Main Street Shantung Maple

Main Street® Shantung maple (Acer truncatum ‘WF-AT1’) is a compact, rounded deciduous tree selected for its orange-red autumn foliage. It can serve as a shade tree or specimen in an urban landscape, with published mature estimates of 20–30 feet tall and 18–25 feet wide. ## Landscape Use The original selection was raised at [Worthington Farms](https://worthingtonfarms.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Main-StreetR-flyer_low-res-1.pdf) in North Carolina and chosen for its vigor, consistent fall color, and compact round canopy. Its modest crown and urban suitability make it useful where a full-sized shade tree would be too large. [Urban Forest Nursery](https://urbanforestnursery.com/inventory/tree-profiles/main-street-shantung-maple/) also identifies the cultivar as ‘WF-AT1’ and describes its compact form and use in streets, yards, and gardens. ## Seasonal Interest New leaves emerge red-purple, then become yellow-green as they expand and dark green through summer. In autumn, foliage turns orange, orange-red, and red; the patent description reports that this display persisted for more than two weeks on the founder tree. The tree is deciduous. These cultivar traits are documented in [U.S. Plant Patent PP20,109](https://patents.google.com/patent/USPP20109P3/en), issued June 23, 2009. ## Siting and Soil Published mature estimates vary: [Russell Nursery](https://russellnursery.com/product/acer-truncatum-main-street/) lists 20–30 feet tall and 18–25 feet wide, while the patent reports its founder tree at 19 by 13.5 feet at about eight years old. Give the rounded crown room to develop in well-drained soil; the nursery profiles describe adaptation to a range of soils. Russell Nursery recommends full sun to part shade; the patent describes the cultivar as hardy in USDA Zones 4–9. [Blue Heron Nursery](https://bhfnursery.com/acer-truncatum-wf-ati-main-street/) reports good heat and drought tolerance once established. Water new trees regularly as roots establish and provide supplemental moisture during prolonged dry weather. ## Maintenance The patent describes the rounded canopy forming without a strict pruning regime. Allow the natural branching structure to develop and remove damaged or crossing branches when needed.