What are your experiences with these trees?

=>>> none...

ken

Not as familiar with A. glabrum but A. grandidentatum is basically a small, heat/drought tolerant version of Sugar Maple. Tolerates alkaline soil & is still about zone 4 hardy. There seems to be little evidence how well they do under a humid East/Midwest climate, but I'd imagine they're worth trying.

There is a cultivar 'Highland Park' also that is supposedly a hybrid with "regular" Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) that was developed in Ohio, which *should* suggest at least the hybrid, if not the "straight" A. grandidentatum, would do OK in the East or Midwest.

Highland Park was bred for heat and humidity. It is a hybrid....got one coming my way this upcoming spring. Its been growing in the nursery's field for a few years now and looks good.

I'd at least give this one a try.

I'm in the same boat, love sugar maples but there aren't too many compact cultivars with the exception of narrow varieties.