Crimson Sunset® hybrid maple (Acer truncatum × Acer platanoides ‘JFS-KW202’)

Sale Sold out

Un arbre dressé montre un feuillage orange rouge au-dessus d’un tronc pâle droit. Une zone plantée circulaire interrompt la pelouse sous lui, avec des conifères et des arbustes voisins. Le cadrage réunit les contours, les couleurs et les textures visibles. Les zones claires contrastent avec les ombres plus profondes. Des formes voisines se superposent par endroits et permettent de suivre la composition du sujet représenté dans cette image.

Ornamental deciduous hybrid maple Sapindaceae

Heat-tolerant purple shade maple

Pépinière.ca

Sold as Trees

Common nameCrimson Sunset® hybrid maple

FamilySapindaceae

GenusAcer

Speciestruncatum × platanoides

CultivarJFS-KW202 (Crimson Sunset®)

Plant typeShade tree

Botanical nameAcer truncatum × Acer platanoides ‘JFS-KW202’

Crimson Sunset® hybrid maple (Acer truncatum × Acer platanoides ‘JFS-KW202’) is a medium-sized deciduous tree selected by J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. and protected by patent PP21838. Its compact, symmetrical, upright crown becomes oval with age and is supported by a well-defined central leader. Thick, glossy, deep purple leaves retain colour through heat and wind, then shift to orange-red, red-bronze and reddish purple in autumn. At maturity, allow approximately 10.5 m in height and 7.5 m in spread. The substantial canopy provides useful summer shade in spacious residential and urban landscapes.

Across Canada, plant Crimson Sunset® in full sun for the darkest foliage and balanced structure. It tolerates varied urban soils, heat and moderate drought once established, but performs best in deep, fertile, fresh and well-drained soil. Water deeply through the first two growing seasons and prolonged dry periods, keep the root flare visible, and apply 5 to 8 cm of mulch without touching the trunk. Avoid standing water, road salt, compaction, small paved pits and sites beneath overhead wires. Provide a broad uncompacted rooting area from the beginning for dependable growth.

Use Crimson Sunset® as a shade tree, specimen, street tree in generous soil volume or structural feature on a large property. Reserve mature width at planting and keep buildings, utilities and paving outside the root zone. Small greenish-yellow flowers appear in spring, followed by winged samaras. This hybrid is not indigenous to Canada and has Norway maple parentage; avoid planting it beside natural areas and remove volunteer seedlings. Retain a sound central leader, remove only dead, damaged or crossing wood and never top the tree. Regional native maples are preferable when ecological restoration is the primary goal.

In the garden

Exposure: Sun to partial shade
Life cycle: Vivace ligneuse

Planting guide

Planting & establishment

Growing method

Plantez Érable Crimson Sunset® au printemps ou au début de l’automne, lorsque le sol se travaille facilement et que vous pouvez assurer l’arrosage. Réservez d’abord l’espace nécessaire à la couronne et aux racines adultes; la petite taille du plant acheté ne détermine pas l’espacement définitif. Vérifiez le drainage avant de creuser et gardez la motte humide pendant la préparation. Repérez les premières grosses racines près du tronc et utilisez ce collet, plutôt que le dessus du terreau meuble, pour déterminer la profondeur de plantation. Creusez une fosse plus large que la motte sans enfouir le tronc. Retirez le contenant et examinez les racines qui tournent; demandez conseil à la pépinière si elles sont fortement déformées. Déposez l’arbre bien droit sur une assise ferme, remblayez surtout avec la terre extraite et arrosez lentement pour stabiliser le sol. Étendez un paillis organique en dégageant l’écorce et le collet. Contrôlez l’humidité dans la motte originale et dans le sol voisin, car ils peuvent sécher différemment. Utilisez des tuteurs seulement si l’arbre manque de stabilité, avec des attaches larges inspectées régulièrement. Durant la première saison, protégez le tronc des appareils de tonte et adaptez l’arrosage à la chaleur, au vent et aux périodes sèches. Au Québec, terminez la plantation automnale assez tôt pour surveiller l’établissement avant le gel du sol. Choisissez soleil et un sol bien drainé, de préférence légèrement acide. Vérifiez l’humidité pendant l’établissement et gardez le collet visible. Évitez la taille à la fin de l’hiver et au début du printemps.

Soil and care

Soil & care

Watering

Moderate

Soil type

Adaptable, well-drained

Fertilization

In fertile soil, surface-applied mature compost and organic mulch are usually sufficient. Test the soil if growth or leaf colour appears weak, then apply a tree fertilizer only when supported by results and according to its label. Avoid heavy nitrogen, late-season feeding and products placed against the trunk. Balanced extension growth produces a stronger framework than forced soft growth and reduces unnecessary maintenance.

Seasonal care

In spring, inspect the trunk, root flare, central leader and main unions after winter. Restore 5 to 8 cm of mulch without covering bark, remove tight ties and water when rainfall is inadequate. In summer, monitor wilting, leaf scorch, aphids, scale insects, leaf spots and Verticillium wilt; first check moisture, drainage, compaction and root injury. Remove only dead, broken or crossing wood after leaves expand or during dormancy and retain one sound central leader. In autumn, water deeply before freeze-up when soil is dry and collect samaras or seedlings near natural areas. In winter, keep salt-laden snow away and protect a young trunk from rodents without binding the guard. After storms, have major cracks assessed by a qualified arborist. Clean tools between trees, inspect visible girdling roots and remove guards before heat builds. Never top the crown and avoid preventive treatments without a diagnosis. Reassess clearance from buildings, wires and paving because a 7.5 m mature spread requires permanent room. Record irrigation, heat and damage dates to distinguish site stress from pest or disease injury. At bud break, compare several branches before treating a colour change as abnormal. After leaf fall, identify weak shoots and plan only necessary corrections. During drought, direct water across the full root zone rather than applying small amounts beside the trunk. Collect heavily spotted foliage and dispose of it according to local guidance. Check drainage during snowmelt and protect soil from construction traffic. Inspect bark after winter temperature swings and keep lawn equipment outside the mulch ring. A consistent annual record helps a nursery or arborist interpret recurring stress accurately.

Container growing

Container culture can work temporarily for a young tree but quickly becomes restrictive because of this maple’s growth and eventual mature size. Use a very large, deep and stable container with ample drainage, together with a structured growing medium that retains consistent moisture without becoming waterlogged. Place the container in full sun and monitor watering frequently during summer because the limited soil volume dries more rapidly than garden soil. In Quebec, containerized roots are also more exposed to severe winter temperatures and require substantial protection. Since the tree can eventually reach approximately 10 m (32.8 ft) tall, transplanting it into the ground is recommended before the specimen becomes too large to move and establish safely.

De grandes feuilles lobées pointues montrent des zones bordeaux profond et des marbrures rouge vif, avec des reflets brillants et de fines nervures sur les surfaces superposées. Le cadrage réunit les contours, les couleurs et les textures présents dans la photographie. Les surfaces claires et les ombres profondes distinguent les formes représentées. Les détails restent visibles dans la composition et permettent de suivre la disposition du sujet principal et des éléments environnants.

Size, flowering & harvest

Mature height

10 m (32.8 ft)

Width / spread

8 m (26.2 ft)

Foliage color

Glossy deep purple in summer; orange-red, red-bronze to reddish purple in autumn

Foliage type

Deciduous

Growth habit

Compact, upright and symmetrical, becoming oval with age

Garden associations

Companion plants & uses

Companion plants

Pair Crimson Sunset® with pale ornamental grasses, green conifers, dogwoods, golden ninebarks and white perennials able to tolerate increasing shade. Low-vigour native shrubs add flowers, fruit and habitat. Establish companions toward the perimeter without burying the flare or cutting roots. Keep a broad mulch ring open for inspection and irrigation. Avoid large competing trees placed too close, invasive groundcovers and plants requiring frequent cultivation beneath the crown. Adjust the palette gradually as shade becomes denser. Similar moisture needs simplify long-term care and reduce root disturbance.

Garden use

Place Crimson Sunset® in a broad lawn, spacious front yard or streetscape supplied with continuous soil volume. Measure approximately 7.5 m of mature width and keep the crown away from buildings, overhead wires and other large trees. Set the trunk back from utilities, paving and foundations, then replace turf near the flare with a broad mulch ring. A permeable path should curve around the root zone. Pair purple foliage with pale grasses, green conifers and white perennials placed toward the perimeter. Expect shade to increase with age and choose companions able to adapt. Do not plant beside woodlands or sensitive natural areas; remove samaras and seedlings moving toward them. Direct downspouts elsewhere and keep salt-laden snow outside the mulch. A bench placed at a distance benefits from shade without compacting soil. Reassess clearance every three to five years, but correct young branches instead of removing large structural limbs later. Lighting placed at a distance can reveal the trunk without injuring bark. Diversify other trees on the property so one species does not dominate the canopy. Place annuals in containers rather than cultivating beneath the crown. Keep stored objects and seasonal decorations away from the trunk, and preserve access for inspection after snowmelt.

Frequently asked questions

How large does Crimson Sunset® maple grow?

Crimson Sunset® reaches approximately 10.5 m in height and 7.5 m in spread at maturity, or about 35 by 25 ft. Its form is compact and upright for a tree of this size, then becomes oval with age; compact does not mean suitable for a small yard. Measure clearance from the trunk centre and keep buildings, wires, utilities, paving and other large trees away. The 16-gallon sale plant is young and will occupy considerable space. Correct placement allows the central leader to remain intact and prevents topping or large future cuts. Climate, soil volume and growing-season length influence how quickly final size develops.

Does Crimson Sunset® keep purple foliage through summer?

Yes. Thick glossy leaves were selected to retain deep purple colour through heat better than many other purple maples. Full sun supports the darkest tone. Heavy shade, excess nitrogen, severe drought or confined roots can still change intensity or cause stress. Water deeply during establishment, protect a broad root zone and avoid fertilizing without demonstrated need. In autumn, colour naturally shifts toward orange-red, red-bronze and reddish purple. This seasonal transition does not indicate loss of vigour or an incorrect cultivar. Compare several branches and recent weather before treating any unexpected colour change as a pest or disease problem. Healthy roots help foliage retain colour.

Is Crimson Sunset® drought tolerant?

Once well rooted in generous soil volume, Crimson Sunset® tolerates heat and temporary dry periods better than many purple-leaved maples. It is not an arid-site tree. During the first two growing seasons, maintain consistent moisture with deep irrigation. Later, water through prolonged drought before leaves wilt or brown. Mulch held away from the trunk reduces evaporation. A tree confined in a small paved pit, compacted soil or a salty site loses much of this tolerance. Always check soil moisture before adding water. Expanding irrigation across the developing root zone is more effective than frequent small applications beside the trunk. Site quality remains decisive.

How should Crimson Sunset® maple be pruned?

Retain one sound central leader and perform most structural work while the tree is young. Remove dead, broken or diseased wood, a crossing branch and a weak union before it becomes large. Avoid topping, shearing and repeated cuts intended to contain a tree planted too close to a structure. Maples can bleed heavily in spring, so work after leaves expand or during dormancy in dry weather with clean tools. Step back between cuts and remove only a small portion of the crown. Consult a qualified arborist before any large cut or when a crack affects a main scaffold. Correct placement remains the most effective pruning strategy.

Is Crimson Sunset® native or invasive in Canada?

Crimson Sunset® is a horticultural hybrid between Shantung maple and Norway maple; it is not indigenous to Canada. Norway maple is regulated or identified as invasive in several Canadian jurisdictions, although that classification does not automatically document every hybrid cultivar as equivalent. As a precaution, avoid planting beside woodlands, shorelines or sensitive natural areas, monitor samaras and remove volunteer seedlings. For ecological restoration or land beside sensitive habitat, choose a regionally native maple suited to the site. Do not interpret the absence of fruit on a young tree as permanent sterility. Check current provincial and municipal guidance before planting near natural lands.