Zone 9 · winter lows 20°F to 30°F

Acer for Zone 9

21 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.

21 hardy hereof 87 Acer totalLast frost ~late February

The Acer that thrive in Zone 9

Orangeola Japanese Maple#1 most saved

Orangeola Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum 'Orangeola'

Zones 5–9· 183 saves· from $41
Weeping Japanese Maple#2 most saved

Weeping Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum 'Shidare'

Zones 5–9· 126 saves· from $170
Esk Sunset Japanese Maple#3 most saved

Esk Sunset Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum 'Esk Sunset'

Zones 5–9· 89 saves
Red Dragon Japanese Maple

Red Dragon Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum 'Red Dragon'

Zones 5–9· 79 saves· from $53
Orange Dream Japanese Maple

Orange Dream Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum 'Orange Dream'

Zones 5–9· 73 saves· from $36
October Glory Red Maple

October Glory Red Maple

Acer rubrum 'October Glory'

Zones 4–9· 62 saves· from $61
Katsura Japanese Maple

Katsura Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum 'Katsura'

Zones 5–9· 59 saves
Silver Maple

Silver Maple

Acer saccharinum

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

Trident Maple

Acer buergerianum 'Aeryn Trident'

Zones 5–9· 37 saves
Armstrong Maple

Armstrong Maple

Acer freemanii 'Armstrong'

Zones 4–9· 35 saves· from $105
Sensation Boxelder

Sensation Boxelder

Acer negundo 'Sensation'

Zones 4–9· 34 saves
Red Maple

Red Maple

Acer rubrum

Zones 4–9· 34 saves
Florida Flame Red Maple

Florida Flame Red Maple

Acer rubrum 'Florida Flame'

Zones 5–9· 33 saves
Tatarian Maple

Tatarian Maple

Acer tataricum 'Garann'

Zones 4–10· 25 saves· from $195
Shantung Maple

Shantung Maple

Acer truncatum

Zones 4–9· 24 saves
Moonrise Maple

Moonrise Maple

Acer shirasawanum 'Moonrise'

Zones 5–9· 17 saves
Main Street Purpleblow Maple

Main Street Purpleblow Maple

Acer truncatum 'Main Street Purpleblow'

Zones 5–9· 16 saves
Vine Maple

Vine Maple

Acer circinatum

Zones 6–9· 11 saves· from $24
Boxelder

Boxelder

Acer negundo

Zones 4–9· 2 saves

Showing the 19 most-saved of 21 Zone 9–hardy Acer varieties. See the full Acer list →

Acer in Zone 9

Will Acer survive a Zone 9 winter?

21 of the 87 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.

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