The Height of a 2-Year-Old Maple Tree

Growth Rates

• Maples are a wide-ranging genus with many different varieties and cultivars. The Arbor Day Foundation indicates that slow-growing trees are considered to be those that grow less than 13 inches annually, while medium-growing trees put on between 13 and 24 inches per year. Fast-growing trees are those that grow in excess of 24 inches annually.

Red Maple

• The red maple (Acer rubrum) is considered to be a medium-to-fast grower, which indicates it is likely to grow at least 24 inches annually. According to the U.S. Forest Service, "under favorable light and moisture, red maple seedlings can grow 0.3 m (1 ft) the first year and as much as 0.6 m (2 ft) each year for the next few years." That would make the expected height of a 2-year-old red maple approximately 3 feet. At full maturity, the red maple stands between 40 and 60 feet tall.

Sugar Maple

• The sugar maple (Acer saccharum), valued for its wood, its syrup, and as an ornamental, is considered to be a slow-to-medium grower. It can be expected to attain a height of approximately 2 feet -- or perhaps slightly more -- by the time it reaches 2 years of age. At full maturity, it will have grown to between 60 and 75 feet in height with a canopy spread of 40 to 50 feet. The tree will achieve its best height potential when planted in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness Zones 3 through 8.

Japanese Red Maple

• The Japanese red maple (Acer palmatum var. atropurpureum) is a brightly colored tree with a slow-to-medium rate of growth. It can be expected to grow to a height of approximately 2 to 3 feet by the time it reaches 2 years of age. The Clemson University Cooperative Extension service advises that the tree is likely to stand between 10 and 15 feet high at 15 years of age and may grow as tall as 25 feet at full maturity.