Acer platanoides Laciniatum - Norway Maple, Plane Maple

Acer platanoides 'Laciniatum' is an original variety of Norway Maple with deeply incised and wavy foliage. It forms a medium-sized tree with a fastigiate habit. It grows quite rapidly in its youth before slowing down significantly from 4 to 5 metres in height. The highly decorative, laciniate and beautifully wavy leaves are dark green and turn orange-yellow in autumn. This Norway Maple is ideal for planting as a specimen tree, in well-draining soil that is deep enough to accommodate its powerful root system.

Originating from the Caucasus, widely spread in Europe, from Scandinavia to Spain and eastwards to Russia, Acer platanoides is a large deciduous tree with rapid growth, often associated with oak, lime, and elm in high-altitude forests. It can live up to 200 years. 'Laciniatum' reaches a height of up to 8 to 10 metres and a width of 5 to 6 metres at maturity. Its foliage is deciduous. The leaves are opposite, palmate, 10 to 20 cm long, with 5 to 7 very pointed, toothed lobes. The leaves, carried by long petioles, are smooth and glossy. In this cultivar, they are deeply incised, with narrow lobes that create a charming undulation. They take on a beautiful yellow to coppery hue in autumn. The flowering, in the form of corymbs of tiny yellow-green flowers, is particularly nectar-rich. It is followed by 3 to 5cm long, winged fruits called samaras in June. The bark of this tree is grey-brown, almost smooth and marked with numerous shallow longitudinal crevices.

Acer platanoides 'Laciniatum' is an easy-to-grow tree, suitable for any type of soil as long as it is deep and not too wet. It is well-suited to urban environments and shows good resistance to harsh weather conditions, making it useful as a windbreak tree. In medium to large gardens, this variety is showcased when planted as a specimen tree to enjoy its interesting foliage.