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Small deciduous tree or large shrub
Sapindaceae
Zone 4 small maple with scarlet summer samaras
HOT WINGS® Tatarian maple
Acer tataricum ‘GarAnn’
HOT WINGS® is the trade name for ‘GarAnn’ Tatarian maple, a rounded small tree or large shrub 4.5 to 5.5 m high and wide. Discreet yellow-white spring flowers produce scarlet samaras that resemble a second bloom for several weeks in summer. Green foliage becomes orange, red and yellow in autumn. Hardy in Canadian Zone 4, the cultivar accepts full sun or partial shade, several drained soils and moderate drought after establishment. Remove volunteer seedlings and protect branches from heavy snow, particularly near eaves. Fruit abundance and autumn colour can vary with weather, maturity, exposure and pollination. Maintenance remains manageable. Maintenance remains manageable in a well-chosen site.
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7 gallons, 45 mm, 50 mm, and 200 cm
$164.95
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Common nameHOT WINGS® Tatarian maple
FamilySapindaceae
GenusAcer
Speciestataricum
CultivarGarAnn
TypeSmall deciduous tree or large shrub
Botanical nameAcer tataricum ‘GarAnn’
HOT WINGS® Tatarian maple (Acer tataricum ‘GarAnn’) is the trade name for the ‘GarAnn’ cultivar, PP15,023, discovered as a chance seedling in a Fort Collins, Colorado nursery. This rounded small tree or large shrub reaches approximately 4.5 to 5.5 m in height and spread. Small yellow-white flowers open after the leaves in spring. They produce scarlet samaras that cover the crown for several weeks in midsummer and resemble a second bloom. Green foliage develops orange to red colour toward the outside of the crown and often yellow tones within the centre in autumn. The brilliant wings, rather than the discreet flowers, create the signature summer display.
Hardy in Canadian Zone 4, HOT WINGS® grows in full sun or partial shade in loam, structured clay or well-drained sandy soil. It adapts to alkaline ground and needs moderate moisture during establishment, then tolerates dry periods. Water slowly and deeply through the first two growing seasons and extended drought without leaving the root zone saturated. Keep the root flare visible, maintain 5 to 8 cm of mulch without touching the trunk and avoid excessive nitrogen. Frequent lawn irrigation can encourage more seedlings than a separately irrigated shrub bed. Full sun generally supports the strongest samara colour, while light shade remains acceptable.
Use this hot wings maple as a small specimen, summer focal point, informal screen or patio-adjacent tree, allowing a true 4.5 to 5.5 m footprint. The cultivar has strong branch unions, although heavy snow can damage extended limbs, especially in spring and autumn. Do not plant it beneath eaves where sliding snow can strike the crown. Remove basal suckers and volunteer seedlings while young, then limit pruning to dead, broken, diseased or crossing wood. The Eurasian species is non-native in Canada; combine it with regional plants and prevent seedlings from establishing beyond the maintained garden. Fruit abundance can vary from year to year.
In the garden
- Exposure
- Full sun to partial shade; sun supports stronger samara colour
- Hardiness
- Zone 4
Planting guide
Planting & propagation
Spacing / density
Space 4.5 to 5.5 m (15 to 18 ft) apart for the mature crown
Best planting time
Spring or early fall, allowing enough time for rooting before freeze-up
Propagation
Vegetative nursery propagation to preserve the ‘GarAnn’ cultivar
Soil and care
Soil & care
Minimum temperature
Approximately -34 °C (-30 °F), depending on establishment and exposure
Care level
Moderate
Drought tolerance
Yes
Watering
Water slowly and deeply after planting, then keep the root ball and neighbouring soil evenly moist through the first two growing seasons. Check moisture beneath mulch before irrigating again. Once rooted, HOT WINGS® tolerates dry periods, although deep watering through extended drought supports foliage and fruiting. Avoid standing water and frequent lawn irrigation, which can encourage more volunteer seedlings around the tree. Expand the watered area as roots extend beyond the original hole.
Soil type
Choose loam, structured clay or well-drained sandy soil. HOT WINGS® adapts to some alkalinity and prefers moderate moisture without standing water. Loosen a broad area, set the root flare at grade and protect roots from compaction. A bed irrigated separately from lawn allows better water control and may reduce volunteer seedling abundance. Correct drainage and root-zone volume remain more important than targeting an exact pH without testing.
Fertilization
In suitable soil, 5 to 8 cm of organic mulch and a thin surface layer of mature compost in spring are generally sufficient. If growth, foliage or colour appears weak, test the soil before adding a labelled tree fertilizer. Avoid heavy nitrogen, product against the trunk and late feeding, which extends soft growth before Canadian cold weather. Correct drainage and irrigation before assuming fertilizer will improve samara production.
Moisture
Moderate to dry after establishment; never waterlogged
Seasonal care
In spring, inspect the trunk, root flare and major branch unions after snowmelt. Restore 5 to 8 cm of mulch without covering bark, remove tight ties and water when rainfall is inadequate. Observe yellow-white flowers before fruit appears. In summer, check moisture and drainage, enjoy red samaras and remove basal suckers. Watch for aphids, scale insects, leaf spots and Verticillium symptoms, then obtain a diagnosis before treating. Prune after leaves expand to remove only dead, broken, diseased or crossing wood and shorten an unusually long branch vulnerable to snow. In autumn, observe the change from green to orange, red and yellow, then search beds and lawn for volunteer seedlings. Water deeply before freeze-up when soil is dry and collect heavily spotted foliage. In winter, direct salt-laden snow elsewhere and protect a young trunk from rodents without tightening the guard. During heavy snow, gently clear accessible branches without shaking them or working beneath loaded wood. Do not plant the tree under eaves. After a storm, have major cracks assessed by a certified arborist. Record fruiting, irrigation and damage dates to distinguish seasonal variation from a recurring problem. Reassess branch clearance and root-zone access every year. Photograph monitored branch unions from the same position annually, check irrigation emitters and review snow precautions before winter weather arrives. Review irrigation emitters and branch clearance before each winter.
Bloom and dimensions
Size, flowering & harvest
Mature height
5 to 6 m (16 to 20 feet)
Width / spread
5 m (16 feet)
Flower color
Yellow-white, inconspicuous
Foliage color
Green in summer; orange to red outside and yellow toward the centre in autumn
Foliage type
Deciduous
Growth rate
Moderate
Growth habit
Rounded, dense, single- or multistemmed
Bloom period
Small yellow-white flowers open in clusters after leaves expand in spring. They are subtle and are not the red display associated with the HOT WINGS® name. After pollination, female flowers form paired samaras that become scarlet in midsummer. Avoid non-targeted insecticides during bloom and note weather conditions because a spring freeze can reduce fruiting for one season. Flower and fruit abundance also increase as a young specimen matures.
Fruiting
Scarlet paired samaras often cover the foliage for approximately six weeks in midsummer, resembling a bloom. Quantity varies with maturity, pollination, spring frost and weather. Seeds can produce volunteers, particularly in frequently irrigated soil. Inspect beds and lawn, then pull young plants before they become woody or develop their own fruit. A year with few samaras does not by itself indicate poor health or incorrect cultivar identity.
Garden associations
Companion plants & uses
Companion plants
Pair HOT WINGS® with low conifers, serviceberries, viburnums, ninebarks, bush honeysuckles, grasses, sedges, asters and native goldenrods suited to the same drainage. Their foliage provides a green or light background for scarlet samaras, while flowers and fruit add seasonal resources. Establish them toward the future crown perimeter without cutting roots or covering the flare. Avoid invasive groundcovers and preserve broad access for irrigation, seedling removal and inspection after snow. Match moisture needs so companions do not require frequent lawn-style watering around the maple.
Garden use
Use HOT WINGS® as a small specimen tree, rounded large shrub, informal screen, patio-adjacent subject or focal point for summer samaras. Reserve 4.5 to 5.5 m of width and keep the crown away from eaves, overhead services and narrow passages. A bed irrigated separately from lawn improves water control and limits seedlings. Maintain permanent access for root-flare inspection, sucker removal and branch checks after heavy snow. Allow the rounded form to develop without repeated shearing. Check downwind areas for seedlings each season.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Why does HOT WINGS® appear to bloom red in summer?
The red display comes from samaras, the maple’s winged fruit, rather than flowers. True flowers are small, yellow-white and open after leaves in spring. Following pollination, they form paired samaras that become scarlet in midsummer and often cover the crown for approximately six weeks. Abundance varies with tree age, pollination, weather and spring frost. A year with few red wings does not necessarily mean the cultivar is unhealthy or incorrectly identified. Observe several seasons and first review general health, exposure, irrigation and frost damage before changing care. Do not apply fertilizer solely to force fruit production without a soil test.
Does HOT WINGS® produce volunteer seedlings?
Yes. Samaras can germinate, especially in loose, frequently irrigated soil such as lawn. Plant Select recommends removing seedlings, which are generally easy to pull while young. Inspect beds, turf, pavement cracks and property boundaries in spring and autumn. Pull when soil is moist so roots come out, and do not allow a volunteer to become woody or produce its own fruit. Irrigation on a separate zone, matched to tree needs rather than a lawn schedule, can reduce conditions favouring seedlings. Because the species is non-native in Canada, prevent establishment beyond the maintained garden. Monitoring becomes more important as the crown matures and fruit production increases.
Does HOT WINGS® tolerate dry or alkaline soil?
Yes. The cultivar adapts well to alkaline soil and tolerates dry periods once roots are established. It grows in loam, structured clay or drained sand but does not accept continuously saturated ground. Through the first two growing seasons, keep the root ball and neighbouring soil evenly moist with slow, deep irrigation. Continue watering during extended drought. Check moisture beneath mulch before acting and expand the irrigated area as roots extend. Tolerance does not compensate for a small compacted pit, buried root flare or hot runoff from paving. Evaluate drainage and soil structure before planting rather than relying on drought tolerance as a solution to a poor site.
How should HOT WINGS® be protected from heavy snow?
The cultivar forms strong branch unions, but heavy snow can still break a long limb, particularly during an early or late storm while foliage is present. Do not plant beneath eaves where a mass of sliding snow can strike the crown. Develop a balanced framework while young and shorten only an unusually long or vulnerable branch using accepted pruning practice. During a storm, gently clear snow from accessible branches with a light tool without shaking the trunk or working beneath loaded wood. Afterward, inspect for cracks and assign a large limb, open union or elevated work to a certified arborist. Never top the crown as a preventive measure, because weak regrowth creates new hazards.
How much space does HOT WINGS® maple require?
Allow approximately 4.5 to 5.5 m of height and an equal spread at maturity. The 7-gallon, 200-cm or 45- to 50-mm formats describe sale size only and do not reduce the future crown. Keep the plant away from walls, overhead services, narrow passages and snow-loaded eaves. Preserve open soil around the root flare and access for irrigation. Do not force an undersized site through annual shearing; respect the rounded habit and remove only suckers and dead, broken, diseased or crossing wood. Correct planting distance supports colour, air movement and a durable framework with fewer interventions. Reassess nearby structures as the crown expands beyond its nursery dimensions.
Wildlife and pets
Wildlife & precautions
Supporting wildlife
Spring flowers may support some insects, and the crown can provide perches and shelter. Samaras may also offer occasional food, but the Eurasian species is not native in Canada. Add diverse regional flowering and fruiting plants, avoid non-targeted pesticides during bloom and remove volunteers appearing beyond the maintained bed. Native planting layers provide stronger long-term habitat value while preserving the ornamental maple display.
Outils
Compostage et écologie
