Acer platanoides Tharandt - Norway Maple

Acer platanoides 'Tharandt' is a very rare variety of Norway maple, completely atypical in terms of the shape of its leaves. They are irregular and almost round, with very few or no lobes. Each leaf, which does not resemble that of a maple, is a fresh green and resembles the fairly flat leaf of nasturtiums. It displays the usual autumn colouring in shades of yellow to orange. With a moderate growth, requiring no pruning, this unusual variety is particularly suitable for small gardens, in well-drained and sufficiently deep soil, in any exposure.

Native to the Caucasus, widely spread in Europe, from Scandinavia to Spain and as far east as Russia, Acer platanoides is a large deciduous tree with rapid growth, often associated with oak, lime, and elm in upland forests. It can live up to 200 years.

'Tharandt' is a cultivar discovered at the University of Dresden in Tharandt, Germany. At maturity, this tree reaches about 6m in height and 4 to 6m in width. Its foliage is deciduous. The leaves are opposite, 10 to 20cm long, rounded, with very few or no lobes, and irregular in shape. The leaves, borne on long petioles, are smooth and glossy. They turn a beautiful yellow to coppery colour in autumn. The flowering of corymbs of tiny yellow-green flowers, is particularly nectar-rich. In June, it is followed by non-winged fruits on this cultivar, which are 3 to 5cm long. The bark of this tree is grey-brown, almost smooth, marked with numerous shallow longitudinal cracks. The tree retains the classic hardiness of this species, although no viable seeds have been observed to be produced on mature flowering plants.

Acer platanoides 'Tharandt is an easy-to-grow, very hardy tree, suitable for all types of soil as long as it is deep. It grows in ordinary, moderately fertile and moderately moist soil, in sunny or semi-shaded positions. It is suitable for urban environments and shows good resistance to bad weather. It is suitable for gardens of all sizes due to its very modest growth. Ground cover perennials such as heucheras, tiarellas, stachys, or bergenias can be planted at its base.

Tip: Prune every 3 to 5 years to balance the branches and maintain a harmonious habit.