Acer x freemanii Morgan 12L

Acer × freemanii 'Morgan' (syn. 'Indian Summer') — 12L Pot

A fast-growing natural hybrid between the red and silver maples, Acer × freemanii 'Morgan' quickly develops into an eye-catching specimen with an open, pyramidal shape when young, maturing to an upright oval. The large, three-lobed, deeply dissected leaves are mid-green with a silvery underside through summer, then transform reliably into vibrant orange-red to purple in autumn. Rounded clusters of tiny red flowers appear on bare branches in early spring, followed by winged seeds that are usually sterile — so little worry about self-seeding.

Vigorous and adaptable, 'Morgan' grows considerably faster than many maples and copes well with a range of soils and conditions, including some tolerance of both dry and wetter ground. This makes it a good choice as a shade tree or bold specimen where a strong, dependable autumn display is wanted without the fuss some maples demand — though it should be given plenty of room to reach its full, generous size.

Grow in full sun or partial shade, in fertile, moisture-retentive soil that leans neutral to acid — it tolerates clay, sand and loam, though it's intolerant of high pH, so avoid chalky ground where possible. It's fully hardy (RHS H6) and needs only minimal pruning once established.

Each tree is hand-selected before dispatch, supplied in a 12-litre pot ready for planting straight into its final position.