Zone 4 · winter lows -30°F to -20°F

Acer for Zone 4

56 Acer varieties rated hardy through Zone 4, ranked by how many gardeners actually grow them. Zone 4 is short, intense seasons — plants here are the toughest in the catalog.

56 hardy hereof 87 Acer totalLast frost ~mid-May

The Acer that thrive in Zone 4

Japanese Maple North Wind#1 most saved

Japanese Maple North Wind

Acer palmatum 'North Wind'

Zones 4–8· 81 saves· from $98
Ice Dragon Japanese Maple#2 most saved

Ice Dragon Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum 'Ice Dragon'

Zones 4–8· 80 saves· from $150
October Glory Red Maple#3 most saved

October Glory Red Maple

Acer rubrum 'October Glory'

Zones 4–9· 62 saves· from $61
Autumn Flame Red Maple

Autumn Flame Red Maple

Acer rubrum 'Autumn Flame'

Zones 4–8· 44 saves· from $370
Silver Maple

Silver Maple

Acer saccharinum

Zones 4–9· 43 saves· from $74
Armstrong Maple

Armstrong Maple

Acer freemanii 'Armstrong'

Zones 4–9· 35 saves· from $105
Autumn Fest Sugar Maple

Autumn Fest Sugar Maple

Acer saccharum 'Autumn Fest'

Zones 4–8· 35 saves
Red Maple

Red Maple

Acer rubrum

Zones 4–9· 34 saves
Sensation Boxelder

Sensation Boxelder

Acer negundo 'Sensation'

Zones 4–9· 34 saves
Redpointe Red Maple

Redpointe Red Maple

Acer rubrum 'Frank Jr'

Zones 4–7· 32 saves
Autumn Blaze Maple

Autumn Blaze Maple

Acer freemanii 'Jeffersred'

Zones 4–8· 32 saves
Sugar Maple

Sugar Maple

Acer saccharum

Zones 4–8· 31 saves· from $78
Green Mountain Sugar Maple

Green Mountain Sugar Maple

Acer saccharum 'Green Mountain'

Zones 4–8· 31 saves· from $188
Northwood Red Maple

Northwood Red Maple

Acer rubrum 'Northwood'

Zones 4–8· 31 saves
Autumn Fantasy Maple

Autumn Fantasy Maple

Acer freemanii 'Dtr 102'

Zones 4–7· 30 saves
Amur Maple

Amur Maple

Acer ginnala

Zones 4–8· 30 saves
Summer Red Maple

Summer Red Maple

Acer rubrum 'Summer Red'

Zones 4–8· 29 saves· from $195
Freeman Maple

Freeman Maple

Acer freemanii 'Bailston'

Zones 4–7· 29 saves
Red Sunset Maple

Red Sunset Maple

Acer rubrum 'Franksred'

Zones 4–8· 28 saves· from $195
Firefall Maple

Firefall Maple

Acer 'Firefall'

Zones 4–7· 27 saves
Norwegian Sunset Maple

Norwegian Sunset Maple

Acer truncatum a platanoides 'Keithsform'

Zones 4–8· 27 saves· from $195
Flashfire Sugar Maple

Flashfire Sugar Maple

Acer saccharum 'Jfs-Caddo2'

Zones 4–8· 26 saves· from $195
Bowhall Red Maple

Bowhall Red Maple

Acer rubrum 'Bowhall'

Zones 4–8· 25 saves· from $195
Autumn Radiance Red Maple

Autumn Radiance Red Maple

Acer rubrum 'Autumn Radiance'

Zones 4–8· 25 saves

Showing the 24 most-saved of 56 Zone 4–hardy Acer varieties. See the full Acer list →

Acer in Zone 4

Will Acer survive a Zone 4 winter?

56 of the 87 Acer varieties in the Sow catalog are rated hardy through Zone 4, where winter lows reach -30°F to -20°F. Hardiness is per-variety, not per-genus — the plants listed above are the ones that hold up; others in the genus are not rated for this zone.

When should I plant Acer in Zone 4?

In Zone 4 the last spring frost typically lands around mid-May and the first fall frost around late September. Planting after the last frost — or in early fall, so roots establish before the ground cools — gives the best establishment. Each plant page lists its own planting months.

Which Acer is best for Zone 4?

Start at the top of the list above: it is ranked by how many gardeners actually save and grow each variety, which is a strong real-world reliability signal. Then narrow by your sun exposure and the mature size that fits the bed.

Keep exploring

See Acer in your Zone 4 yard

Snap a photo of your space and Sow places these varieties in it at true mature size — then keeps the care schedule for everything you plant.

Join Sow for Free