Acer platanoides 'Crimson Sentry' 12L

Acer platanoides 'Crimson Sentry' (Crimson Sentry Norway Maple)

Ideal for gardens where space is at a premium, Acer platanoides 'Crimson Sentry' delivers the same dramatic colour as its larger relative 'Crimson King' but in a neat, narrowly upright, columnar form. The large, five-lobed, scallop-edged leaves emerge a vivid raspberry-red in spring, deepening to a very dark red-purple through summer, providing a striking, space-efficient splash of colour without the sprawling canopy of a full-sized maple. Clusters of small yellow flowers, tinged dark red, appear on the bare branches in early spring, followed by red and green winged fruits in autumn.

Resilient and adaptable, it copes well with tough conditions, tolerating urban pollution, exposure, and a wide range of soils including chalk, clay, loam, and sand, and thrives in full sun or partial shade — full sun brings out the best colour. Reaching an ultimate height of 8–12 metres with a narrower spread of 4–8 metres over 10–20 years, its columnar habit makes it a smart choice for avenues, formal plantings, or smaller gardens that want maple drama without maple bulk. Maintenance is minimal, needing little beyond occasional formative pruning.

Each plant is hand-selected before dispatch.