TREE OF THE MONTH
Photos provided by J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.
By Leonard Phillips, ASLA Emeritus
Trade Name: Crimson Sunset Maple
Botanical Name: Acer truncatum x
A. platanoides 'JFS-KW202'
Parentage: Hybrid, introduced by J. Frank
Schmidt & Son
Year of Introduction: 2009
Family: Aceraceae
Hardiness Zone*: 5 - 8
Height: 35 to 40 feet
Spread: 25 to 35 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate, 35 feet tall in 30
years
Form: Upright oval
Bloom Period: May
Flower: Greenish-yellow
Fruit: Samara, greenish ripening to light
brown
Spring Color: Mid-green
Summer Foliage: Glossy; 5 lobes; deep
purple in summer; resembles Crimson
Photos provided by J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.
26 Arbor Age / September 2013
King Maple; and the foliage keeps a
fresh, glossy look into late summer
because it is more heat resistant
Autumn Foliage: Maroon to reddishbronze; improved over Crimson King
Winter Interest: Bark provides winter
interest
Bark: Purple tinged when young;
gray/brown with age
Habitat: Midwest
Culture: Excellent heat tolerance; drought
tolerance; grows in most soils; full sun
Pest Resistance: No problems
Storm Resistance: Excellent
Salt Resistance: Good to excellent
Planting: Easy to transplant, especially
bare root; suitable for use in CUStructural Soil
Pruning: Seldom needs pruning
Propagating: Budded or grafted
Design Uses: Specimen for lawn or park,
street and residential
Companions: Use with evergreen shrubs
planted the year after planting the tree
Other Comments: Excellent tree for city
streets; similar to Crimson King Maple in
shape, growth rate, branch structure and
leaf shape; slightly more compact with
improved density compared to Crimson King
Available From: Larger nurseries that
carry new introductions
* For information about the USDA
Hardiness Zone Map, visit
www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/index.html
These are the personal observations of the
author, living in New England – Zone 6.
Leonard Phillips can be reached via e-mail
at lenphillips@on-line-seminars.com.
www.arborage.com
