Deciduous tree 40-50 feet tall with an oval to rounded crown. Small yellow flowers in early spring. Deep maroon-purple leaves hold their color through the summer.
A popular tree in parks, streets, and residences in the Midwest though the species is a known invasive threat. 'Royal Red' is said to have superior leaf color, cold hardiness and landscape performance compared to 'Crimson King.' Some sources say these two cultivars are the same plant and there are no detectable differences (Dirr).