Frequently bought together

Quick basket

Your basket is empty

Grow better plants
Happy, Healthy Plants Guaranteed
Expertly Grown in the UK
Carefully Hand Delivered
Happy, Healthy Plants Guaranteed
Expertly Grown in the UK
Carefully Hand Delivered

autumn-sale

Norway Maple Tree | Acer platanoides 'Crimson Sentry'

The most gorgeous garden guard

Grown by John

South Downs National Park

4 Year Old Tree in an 18L Pot

200-250cm

£100

£190

In stock

Perfectly happy plants, or your money back

Specialist overnight plant delivery

The highlights

  • Proudly upright tree
  • Large tree - grows up to 12m
  • Deep crimson, penta-lobed deciduous leaves
  • RHS Plants for Pollinators

Description

  • A truly glorious ornamental tree with striking crimson foliage that will stand out in any garden
  • Unlike some other Norway maple varieties, which are more spreading in their habit, 'Crimson Sentry' has a columnar crown and grows narrower than do other varieties
  • The tree's broad leaves are a deep reddish purple, with each possessing five gently-serrated lobes. They offer a fantastic contrast to other predominantly green-leaved trees and foliage plants
  • In the springtime, yellow flower corymbs appear, though they are very small and play second fiddle to the leaves - let's be honest, though, it would take a lot to outclass such fab foliage!
  • Certified by the RHS as one of its Plants for Pollinators, this tree undoubtedly aids wildlife - bees are drawn to the springtime flowers, whilst birds love to snack on the tree's seeds (also known as samaras)

What To Expect

Supplied as:

Potted tree
4 year old tree in an 18L pot

Height on arrival:

200-250cm

Eventual height:

10-12m

Eventual spread:

4-5m
Spreads approximately 4-5m after 20 years.

Time to first crop:

Flower colour:

Yellow
Small, chartreuse yellow flowers appear in early spring

Habit:

Columnar, upright
A classically columnar tree with upright branches and a narrow canopy.

Hardiness:

Fully hardy
H7 - Can withstand the harshest British winters (down to temperatures of below -20°C).

Rootstock:

Spacing:

5m
Plant 5m apart to allow for spreading.

How To Grow

Good pest and disease resistance

Although acers have relatively few problems, you may still experience the odd issue or two with pests or disease. From the pest perspective, aphids can be a nuisance, though these are easily removed using a soapy water spray. In terms of disease, 'Crimson Sentry' can experience leaf scorch or Verticillium wilt.

Water well when establishing

This tree will benefit from regular watering (a weekly deep soak) during its first 12-24 months to help it establish, and particularly in drier spells. Once established, it will primarily only need watering in hotter weather. Signs your tree needs watering include drooping and wilting leaves.

Full sun to partial shade

Purple-leaved acer varieties like this one like sun (at least 6 hours or so every day) in cooler climates to help develop the best colour. When planted in hotter climates, though, the tree will appreciate some afternoon shade to protect it from scorching sunlight (somewhere that it receives morning sun and afternoon shade can be ideal).

Any fertile, moist, well-drained soil

Acers are tolerant of most soil conditions provided that there's good drainage. Consider amending your soil with some well-rotted manure or other organic matter just to improve its fertility.

Feed once annually

A once-yearly feed with all-purpose fertiliser (applied in February) can help give the tree a little extra growing boost, though it's by no means a must-do.

Planting Calendar

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
  • Best time to plant
  • Harvest
  • Flower

South Downs National Park

Meet John

110 years' expertise free with every tree

John’s family have been growing trees in the South Downs National Park for over a century, and it shows. Dug up and sent straight to your garden at between 18-36 months old, their quality rootstocks, expert pruning and natural pest control mean that these traditionally field-grown trees are the hardiest you can get.

What customers say about us

We do our best to provide you the best experience ever

Growing with Roots

Good to know

Our plants are grown 
in the UK

Specialist UK growers we know and trust grow your plants the traditional way, with organic fertiliser and biological pest control. They pick only the healthiest plants for you, professionally pruning them so that they’ll grow strong and well shaped.

Our plants are delivered overnight

Your plants are sent to you fresh from the field in our plastic free box that’s specially designed to hold them tight, then securely delivered by specialist plant couriers - straight from the grower to your garden within 
24 hours.

We're here to help at every step

We want your plants to have a long and healthy life. Expect easy-to-follow grow guides and videos devised by our team 
of experts.

Perfect plants, guaranteed

We’re confident that you’ll be delighted 
with your new plants. Need help? Alice and her team are here to guarantee you’re 
perfectly happy.

Digging deep to answer your questions

How do I know I'm getting quality plants?

All of our plants are grown in specialist nurseries with the highest standards of plant care and sustainability. We guarantee you'll love them as much as we do! Don't just take our word for it - we've got thousands of great reviews on Trustpilot.

When will I get my plants?

The delivery timescale for each plant is on the web page (near the 'add to basket's button). You'll receive a dispatch email with an exact delivery date once your plants are on their way, so you can get the garden ready.

How will my plants be packed and delivered?

We send all of our orders through a courier network designed to handle plants. Specialist equipment ensures that no plants will be damaged during the packing process and every order is carefully finished and checked by plant-loving humans. Your plants will arrive in the most sustainable packaging possible with minimal to no plastic used.

Where do you deliver?

We deliver to anywhere in Mainland UK for our standard delivery cost. We are able to deliver most plants to Highlands and non UK mainland however this will be at an additional cost. This will be calculated at the checkout. Please note, deliveries to these locations will take longer. Unfortunately, we are not able to deliver to Northern Ireland at present.

Ask the grower

One of our trusted team will get back to you via email
Fighting plastic waste
Delivering fresh from the nursery
Supporting UK growers