Content
Maple Crimson King is a real find for ornamental gardening. The tree is distinguished by its unpretentiousness and low susceptibility to air pollution. However, in order for the maple to fully develop and delight with its spectacular appearance, it is necessary to create the most favorable conditions for this. Therefore, it is worth studying the basic requirements of this type of culture.
Crimson King maple maintains rich foliage color throughout the season
Breeding history
Work on breeding the variety was carried out in the Belgian nursery “Tips Brothers”. As a result of selection in 1937, a seedling with stable characteristics was selected. Subsequently, the Crimson King maple was transported first to France, and then in 1947 to the USA.
Since then, it has gone on sale and gained wide popularity around the world among landscape designers and amateur gardeners.
Description and characteristics of Crimson King maple
To be able to distinguish this variety of Norway maple from other types of crops, you need to know its characteristic features. This will also help you understand how best to use Crimson King so that he looks as impressive as possible.
Height of Crimson King maple
This deciduous tree reaches a height of 15-20 m. Its crown is wide, rounded, its growth diameter is 7 m. However, it is also possible to grow the Crimson King Norway maple on a trunk. In this case, the tree has a compact size, since the growth of the main conductor is limited.
The branches of the maple are arched, tending upward. They grow from the very bottom of the trunk. Young shoots are dark red in color, and when ripe the bark acquires a brown tint.
Leaves
The plates are 5-7 lobed with pointed tips. The length of the plates of the Crimson King maple reaches 18-20 cm. The leaves have a rich purple tint, almost black, throughout the season. When blooming, the plates are bright red with pink bud scales, and only subsequently darken. With the arrival of autumn, the surface of the leaves acquires a purple tint.
Fruit
The fruits of this variety are two-lobed lionfish of a dark red hue, so they do not stand out against the background of the foliage. When ripe, they split into two single seeds. Parts of the maple lionfish are carried by the wind over long distances, allowing the species to spread. The length of the blades of the fruit reaches 3.5-5.5 cm.
Crimson King maple seeds are bare, flattened in shape with a thin skin and a large rolled embryo.
The variety bears fruit annually, but not abundantly
Root
The root system is taprooted, but the bulk of the absorbent shoots are located in the top layer of soil. Therefore, the tree reacts negatively to prolonged drought. The skeletal roots of the maple do not extend beyond the diameter of the crown growth.
Flowering period
The maple blooms at the end of April and continues for 2-3 weeks, depending on weather conditions. The buds open before the leaves bloom. The flowers are yellow-green, collected in terminal semi-umbrellas. When opened, they exude a pleasant rich aroma.
Application
Crimson King maple can be used as a tapeworm and in group plantings. Experienced gardeners recommend considering it as an accent or background tree, combining it with flowers, green conifers or other deciduous trees with a lighter shade of foliage.
This maple variety is suitable for creating alleys, landscaping parks and squares, it can also be used for landscaping personal plots, but in this case, Crimson King on a trunk is more in demand, according to reviews from gardeners.
Planting and caring for the Crimson King maple
It is recommended to plant decorative maple in early spring before buds open and in autumn after the tree’s growing season has ended. When planting several seedlings, it is recommended to maintain a distance of 4 m. Good lighting is extremely important for this deciduous tree, so you need to choose an open place, protected from cold gusts of wind.
The variety prefers nutritious, drained, moist soil. Reacts negatively to saline soil. The best option for Crimson King maple is loam.
Two weeks before planting, you need to prepare a hole, the size of which should be 10-15 cm wider and deeper than the root system of the seedling.At the bottom of it you need to put a layer of drainage 10 cm thick, and the rest of the volume should be filled 2/3 with a nutrient substrate. It should consist of humus, turf and sand in a ratio of 1:2:1.
Planting the Crimson King maple should be carried out according to the standard scheme. After this, water the tree generously, and the next day mulch the soil at its base with humus.
This variety can tolerate short-term drought, but in the absence of rain for a long time it needs regular watering. Moistening should be carried out at the root, soaking the soil to a depth of 20 cm. It is also necessary to periodically loosen the soil and remove growing weeds throughout the season.
It is recommended to feed Crimson King maple twice a season. The first time you need to apply fertilizer is at the beginning of the growing season. In this case, it is necessary to lay a layer of humus at the base of the tree up to 5 cm. The second feeding is recommended at the end of June. At this time, you need to use superphosphate 50-100 g and potassium sulphide 25-80 g. The granules must be scattered into the root circle after watering or rain, followed by embedding into the soil.
It is recommended to trim the Crimson King maple only to maintain the decorative appearance of the crown. It is recommended to carry out the procedure in early spring before sap flow begins. Broken and damaged shoots, as well as the tips of branches that stand out from the total mass, must be removed.
This tree is highly frost-resistant. Therefore, the variety does not need shelter for the winter.
With a lack of light, the leaves of the Crimson King maple lose their rich hue
Crimson King maple propagation
To obtain new Crimson King maple seedlings, you can use seeds, root shoots and air layering. When using the first option, it is recommended to plant in October to a depth of 5 cm. After this, sprinkle the seeds with soil and cover the top with a layer of humus. With the arrival of spring, shoots will appear. Young trees can be transplanted to a permanent location after 2-3 years, when they have become stronger.
When propagating maple by basal shoots, Crimson King recommends digging up a seedling with roots in early spring, as far away from the trunk as possible. After this, you need to plant it in a permanent place and water it abundantly.
To propagate the variety by air layering, you need to select a young, semi-lignified shoot. Then, stepping back 20-25 cm from the top, make longitudinal cuts in the bark and pour root-forming powder into the open wounds, and to prevent the edges from merging later, it is recommended to put small pieces of polystyrene foam and wrap it with foil on top to protect it from overheating.
Diseases and pests
The Crimson King maple suffers from a fungal disease - powdery mildew. In this case, a whitish coating appears on its leaves, which subsequently becomes dirty gray. As a result, the affected plates fall off and the shoots become bare. To combat powdery mildew, it is recommended to spray the crown with Skor or Topaz.
The variety can also suffer from pests - mealybug, whitefly, weevils. When damaged, the Crimson King maple loses its decorative properties and stops developing. In this case, Actellik should be used to treat the wood.
Conclusion
Judging by reviews from gardeners, the Crimson King maple is deservedly popular.After all, this decorative tree can delight with its spectacular appearance even with minimal care, but at the same time maintain high life potential for many years. Moreover, it is characterized by decorativeness throughout the warm period of the year.
Reviews of Crimson King maple
