Acer pseudoplatanus 'ESK SUNSET'

Sycamore trees are our native plants and their various cultivars, especially the ones with multi-coloured leaves, find their use perhaps in all types and sizes of gardens. Most wanted are varieties with reduced size in maturity which is exactly this one coming from New Zealand where it was named after the Esk Valley and is still considered a rare tree.

Esk Sunset is an extraordinary but at the same time elegant sycamore maple. It is a real chameleon changing a range of colour shades during a short period of time. Its deciduous leaves emerge orange-green to yellow-green in spring, quickly change to creamy-beige marbled dark green, and in summer they turn creamy-white with green speckles and several depths of pink splash. The reverse is crimson red as well as the stalks.

It grows much more slowly as opposed to its parent and forms a dense habit either as a small tree or a medium-sized shrub with a central leader. It will be a perfect specimen in a small garden or a dignified feature in a Japanese garden. Thanks to its bright-coloured leaves it can light up a darker corner of your garden. When planting it in a mixed border we recommend using single-coloured plants nearby to retain elegant composition.

It is soil adaptable, provided it is well-drained. Grow it in full sun. It can take air-pollution, cold and wind. Fully hardy to -34°C (USDA zone 4).

Last update 31-08-2010