Acer platanoides 'Crimson King'
The Acer Crimson King is a large leaved Maple with a beautiful crimson red crown during the spring. Over summer it changes to a deep purple red then to fiery autumn tones of scarlet, red and orange. Like most Acer's, the Crimson King requires free draining soil. A fantastic small tree for adding some colour and interest in your garden. Protect it from strong winds. Increase watering when there are hot windy days to reduce the effects of drying winds.
About this plant
Maple Acer
Maples (Acer) form a large genus of trees and shrubs, nearly all from the northern hemisphere and many from China. They range from small multi-stemmed trees to large shade trees. Their opposite, usually lobed leaves, colourful young growth, winged fruits and above all their fiery autumn colours make them garden classics.
Norway maple Acer platanoides
The Norway maple is a European tree, found from Scandinavia to Spain and east to the Caucasus. It grows fast into a large tree of 20 to 30 m with a dense, rounded crown. The glossy dark green, sharply lobed leaves turn golden yellow in autumn, and clusters of yellow-green flowers appear on the bare branches in early spring.
Location and soil
Adapts to most soils as long as they are deep enough for its vigorous root system; prefers fertile, moist ground and also tolerates lime. Avoid waterlogged or peaty soil. Sun to light shade. Very hardy and fairly drought tolerant.
Pruning and care
Easy to grow. Train young trees to a single leader and, in winter (December to February), remove dead, crossing or badly placed branches. The dense, competitive roots make underplanting difficult, and the tree does not cope well with sealed paving over its root zone.
Use in the garden
A robust tree for parks, large gardens and avenues, valued as a specimen and for shade. Its many garden forms, with purple or variegated leaves and columnar or globe-shaped crowns, extend its use to smaller gardens and narrow spaces.
Characteristics
Botanical
| Family | Sapindaceae |
| Genus | Acer |
| Species | platanoides |
| Cultivar | 'Crimson King' |
Foliage
| Evergreen | no |
| Colour (foliage) | red, bruin |
Growth habit
| Height | 500 cm, 1000 cm |
Location
| Winter hardiness | -30 °C |
| Soil type | neutral |
| Location | sun, half shade |
| Soil moisture | moist |
Use
| Type (use) | tree/standard, multistem, solitary |