Me again -- meant to add that perhaps there IS a maple that will do well here.... and perhaps you all know of one.

:)

Red maple absolutely thrives here - it is one of the most dominant trees in my yard. Cultivars like 'October Glory' have predictably stellar fall color.

I have also planted Sugar Maple in the past and it has done well. I have found Southern Sugar Maple growing naturally in my yard also and in other yards in the neighborhood (it turns a very attractive clear yellow color in the fall, but has the exact leaf shape of the northern sugar maple which turns orange).

Another native maple is Chalkbark Maple. I have found that in Cherokee and Cobb counties in the wild. A much smaller tree than red maple and the leaf is more like the sugar maple.

So yeah, maples do FINE. Don't know what he was talking about. I don't know anything about Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) other than it is not related to Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) which I have seen all up and down I-85 in the spring (looks like White wisteria trees).

I am attaching a link to the natural distribution of Honey Locust. Doesn't seem to be around as much as people think, but it is possible that the data is wrong.

Here is a link that might be useful: Honey locust distribution in Georgia

One tree that is getting more attention these days is the native Yellowwood: Cladrastis kentukea.

I have seen it for sale at Buck Jones in Woodstock.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cladrastis kentukea

Our woods is full of sugar maples that have fall colors ranging from bright red-orange to orange to yellow. We have transplanted some into our yard and they have done very well and are gorgeous in the fall. I'm in NW Georgia.

I have been told that October Glories have developed problems because of cloning deterioration. I have no way of knowing if this is true or not. Could be a myth. County extension agent may know.

But I do thing a native Maple would be better. And I think it has a whole lot to do with proper site prep and planting. Remember to plan for how big the tree will eventually get, and give it lots of room.

I have Autumn Blaze and it's doing very well. Bought it at Home Depot for about $25 and it has excellent fall color.

The arborist was wrong, and probably wasn't certified. Maples, especially October Glory and Autumn Blaze, do very well here. The only thing you need to be aware of is that maples are typically very shallow rooted and will give you problems if you want to have something like lawn within reach. To dig near maples to plant hostas or hellebores, or anything else for that matter, will make you ask why that mattock seems to kill your back. Locust, on the other hand, are not generally desirable. Get your money back.