Can't speak for SSM but I have a bunch of Shantung Maple trees and I notice that they can vary in colors. I have one that is pure deep red while others are green.

I have Mexican Sugar maple and new growth is red-orange color right now.

http://ag.sfasu.edu/UserFiles/File/PLANTS/Acer%20skutchii.pdf

I have a very small one of these as chronicled in this website. Is this what you have?
I do have a Shantung. Brilliant yellow fall color. Hasn't leafed out yet for Spring. I bought two maples last fall...ssmaple, supposedly. Might have a Caddo Maple.
The SSugar Maple much faster growing than the Bigtooth. I misplaced the information I had on these purchases. Can't find info on the web about new leaves on SSM. Thanks, Lou...

We planted this a couple of years a go on a whim, and I believe it is a Sugar (not sure if it's a SSM...). It has struggled a bit through the heat we have here while young, but seems to be bouncing back nicely. I've had two different professionals say I might as well take it out now and replace it, as sugar maples are the wrong kind of tree for central Texas. I'm going to wait and see how it does...

Would like to hear from anyone else who's had success with these in central/south TX...

Leaves still a little new, this spring. They get much bigger than this of course...

jscaldwell,

It looked more like red maple to me. There are a few different kind of sugar maples that can grow in central Texas.

1) Bigtooth Maple (native stand of these trees in central Texas west of San Antonio so called Lost Maple Forest)
2) Mexican Sugar maple (according to Stephen F Austin state university)
3) Southern Sugar maple (according to Madrone Nursery)
4) Caddo Sugar Maple (found in western Oklahoma)