Deciduous And Flowering Trees
Crimson Sentry Norway maple
Acer platanoides 'Crimson Sentry'
Crimson Sentry Norway maple grows slowly into a dense, upright deciduous tree with dark red-purple leaves. Its narrow young crown broadens with age, so allow more room than a columnar silhouette suggests. At maturity it may reach about 25 feet tall and 15 feet wide, though some estimates allow taller and wider growth. Spring flowers give way to winged fruit, and foliage turns reddish bronze in fall. It grows in full sun or partial shade in moist, well-drained soil. In Southwest Washington, consider its mature space and mildew susceptibility; Washington advises choosing other trees for new Norway maple plantings here.
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At a glance
- Mature height
- About 25 feet; potentially taller
- Mature spread
- About 15 feet; potentially wider
- Light
- Full sun or partial shade
- Hardiness
- USDA zone 4b
The right plant, the right place
Make room for something good.
The dense, upright crown gives an existing tree a relatively narrow profile while young. Allow for a broader mature crown when planning nearby plants or structures.
Where to plant
Give the crown room to expand and air to move around it. Full sun or partial shade suits this cultivar.
Through the seasons
Dark red-purple leaves follow spring flowers and are accompanied by winged fruit. Foliage takes on reddish-bronze tones in fall.
Southwest Washington gardens
Give it a good start.
Norway maple is a Washington Class C noxious weed, and the state includes 'Crimson Sentry' among its cultivars. Choose another tree for new plantings.
Soil, drainage & water
Moist, well-drained soil suits this tree. Avoid a site where water remains around the roots.
A little care goes a long way
Growing well, season after season.
Check foliage in mid to late summer for powdery mildew. If Verticillium wilt affects branches, remove infected limbs and disinfect pruning tools.
Know what to look for
Common growing concerns.
Symptoms can have more than one cause. These notes are a starting point for observing your plant and improving its growing conditions.
Powdery mildew
A conspicuous powdery coating develops on foliage, often by mid to late summer.
Help your plant thrive
Leave room for air movement around the crown; this may reduce mildew but may not prevent it.
Verticillium wilt
Leaves on scattered branches or one side of the tree wilt suddenly or become discolored.
Help your plant thrive
Remove infected limbs and disinfect pruning tools between cuts.
A little more inspiration
Keep exploring.
Acer palmatum 'Shishigashira', 1 - geograph.org.uk - 6785425.jpg
CC BY-SA 2.0 · Web-optimized
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