If a new one from Schmidt there won't be much, if any general experience with it yet. Their claims for it will probably still be based entirely on Willamette Valley conditions.

Sugar maple tree named `JFS-KW8`

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

During the fall of 2000, I searched for improved varieties of sugar maple, Acer saccharum. I examined several thousand seedling trees of Acer saccharum growing in rows at a nursery in Boring, Oreg. I found a number of seedling trees that differed from typical seedlings. One tree, which was three years old at the time, particularly caught my attention. My attention was drawn to this tree because it was taller and stronger growing than any other seedling in the field and also displayed unusually bright red fall color. I tagged it and transplanted it during the winter into a testing block for further evaluation. I evaluated this tree every year thereafter and determined that it was superior to typical seedlings in several features.

In order to test this tree under nursery growing conditions, my new tree was test propagated by T-budding onto Acer saccharum rootstock in small plots of 10 trees in 2002, 2003, 2005, and 2006. This asexual propagation in Boring, Oreg. by budding on Acer saccharum rootstock has shown that the characteristics of my new tree are firmly fixed in successive generations. I evaluated each plot of these test trees for three years in the nursery and then discarded all but 15 which I re-planted in 2008 and 2009. Testing, evaluation, and comparison with seedlings of the species as well as with existing commercial varieties of Acer saccharum has convinced me that my new tree has superior growth and appearance characteristics for landscape use....

Compared to `Bailsta`, my new tree is taller, with one year trees of `JFS-KW8` averaging 231 cm vs. 218 cm for `Bailsta`. In addition, the sheen of the upper leaf surface of `JFS-KW8`is slightly satiny while that of `Bailsta` is slightly glossy to glossy. Fall leaf color of `Bailsta` typically has a range of colors of yellow, orange and red.

Compared to `Green Mountain`, the slightly satiny upper leaf surface of `JFS-KW8` is easily distinguished from the dull leathery leaf surface of `Green Mountain`. In addition, 2 year old `Green Mountain` trees have wide branch crotch angles (50.degree.-80.degree.) while `JFS-KW8` has moderate branch crotch angles that are typically 40.degree.-50.degree.. Branch orientation of 2 year trees of `Green Mountain` is wider (45.degree.-60.degree. measured 30 cm from trunk) while that of `JFS-KW8` in narrower and more upsweeping (typically 30.degree.-40.degree. measured 30 cm from trunk). Comparison to the species: My new variety is straighter, taller, more upright, and moderately narrower in form than the species. The 13 year old original tree is best described as narrowly oval to oval in shape, while typical trees of the species are broadly oval to round at the same age. Measurement of propagated one and two year old trees of my new variety and seedlings of the species confirm this form difference.

http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=PP22034.PN.&OS=PN/PP22034&RS=PN/PP22034

Just want to ooint out there is something is wrong with the saturation in their picture. Almost as if their camera could not handle the red like some cell phones or they wanted to turn it more red. Was it Ty ty nursery that used to mail out catalogs with some "interesting" images back in the day so I love pointing this out.

Autumn fest sounds slightly faster growing, a bit thinner and more of a solid red fall color than the others? Maybe a bit different leaf texture also.

The right filters on a camera can make things look however you want them to.

Sugars are tricky. Their color can be very unreliable. I'd buy a tree in the fall when you can see the color for yourself. The problem with most sugar maple cultivars is that they begin to turn color too late here in the north. Thus, they often don't reach their brilliant peak before bitter cold weather creeps in.

That said, I planted a Green Mountain in my parents' backyard about 15 years ago and it turns an incredible red-orange nearly every year. I picked it out in the fall. But from my experience (growing nursery trees for over 20 years), this seems to be the exception instead of the norm. Fall Fiestas have been more fall color reliable for me, but again, no guarantee.

Next year, I am planting Autumn Fest and Northern Flare for the first time. I'll let you know in 3 or 4 years what I think of them. :)

We live in Montana zone 4. When we moved into our house during the winter 12 years ago there was three tall maples in the front yard. Was I ever shocked the following fall to see the beauties they become. I‘ve been told they are Sugar Maples and they put on a stunning show every fall. One is slimmer than the other two so I’m guessing that one is a different variety. Here is a picture taken this fall as they begin their change.