Acer platanoides 'Crimson King'Norway maple

Acer platanoides ‘Crimson King’ develops a crown that is conical at first and progressively oval, broad and densely branched. It grows vigorously and can reach approximately 10 to 15 metres in height and 8 to 12 metres in spread, acquiring a solid, balanced presence when mature.

The large palmate leaves, generally divided into five lobes, open in dark red tones and develop into a deep, glossy purple. Unlike many trees with coloured leaves, it keeps this colour for practically the whole growing season, producing a dark, uniform crown of strong visual impact.

In early spring, before or as the leaves appear, small yellowish-green flower corymbs emerge, sometimes tinged with red. They are followed by the winged samaras characteristic of maples. The dense foliage gives significant shade and works as a backdrop for species in green, golden or silvery tones or with pale flowers.

It prefers full sun, which favours the intensity of the colour, although it tolerates partial shade. It adapts to different soil types, provided they are well drained, and shows good resistance to cold, wind and urban conditions. It is suited to parks, wide avenues, large lawns, entrances and compositions that call for a shade tree with permanent colour.

A mature specimen from Diaplant immediately brings a large mass of purple foliage, a well-defined trunk and a crown capable of giving shade and contrast from the moment it is planted. Selecting the architecture and the spread of the crown in advance makes it possible to choose the tree best suited to the scale of the project, avoiding the years a young plant needs to acquire real landscape presence.