{"product_id":"acer-plat-crimson-sentry-15-litre-pot","title":"Acer plat. Crimson Sentry 15 Litre Pot","description":"\u003ch1\u003eAcer platanoides 'Crimson Sentry' – A Striking Columnar Norway Maple with Year-Round Colour\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcer platanoides 'Crimson Sentry'\u003c\/strong\u003e is a boldly ornamental cultivar of the Norway Maple, celebrated for its \u003cstrong\u003edramatically narrow, upright form\u003c\/strong\u003e and rich, deep purple foliage that commands attention from the moment growth begins in spring. Where space is limited but impact is paramount, 'Crimson Sentry' delivers a powerful vertical accent without spreading beyond its welcome.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn spring, the season opens with clusters of small \u003cstrong\u003eyellow flowers\u003c\/strong\u003e that emerge before the leaves – an early gift to pollinators and a subtle contrast against the bare branches. As the foliage unfurls, deep \u003cstrong\u003ecrimson-purple leaves\u003c\/strong\u003e take centre stage, retaining their rich colouring throughout the summer months rather than fading to green. In autumn, the canopy shifts to warm tones of \u003cstrong\u003eorange and bronze-red\u003c\/strong\u003e before the leaves fall, completing a season of sustained colour interest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith its \u003cstrong\u003estrictly columnar habit\u003c\/strong\u003e, 'Crimson Sentry' is an exceptionally versatile choice for formal avenues, urban streetscapes, tight garden boundaries, and contemporary landscaping schemes where a traditional spreading tree simply would not fit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Choose Acer platanoides 'Crimson Sentry'?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDeep Purple Foliage\u003c\/strong\u003e – Rich crimson-purple leaves hold their colour reliably from spring through summer, providing season-long drama.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNarrow Columnar Form\u003c\/strong\u003e – A tightly upright habit makes this tree ideal for confined spaces, avenues, and formal plantings where width is restricted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMulti-Season Interest\u003c\/strong\u003e – Early spring flowers, vivid summer foliage, and warm autumn colour ensure year-round appeal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUrban Resilience\u003c\/strong\u003e – Hardy and adaptable, tolerating pollution, compacted soils, and exposed positions with ease.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWildlife Value\u003c\/strong\u003e – Early flowers provide nectar for bees and other pollinators; winged samaras offer autumn food for birds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eSeasonal Beauty \u0026amp; Growth\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSpring begins with a flush of \u003cstrong\u003esmall yellow flower clusters\u003c\/strong\u003e appearing on bare branches – one of the earliest signs of the season. As temperatures rise, the deeply lobed leaves emerge in a striking \u003cstrong\u003edark crimson-purple\u003c\/strong\u003e, forming a dense, upright column of colour. Unlike many purple-leaved trees that fade as summer progresses, 'Crimson Sentry' maintains its \u003cstrong\u003eintense colouration throughout the warmest months\u003c\/strong\u003e, making it a reliable focal point in the landscape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs summer draws to a close, pairs of \u003cstrong\u003ewinged samaras\u003c\/strong\u003e develop among the foliage, ripening to a reddish-green. Autumn then brings a final flourish as the foliage transitions through \u003cstrong\u003ewarm shades of orange, amber, and bronzed red\u003c\/strong\u003e before the leaves fall to reveal the tree's clean, columnar winter silhouette.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eStructure \u0026amp; Form\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcer platanoides 'Crimson Sentry'\u003c\/strong\u003e is distinguished by its \u003cstrong\u003efastigiate (columnar) growth habit\u003c\/strong\u003e, with branches that grow steeply upright rather than spreading outwards. This makes it dramatically narrower than the standard Norway Maple species, producing a \u003cstrong\u003etall, slender pillar of foliage\u003c\/strong\u003e that fits comfortably in spaces where a conventional tree crown would be impractical. The bark is \u003cstrong\u003egrey-brown and relatively smooth\u003c\/strong\u003e when young, developing a finely furrowed texture with maturity. In winter, the upright branch structure provides a strong architectural presence even without foliage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Conditions \u0026amp; Care\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Thrives in \u003cstrong\u003efull sun to partial shade\u003c\/strong\u003e. Full sun encourages the richest and most intense purple leaf colouration; shadier positions may result in slightly less vivid tones. Suitable for exposed and urban sites.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Highly adaptable – grows well in \u003cstrong\u003eclay, loam, chalk, or sandy soils\u003c\/strong\u003e, provided drainage is reasonable. Tolerates both slightly acidic and alkaline conditions. Will establish in most average garden soils without special preparation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWatering:\u003c\/strong\u003e Water regularly during the first one to two growing seasons to help the root system establish. Once settled, 'Crimson Sentry' develops good \u003cstrong\u003edrought tolerance\u003c\/strong\u003e and requires little supplemental watering.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeeding:\u003c\/strong\u003e Apply a \u003cstrong\u003emulch of well-rotted organic matter\u003c\/strong\u003e around the base each spring to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and gradually enrich the soil. A balanced slow-release fertiliser can be used in the first few years to support establishment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning:\u003c\/strong\u003e Thanks to its naturally columnar habit, \u003cstrong\u003eminimal pruning is required\u003c\/strong\u003e. Remove any dead, damaged, or crossing branches in late autumn or winter when the tree is fully dormant. Avoid heavy pruning in late winter or early spring, as maples can bleed sap at this time. Any shaping cuts are best made in midsummer or in autumn once leaf drop has begun.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fully hardy across the UK and northern Europe, tolerating \u003cstrong\u003ecold winters, frost, and exposed positions\u003c\/strong\u003e without difficulty. Equally at home in urban environments with pollution, paving, and reflected heat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eDesign \u0026amp; Planting Ideas\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePlant in a formal avenue or along a driveway to create a \u003cstrong\u003edramatic corridor of vertical, purple-toned columns\u003c\/strong\u003e that changes character with every season.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eUse as a \u003cstrong\u003ebold vertical accent\u003c\/strong\u003e in a contemporary garden design, contrasting\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Grasslands Nursery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57657291538758,"sku":"174324","price":79.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/www.grasslands.co.uk\/products\/acer-plat-crimson-sentry-15-litre-pot","provider":"Grasslands Nursery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}