Acer platanoides ‘Crimson King’

Tree Information

Specialities

Tolerances

Wet Soil: Medium

Dry Soil: Medium

Lime: Medium

Acer platanoides ‘Crimson King’ is a bold and distinctive cultivar of the Norway Maple, prized for its rich, dark purple foliage and stately form. Introduced in 1947 by Gulfstream Nursery in the USA, the tree was originally selected in Belgium in 1937. It has since become a favourite in parks, urban avenues, and large gardens across Europe.

When grown in full sun and open spaces, Acer platanoides ‘Crimson King’ develops a broad, rounded canopy that creates a dramatic visual impact. It reaches heights of up to 15–20 metres and offers welcome summer shade thanks to its dense foliage.

The tree’s standout feature is its large, 5-lobed leaves, which emerge in early spring with a deep crimson hue. This intense colour persists throughout summer, shifting subtly to bronze, orange, and brown in autumn. Its seasonal drama makes it an ideal focal point in both traditional and contemporary planting schemes.

To elevate your landscape design, consider pairing it with Acer platanoides ‘Princeton Gold’, a yellow-leaved maple whose bright tones contrast beautifully with the dark richness of ‘Crimson King’. Together, they create dynamic and visually arresting plantings for public and private spaces.

This tree is especially well suited to standalone planting in lawns, parks, or verges where it has room to grow. Its resilience to pollution and its low-maintenance nature make it a practical choice for long-term urban and commercial schemes.

For more expert advice or trade enquiries about sourcing Acer platanoides ‘Crimson King’, contact our sales team.

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Size

Medium

9m high x 6m wide after 25 years

Environment

Its tolerance to urban pollution and adaptability to poor soils make it an excellent choice for street and avenue planting.

Canopy

Wide, dark and dense crown.

Foliage

Typical maple shaped leaves but burst open in deep damson shades of crimson throughout the spring and summer. A fantastic feature on any landscape.

Flowers

Clusters of saffron shaded flowers with 5 delicate petals emerge on the bare branches in early spring.

Resilience

Tolerant of urban pollution and favours poor compacted soils, especially chalk. It will thrive anyway but doesn't fare well in waterlogged or peaty sites so will require good drainage.

Wildlife

Flowers are a valuable source of pollen and nectar for bees.

Available As:

Semi-Mature