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Acer platanoides 'Royal Red'
Royal Red Norway Maple Tree
Overview
Acer platanoides 'Royal Red' is a deciduous Norway maple cultivar reaching 35-45 feet (11-14 m) tall and 25-35 feet (7.5-11 m) wide at maturity, with a rounded oval crown. Selected for darker and more consistent purple foliage than the older 'Crimson King' cultivar. Bark gray and smooth on young trees, developing shallow furrows with age. Leaves opposite, 4-7 inches (10-18 cm) long and as wide, five-lobed with pointed lobe tips, narrow sinuses, and a few large teeth on each lobe; emerge dark red and mature to deep burgundy-purple, holding the dark color through summer and turning bronze-red in fall. Yellow-green pendulous flower clusters open before leaves in late April through May. Paired horizontal samaras 1.5-2 inches (4-5 cm) long mature in September. Growth rate 1-2 feet (30-60 cm) per year on suitable sites. A. platanoides is regulated as invasive in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, and Wisconsin under state nursery laws; cultivars including 'Royal Red' are restricted under those state regulations.
Native Range
Acer platanoides is native to Europe and western Asia from southern Norway south to northern Spain and east to the Caucasus and Iran. The species inhabits temperate broadleaf forests at elevations from sea level to 4,000 feet (1,200 m). The 'Royal Red' cultivar originated in cultivation in North America and was introduced to the nursery trade in the 1960s.Suggested Uses
Commonly planted as a shade tree in residential lawns and parks in zones 3-7 with 25-35 foot (7.5-11 m) spacing where state regulations permit. Used in formal allees and street plantings outside the regulated range; the burgundy-purple foliage contrasts with green-leaved species in mixed plantings. Tolerates urban compacted soils, road salt, and seasonal drought; A. platanoides is regulated as invasive in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, and Wisconsin under state nursery laws.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height35' - 45'
Width/Spread25' - 35'
Reaches mature size in approximately 25 years
Bloom Information
Yellow-green pendulous flower clusters 2-3 inches (5-7.5 cm) across open before leaves in late April through May depending on latitude, with peak bloom lasting 7-10 days. Flowers attract bees and other pollinators. Paired horizontal samaras 1.5-2 inches (4-5 cm) long develop within 12-16 weeks of pollination and mature to brown in September. Bloom timing shifts 2-3 weeks later in zones 3-4 compared to zones 6-7.Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
emerges dark red; matures to deep burgundy-purple in summer; turns bronze-red in fallGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Newly planted trees require 10-15 gallons (38-57 L) of water per week during the first growing season, decreasing to bi-weekly watering during the second season. Mature trees tolerate 4-6 weeks of summer drought without leaf drop and tolerate compacted urban soils. A 2-3 inch (5-8 cm) layer of organic mulch in a 4-foot (1.2 m) radius around the trunk reduces lawn competition and conserves moisture. Annual fertilization is unnecessary on most soils. Verticillium wilt occurs on poorly-drained sites and causes branch dieback; affected branches are removed below the wilted section. Tar spot fungus is cosmetic on this cultivar. Heavy seed production yields 100+ volunteer seedlings within 50 feet (15 m) of the parent tree, contributing to the species invasive status in the eastern United States.Pruning
Structural pruning is performed in summer from June through August after leaves have fully expanded; winter pruning of Acer species can result in heavy sap bleeding. Removal of co-dominant leaders before the tree reaches 6 inches (15 cm) of trunk diameter prevents future bark inclusions. Cuts up to 3 inches (8 cm) callus over within 2-3 growing seasons. Removal of seedlings in surrounding plantings each spring prevents establishment of volunteer offspring.Pruning Schedule
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