Zone 5 · winter lows -20°F to -10°F
Acer for Zone 5
78 Acer varieties rated hardy through Zone 5, ranked by how many gardeners actually grow them. Zone 5 is classic northern gardening with a reliable snow blanket.
The Acer that thrive in Zone 5
#1 most savedBloodgood Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood'
#2 most savedOrangeola Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Orangeola'
#3 most savedCrimson Queen Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Crimson Queen'
Weeping Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Shidare'
Coral Bark Maple
Acer palmatum 'Sango-Kaku'
Final Fire Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Final Fire'
Esk Sunset Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Esk Sunset'
Purple Cutleaf Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Dissectum Atropurpureum'
Ice Dragon Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Ice Dragon'
Elegans Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Elegans'
Japanese Maple North Wind
Acer palmatum 'North Wind'
Red Dragon Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Red Dragon'
First Flame Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'First Flame'
Orange Dream Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Orange Dream'
Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum
Garnet Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Garnet'
Beni-Kawa Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Beni-Kawa'
Katsura Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Katsura'
Wowee Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Wowee'
Red Maple
Acer rubrum 'October Glory'
Red Maple
Acer rubrum 'Autumn Flame'
Silver Maple
Acer saccharinum
Florida Flame Red Maple
Acer rubrum 'Florida Flame'
Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum var dissectum 'Red Select'
Showing the 24 most-saved of 78 Zone 5–hardy Acer varieties. See the full Acer list →
Acer in Zone 5
Will Acer survive a Zone 5 winter?
78 of the 79 Acer varieties in the Sow catalog are rated hardy through Zone 5, where winter lows reach -20°F to -10°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 5?
In Zone 5 the last spring frost typically lands around early May and the first fall frost around early October. 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 5?
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 5 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.
