Esk Sunset This small sycamore maple tree has perhaps the most exotic leaf colours of any maple. The new leaves emerge orange-green to yellow-green in spring with bronze tints, but change very quickly to a creamy-beige with dark green marbling. By the summer the leaves become a creamy-white colour, accented with green speckles and splashed with pink shades, and solid pink / purple undersides.
We sometimes offer "top-worked" forms of this variety. This gives a "mop head" appearance which accentuates the dense leafy canopy of the tree. Grown in this way the tree should not exceed 3m or so in the longer term.
Esk Sunset maple trees for sale Top-worked pot-grown
tree
£57.95
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Pre-ordering You can pre-order now for delivery from late August / early September 2021 for pot grown trees (or late November / early December for bare-root). You do not need to pay at this stage - just add items to the basket and checkout as usual.How to grow Esk Sunset is easy to grow and is an excellent choice for exposed sites, including coastal situations, where it should survive where others may not. However it does best if planted in full sun in a sheltered location.
It can be hard-pruned at any time to control size and shape, but the best time to prune is over the summer. It remains a small tree, much less vigorous than other forms of this species.
History Esk Sunset belongs to the maple species Acer pseudoplatanus , commonly known as sycamores.
It is named after the Esk Valley, near the town of Napier on the North island of New Zealand where it was discovered. It was introduced by nurseryman John Wills, along with a sister variety, Esk Flamingo.
In the UK and USA this variety is widely known as Eskimo Sunset , perhaps after the pink-white leaf colours, or simply a mistake when trees were first imported from New Zealand.
Esk Sunset characteristics Gardening skill Beginner Attractive features Attractive tree / plant Attractive foliage Variegated foliage Growth habit Upright-spreading Height after 10 years 2.5m-3.5m / 8ft-12ft Sunlight Prefers full sun Pruning Prune hard Growth rate Slow Site conditions Coastal site Windy site Leaf colour Pink-white-green variegated Country of origin New Zealand Annual cycle Deciduous Similar varieties Acer pseudoplatanus Brilliantissimum A distinctive dwarf sycamore, named for the colour of its stunning pink spring leaves.
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