts, and intense winter sun, so wrap young trunks and give it shelter.
- How much water does Maple, Sugar: Caddo John Pair, Autumn Splendor, FLASH FIRE® need?
- It needs low to medium water once established.
- How fast does Maple, Sugar: Caddo John Pair, Autumn Splendor, FLASH FIRE® grow?
- Maple, Sugar: Caddo John Pair, Autumn Splendor, FLASH FIRE® is a slow-growing tree. Growth rate depends on water and site conditions on the Front Range.
- How long does Maple, Sugar: Caddo John Pair, Autumn Splendor, FLASH FIRE® live?
- Maple, Sugar: Caddo John Pair, Autumn Splendor, FLASH FIRE® is long-lived, a multi-generational tree given good siting and care. Actual lifespan varies with site, water, and care.
- What color does Maple, Sugar: Caddo John Pair, Autumn Splendor, FLASH FIRE® turn in fall?
- Maple, Sugar: Caddo John Pair, Autumn Splendor, FLASH FIRE® turns orange, red, and yellow in autumn. Fall color intensity varies with the season and site on the Front Range.
- Is Maple, Sugar: Caddo John Pair, Autumn Splendor, FLASH FIRE® native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is Maple, Sugar: Caddo John Pair, Autumn Splendor, FLASH FIRE® deer-resistant?
- No. Maple, Sugar: Caddo John Pair, Autumn Splendor, FLASH FIRE® is not considered deer-resistant and may need protection where deer browse.
- Is Maple, Sugar: Caddo John Pair, Autumn Splendor, FLASH FIRE® prone to pests or disease on the Front Range?
- Maple, Sugar: Caddo John Pair, Autumn Splendor, FLASH FIRE® can be affected by aphids and honeydew and other issues common to this group on the Front Range. These are general tendencies, not a diagnosis, many are stress-driven and preventable with good siting and watering. For a specific plant or an active problem, consult a certified arborist or CSU Extension.
