Unique Features: The Urban Sunset maples are hybrids of the Norway maple and the Shantung maple.  Shantung maples are native to central Asia and have exceptional heat and drought tolerance, which is passed onto the ‘Sunset’ series of maples. The Sunsets can have leaves similar to a smaller version of the many pointed leaves of the Norway maples, or similar to the star shaped leaves of the Shantung. The Urban Sunset grows into a compact, upright oval form suitable for smaller planting sites. While the Urban Sunset has the typical small maple flowers in early spring it produces very few of the ‘helicopter’ seeds, or samaras. The Shantung heritage makes it more tolerant of higher pH soils. Maples ‘wake up’ as early as February, and the winter watering should be increased at this time.