Zone 4 · winter lows -30°F to -20°F

Acer for Zone 4

50 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.

50 hardy hereof 79 Acer totalLast frost ~mid-May

The Acer that thrive in Zone 4

#1 most saved

Ice Dragon Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum 'Ice Dragon'

Zones 4–8· 72 saves· from $150

#2 most saved

Japanese Maple North Wind

Acer palmatum 'North Wind'

Zones 4–8· 70 saves· from $98

#3 most saved

Red Maple

Acer rubrum 'October Glory'

Zones 4–9· 45 saves· from $69

Red Maple

Acer rubrum 'Autumn Flame'

Zones 4–8· 37 saves· from $140

Silver Maple

Acer saccharinum

Zones 4–9· 31 saves· from $99

Autumn Fest Sugar Maple

Acer saccharum 'Autumn Fest'

Zones 4–8· 26 saves

Armstrong Maple

Acer freemanii 'Armstrong'

Zones 4–9· 26 saves· from $95

Autumn Fantasy Maple

Acer freemanii 'Dtr 102'

Zones 4–7· 26 saves

Green Mountain Sugar Maple

Acer saccharum 'Green Mountain'

Zones 4–8· 25 saves· from $185

Sensation Boxelder

Acer negundo 'Sensation'

Zones 4–9· 24 saves

Redpointe Red Maple

Acer rubrum 'Frank Jr'

Zones 4–7· 24 saves

Red Maple

Acer rubrum

Zones 4–9· 24 saves· from $66

Autumn Blaze Maple

Acer freemanii 'Jeffersred'

Zones 4–8· 23 saves

Summer Red Maple

Acer rubrum 'Summer Red'

Zones 4–8· 23 saves· from $185

Amur Maple

Acer ginnala

Zones 4–8· 23 saves

Norwegian Sunset Maple

Acer truncatum a platanoides 'Keithsform'

Zones 4–8· 22 saves· from $185

Red Sunset Maple

Acer rubrum 'Franksred'

Zones 4–8· 21 saves· from $185

Freeman Maple

Acer freemanii 'Bailston'

Zones 4–7· 21 saves

Sugar Maple

Acer saccharum

Zones 4–8· 21 saves· from $98

Marmo Maple

Acer freemanii 'Marmo'

Zones 4–7· 20 saves

Crimson Sunset Maple

Acer 'Jfs-Kw202'

Zones 4–8· 20 saves

Autumn Radiance Red Maple

Acer rubrum 'Autumn Radiance'

Zones 4–8· 20 saves

Flashfire Sugar Maple

Acer saccharum 'Jfs-Caddo2'

Zones 4–8· 20 saves· from $185

Firefall Maple

Acer 'Firefall'

Zones 4–7· 19 saves

Showing the 24 most-saved of 50 Zone 4–hardy Acer varieties. See the full Acer list →

Acer in Zone 4

Will Acer survive a Zone 4 winter?

50 of the 79 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

All Acer

Every Acer variety (79)

Acer in other zones

More for Zone 4

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.