Zone 9 · winter lows 20°F to 30°F
Acer for Zone 9
19 Acer varieties rated hardy through Zone 9, ranked by how many gardeners actually grow them. Zone 9 is nearly year-round growing — heat tolerance matters more than cold.
The Acer that thrive in Zone 9
#1 most savedOrangeola Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Orangeola'
#2 most savedWeeping Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Shidare'
#3 most savedEsk Sunset Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Esk Sunset'
Red Dragon Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Red Dragon'
Orange Dream Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Orange Dream'
Katsura Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Katsura'
Red Maple
Acer rubrum 'October Glory'
Silver Maple
Acer saccharinum
Florida Flame Red Maple
Acer rubrum 'Florida Flame'
Armstrong Maple
Acer freemanii 'Armstrong'
Sensation Boxelder
Acer negundo 'Sensation'
Red Maple
Acer rubrum
Tatarian Maple
Acer tataricum 'Garann'
Shantung Maple
Acer truncatum
Trident Maple
Acer buergerianum 'Aeryn Trident'
Trident Maple
Acer buergerianum
Main Street Purpleblow Maple
Acer truncatum 'Main Street Purpleblow'
Moonrise Maple
Acer shirasawanum 'Moonrise'
Vine Maple
Acer circinatum
Acer in Zone 9
Will Acer survive a Zone 9 winter?
19 of the 79 Acer varieties in the Sow catalog are rated hardy through Zone 9, where winter lows reach 20°F to 30°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 9?
In Zone 9 the last spring frost typically lands around late February and the first fall frost around early December. 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 9?
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 9 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.
