Maple Trees | Acer

Acer palmatum dissectum, commonly known as the lace leaf Japanese maple, is a popular ornamental tree renowned for its intricate, finely divided foliage. This deciduous shrub or small tree is part of the Aceraceae family and originates from Japan, Korea, and China. It typically grows to a height of 2 to 3 meters (6 to 10 feet) with a similar spread, making it a perfect choice for small gardens and container planting.

The leaves of Acer palmatum dissectum are deeply lobed and serrated, resembling delicate lace. Throughout the seasons, the foliage transitions from a vibrant green in spring and summer to spectacular shades of red, orange, and purple in autumn, providing year-round interest. The tree's cascading, weeping habit adds an elegant and graceful element to any landscape design.

Acer palmatum dissectum prefers a position in partial shade with well-drained, moist soil. It is relatively low-maintenance, requiring minimal pruning to maintain its shape. This tree is also known for its resilience to pests and diseases. Its compact size and striking appearance make it an excellent choice for adding structure and colour to garden borders, patios, and rockeries in British gardens.

Acer pensylvanicum, commonly known as the striped maple, is a deciduous tree native to the forests of eastern North America. It is a small to medium-sized tree, typically growing between 5 to 10 metres tall, with a slender trunk and spreading branches that create a rounded crown. The bark of young trees is particularly striking, characterised by green and white vertical stripes, giving the tree its common name. As the tree matures, the bark darkens to a reddish-brown or grey, and the stripes become less pronounced.

The leaves of Acer pensylvanicum are large and broad, usually measuring 12 to 18 centimetres in length and width. They are three-lobed, with a slightly serrated edge, and have a soft, velvety texture. The leaves are bright green in spring and summer, turning vibrant shades of yellow in the autumn before falling. This autumnal display makes the tree an attractive feature in woodland settings.

In late spring, the striped maple produces clusters of small, yellow-green flowers that hang down in delicate racemes. These flowers are unisexual, with male and female flowers often found on the same tree. Pollinated by wind or insects, the flowers develop into distinctive winged seeds, called samaras, which mature in late summer and are dispersed by the wind.

Acer pensylvanicum thrives in cool, shaded environments, preferring moist, well-drained soils. It is commonly found in the understorey of mixed hardwood forests, where it grows slowly in the dappled light. The striped maple is also known for its ability to regenerate from stumps, making it resilient in disturbed forest areas.

The Acer pseudoplatanus 'Prinz Handjery' is a striking cultivar of the sycamore maple, prized for its unique and ornamental foliage. Originating from the broader Acer pseudoplatanus species, this particular variety stands out due to its distinctive purple and green leaves, making it a favourite among gardeners seeking an eye-catching addition to their landscapes.

This medium-sized deciduous tree typically grows to a height of 10 to 15 metres, with a spread of around 8 to 10 metres, making it a suitable choice for medium to large gardens. The tree's overall shape is broadly conical or rounded, and it features a dense canopy, providing ample shade beneath. The bark of the 'Prinz Handjery' is smooth when young, developing into a more rugged and fissured texture as it matures, with patches of grey and brown that add to its visual appeal, particularly in winter.

The standout feature of this cultivar is its foliage. The leaves emerge with a bronze or purple tint in spring before maturing to a dark green with striking purple undersides. This dual-tone effect creates a beautiful contrast, especially when the wind catches the leaves, revealing flashes of colour. In autumn, the foliage transitions to golden yellow, adding seasonal interest to the garden.

In addition to its ornamental value, the Acer pseudoplatanus 'Prinz Handjery' is a hardy tree, able to tolerate a wide range of soil conditions, including clay and chalk, and is resistant to pollution, making it well-suited to urban environments. It is relatively low maintenance, requiring minimal pruning and proving resilient to pests and diseases.

Acer platanoides, commonly known as the Norway maple, is a large deciduous tree native to continental Europe and western Asia and is a popular ornamental tree in parks, gardens, and streetscapes due to its hardiness and adaptability to urban conditions.

The Norway maple can reach heights of 20 to 30 metres, with a broad, rounded crown. Its bark is greyish-brown and smooth when young, becoming ridged and furrowed as the tree matures. The leaves have five to seven lobes, but are typically dark green. In autumn, the foliage turns bright yellow, creating a striking display. The leaves exude a milky sap when broken, which is a distinguishing feature of the species.

In spring, Acer platanoides produces clusters of small, yellow-green flowers that bloom before the leaves emerge. These flowers are arranged in upright, corymb-like inflorescences, making the tree visually appealing during the early part of the growing season. The tree also produces characteristic winged seeds known as samaras, which appear in pairs and are often referred to as "helicopter seeds" due to the way they spin as they fall to the ground.

Norway maple is a fast-growing species and is tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions, including poor and compacted soils. Its adaptability to polluted urban environments makes it a favoured choice for street planting. 

Acer rubrum 'Redpointe' ('Frank Junior') is medium-sized, fast-growing, upright, oval to pyramidal, vigorous, deciduous tree. It has palmate, lobed, glossy dark green leaves that become beautifully vivid bright red in autumn. Red flowers in small umbrellas show up in March and are followed by winged nuts, samaras, in autumn. Perfect as a large specimen or shade tree, nice-looking when planted in groups.

Redpointe Red Maple is an American variety of red maple cultivated for planting in cities as street or park trees. It prefers slightly acidic, well-drained soil. In calcareous soil, it will stagnate and its autumn colour will be less intense. It prefers full sun, but tolerates partial shade. Resistant to frost, moderately to winds, it doesn’t like salt and sea winds, therefore, it is not suitable for coasts. It was developed and introduced to market by Keith S. Warren from J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. nursery in Oregon, USA.

The Acer campestre 'Fastigiatum, commonly known as the upright field maple, is a popular cultivar of the field maple tree, native to Europe and parts of Asia. Known for its compact and columnar growth habit, this tree is often used in urban landscaping, parks, and gardens due to its ability to thrive in various environments.

The 'Fastigiatum' cultivar is characterised by its narrow, upright form, making it ideal for smaller spaces or as a vertical accent in landscape designs. It typically grows to a height of 10 to 15 metres, with a width of about 4 to 6 metres. The tree's branches grow tightly together, giving it a dense, pillar-like appearance. This makes it a preferred choice for creating natural screens or for lining avenues and pathways.

The leaves of the Acer campestre 'Fastigiatum' are small, five-lobed, and dark green during the growing season, turning to a golden yellow in autumn, adding seasonal interest to any setting. The tree produces small, inconspicuous yellow-green flowers in spring, followed by winged seeds, known as samaras, that are typical of maple trees.

One of the advantages of this cultivar is its hardiness and adaptability. It can tolerate a wide range of soil types, including clay, loam, and sandy soils, and is resistant to pollution, making it suitable for urban areas. The tree is also drought-tolerant once established, though it prefers well-drained soil with moderate moisture.

Acer campestre 'Fastigiatum' requires minimal maintenance, with occasional pruning to maintain its shape. It is relatively pest-free and can thrive in full sun to partial shade. Overall, this upright field maple is a versatile and attractive choice for landscapes, offering structure, colour, and resilience.

Acer platanoides Princeton Gold is a medium-sized, fast-growing, deciduous tree with upright, spreading, broadly columnar habit and bright golden foliage with red petioles. It retains this beautiful and attractive colour throughout spring and summer, slowly turning green.

Clusters of small, inconspicuous, yellow flowers emerge on bare branches before leaves show up. Princeton Gold Norway Maple is very easy to grow in a wide range of moist, well-drained soils. It likes full sun and partial shade. It is very hardy and resilient, not much susceptible to leaf scorch, resistant to drought, frost, and wind, though it may need to be sheltered form harsh winds.

Beautiful sunny golden leaves make Acer platanoides Princeton Gold an impressive focal point or specimen plant. It tolerates air pollution well, therefore, it is suitable for planting in cities and industrial areas. A great addition to any medium-sized or large garden.