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Large columnar deciduous native tree of horticultural selection
Sapindaceae
Érable rouge colonnaire à automne doré-orange
Armstrong Gold® Red Maple
Acer rubrum ‘JFS-KW78’
Armstrong Gold® is the trade name for Acer rubrum 'JFS-KW78', a patented selection introduced in 2013 to improve upon its parent 'Armstrong' in terms of habit. Its dense, extremely narrow columnar to oval crown reaches approximately 12.2 m in height and 3.7 m in width. The small, medium-green leaves turn golden to rich orange in the fall. Rated Zone 4, this tree is suitable for restricted lateral spaces but requires significant height and acidic, fresh, unsalted soil. Plant it in sun or partial shade, protect the root crown, and water deeply during establishment. Acer rubrum leaves pose a serious risk to horses and should not be accessible in a pasture.
- Exposure
- Sun to partial shade
- Hardiness
- Zone 4
Discover the plant
Common nameArmstrong Gold® Red Maple
FamilySapindaceae
GenusAcer
Speciesred
CultivarJFS-KW78 (Armstrong Gold®)
TypeLarge columnar deciduous native tree of horticultural selection
Botanical nameAcer rubrum ‘JFS-KW78’
Armstrong Gold® Red Maple (Acer rubrum ‘JFS-KW78’) is the cultivar ‘JFS-KW78’, patented PP25301 and introduced by J. Frank Schmidt in 2013. Developed from a freely pollinated seed of the ‘Armstrong’ maple, it was selected from hundreds of seedlings for its more compact, dense, and narrow silhouette. Its branches grow close to the trunk, forming an extremely narrow columnar to oval crown. The medium green foliage, finer than many red maples, turns golden to rich orange in autumn. Expect a height of approximately 40 feet with a width of only 12 feet. The official hardiness is zone 4.
In Quebec, plant Armstrong Gold® in full sun or partial shade in acidic to slightly acidic, fresh to moist, well-drained soil. Avoid alkaline backfills, road salt, reflected heat, and small compacted pits, which can cause chlorosis and dieback. Keep the root collar and graft union visible, then apply 2 to 3 inches of mulch without touching the trunk. Water deeply during the first two seasons and during prolonged droughts. Maintain a dominant central leader and correct any competing branches early; open angles at the base of the branches promote a strong framework despite the very upright habit.
Armstrong Gold® is suitable for narrow yards, alignments, vertical screens, and streets where lateral space is limited, but its 40 feet height requires clearance under wires. Small red female flowers appear before the leaves. The patent indicates sparse fruiting: some samaras may ripen when pollination occurs, without abundant production each year. The species Acer rubrum is native to Eastern Canada and Quebec, while ‘JFS-KW78’ is a horticultural selection created in Oregon. Fresh, wilted, or dry leaves can severely poison horses; do not install the tree in an equine pasture and prevent access to fallen branches.
Planting guide
From planting to establishment.
Spacing / density
Space approximately 4 to 5 m (13 to 16 ft) apart to maintain a narrow crown for each.
Best planting time
Spring or early autumn
Propagation
Vegetative propagation by budding, cuttings, or micropropagation to faithfully maintain 'JFS-KW78'; seedlings do not reproduce this cultivar
Soil and care
The right care,at the right time.
Soil pH
Acid to slightly acid, ideally 4.5 to 6.5
Minimum temperature
Around -29 to -34 °C depending on the site (zone 4)
Care level
Moderate
Watering
Water deeply after planting, then keep the root ball and adjacent soil evenly moist for the first two seasons. Check for moisture under the mulch rather than watering on a fixed schedule. During a drought or heatwave, apply water slowly over the entire root zone. Reduce frequency once the tree is established, without letting the soil dry out completely for long periods. Avoid small daily waterings and water pooling against the trunk.
Soil type
Prefer acidic to slightly acidic, cool to moist, organically rich, and well-drained soil. Armstrong Gold® adapts to clay, loam, and sand if roots have access to air and water. Brief flooding can be tolerated, but prolonged standing water weakens the tree. Avoid calcareous, highly saline, compacted, or confined soils, which promote chlorosis and root rot.
Fertilization
No systematic fertilization is needed in a healthy, well-prepared soil. In spring, add mature compost to the surface under the crown, without piling it against the trunk. A soil analysis should precede any fertilization, especially if the foliage yellows: in red maples, chlorosis often results from a pH that is too high rather than a general lack of nutrients. First correct drainage, compaction, or pH, and avoid late nitrogen, which stimulates shoots vulnerable to frost.
Moisture
Cool to moist soil; tolerates brief waterlogged periods
Seasonal care
In spring, inspect the trunk, root collar, and central leader after winter. Replace 5 to 8 cm of mulch without covering the bark, remove tight ties, and water when rain is lacking. Red flowers are normal; this male clone will not form samaras. In summer, monitor for chlorosis, marginal scorch, leaf spots, cankers, and wilting. Check pH, moisture, and compaction before any treatment. Water deeply during drought and keep mowers and string trimmers away from the trunk. Prune only dead, damaged, or crossing wood, preferably after leaf expansion to limit sap flow. In autumn, enjoy the red coloration and continue watering until frost if the soil remains dry. Collect fallen branches or leaves where a horse might access them. In winter, keep salted snow away from the root collar and protect a young trunk from rodents without tightening the guard. After a storm, have cracks, large broken branches, or a codominant stem assessed by a certified arborist. Year-round, maintain permeable soil volume, observe girdling roots, and never apply pesticides without an accurate diagnosis. Document repeated symptoms to distinguish temporary stress from a site problem. Clean tools between trees and annually check the stability of major crotches.
Container growing
A garden,within reach.
Pot culture is only possible during the first few years. Use a deep container with rich, well-draining soil and ensure regular watering.
Bloom and dimensions
Its place,in your garden.
Mature height
Approximately 12.2 m (40 ft)
Width / spread
Approximately 3.7 m (12 ft)
Flower color
Red
Foliage color
Medium green in summer; golden to rich orange in fall
Foliage type
Obsolete
Growth rate
Moderate
Growth habit
Columnar with extremely narrow, dense, and strongly fastigiate oval shape
Bloom period
Small red female flowers appear in tight clusters on bare branches in early spring, before the leaves unfurl. They do not produce pollen. Pollination by a nearby male maple can lead to the development of a few samaras, but fruiting remains sparse and irregular according to the cultivar patent. This female characteristic also distinguishes this clone from several fruitless male selections.
Fruiting
‘JFS-KW78’ produces female flowers, but pollination is often incomplete. Some samaras may mature in spring when compatible pollen is present; many fruits abort, and the tree does not produce them abundantly every year. Therefore, do not present Armstrong Gold® as completely seedless or as a tree with decorative samaras. Remove any rare volunteer seedlings if they appear. This clarification avoids erroneous expectations regarding seasonal cleanup.
Garden associations
In goodcompany.
Companion plants
Serviceberry, viburnum, chokeberry, ferns, tiarella, and sedge suited to cool soil
Wildlife and pets
Life,around your plants.
Supporting wildlife
Small female flowers can receive pollen transported by insects, a few samaras occasionally nourish wildlife, and the canopy provides cover or perches. Fruiting, however, remains sparse. As the species is native to eastern Canada, integrate it into several strata of regional plants rather than relying on a single cultivar.
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