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Crimson Sunset® Maple

Acer (AY-ser)

Family: Sapindaceae Unknown Understory (15-40 ft)

Crimson Sunset® maple is a hybrid deciduous tree in the maple family (Sapindaceae). It is a cross between A. truncatum x A. platanoides with showy crimson-purple leaves and increased heat tolerance thriving where other purple-leaved plants suffer. The purple color holds throughout the summer and matures to maroon in the fall. It is easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soil and is tolerant of a wide range of soils. Plant in full sun to partial shade. Use as a shade tree, specimen or small groups. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. See potential insect and disease problem fact sheets to the left. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common maple diseases and insect pests.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 35 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 2 - Understory (15-40 ft) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Often confused with Acer truncatum
Fills a similar niche Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple' Sinojackia rehderiana Ulmus americana

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Tree
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in. | Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Oval
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Leaf shape
Palmasect
Leaf margin
Lobed
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
lobed palmate leaves
Fall color
Red/Burgundy
Flower form
Insignificant
Fruit type
Samara
Bark color
Light Brown
Bark detail
Tan
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Samara
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn
Design feature
Accent; Barrier; Mass Planting; Shade Tree; Specimen
Garden tags
#heat tolerant #red leaves #deciduous #deciduous tree #disease resistant #deer resistant #shade tree #specimen #compact
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Common Insect Pests of Maple in North Carolina
Disease problems
Common Disease Pests of Maple in North Carolina
Resistant to
Deer; Diseases; Heat

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.