Acer Sapindaceae Dissectum - Maple

The Acer platanoides 'Dissectum' is a cultivar of the Norway Maple, with a small vertical habit, a widely oval to spherical crown, and above all, a distinctive, delicate, and beautiful foliage. The dark green leaves are deeply dissected at the base. In autumn, they turn bright yellow to orange with a distinct red petiole. This variety is not very vigorous and prefers a deep, moist to slightly wet, well-draining soil, in full sun or light shade.

Originating from the Caucasus, widespread in Europe from Scandinavia to Spain and eastward to Russia, the Acer platanoides is a large deciduous tree with fast growth, often associated with oak, lime, and elm in our upland forests. In Europe, this light-loving species is found in most low or medium mountain regions, which provide the cool atmosphere and fertile, deep, moist to wet, and limestone soils that it appreciates. It can live up to 200 years.

The Acer platanoides 'Dissectum' should not be confused with the Acer palmatum Dissectum, which are Japanese maples with similarly dissected foliage. It forms a single, vertical trunk tree with an open crown that gradually spreads, reaching a height of 4 to 6 metres, or even up to 9 metres over time. Its width is also about 4 to 6 metres, or even up to 7 metres at maturity. Its foliage is deciduous. The leaves are opposite, palmate, 10 to 20 cm long, with 5 to 7 sharply pointed, dentate lobes. They are deeply dissected in this cultivar. Carried by long petioles, they are glabrous and have a shiny texture. They turn a beautiful yellow to coppery colour in autumn. The flowering, in the form of corymbs of tiny yellow-green flowers, is particularly melliferous. It gives way, in June, to winged fruits called samaras, 3 to 5 cm long. The bark of this tree is grey-brown, almost smooth, marked with numerous shallow longitudinal cracks.

The Acer platanoides 'Dissectum' is an easy-to-grow tree, suitable for any type of soil as long as it is deep and slightly moist or simply fresh. It is well-suited to urban environments and shows good resistance to harsh weather conditions. In gardens of all sizes, it brings its rounded silhouette and elegant, delicate foliage, beautiful all year round.