• Striking deep purple leaves
• Grows to 15m
• Great screening tree
• Good for most soils
• Awarded RHS Award of Garden Merit
Description
The ‘Crimson King’ is a medium sized, hardy cultivar of the species Norway maple with striking deep purple foliage. This tree has become very popular in parks and city gardens world-wide. The clone, discovered in France in 1937, has been produced in the USA since 1948 and now dominates our market as a popular, purple leaved specimen.
The leaves are palmate in form, with five lobes, and are approximately 15cm in length and width. They develop on long petioles (leaf stalks) and turn an attractive orange and brown in the autumn. The flowers are produced in the spring, in yellow clusters tinged with pink, and develop into the winged fruit, characteristic to all maples, called samaras or more commonly maple keys. The bark of all Norway maples is patterned with striking, interlaced ridges.
This dominant tree can be expected to reach a height of 12-15m in maturity with a spread of approximately 8-12m. Norway maples are surprisingly long lived and can achieve in excess of 150 years in a favourable environment.
RHS Award of Garden Merit
This plant/cultivar has been awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit because it has proved to be reliable in appropriate conditions and a good performing plant. For more information on RHS Award of Garden Merit plants visit www.rhs.org.uk/plants
Planting Position
Tolerant of most planting situations this cultivar copes well with pollution, wind exposure and to some extent salt spray making it suitable for coastal planting. It grows well on most soil types however, does benefit from a moist, free draining soil and prefers full sun or partial shade only. Consideration must be given to the planting space for this tree given its ultimate height and spread.
Attributes
The ‘Crimson King’ offers all year-round interest with its attractive flowers, foliage, fruit, and eye-catching bark patterns. It has multiple benefits for wildlife, providing nectar for birds and bees via its fruit and seeds eaten by birds and small mammals in the autumn.
Size
12-15m after 20 years
Bareroot options are available here
