Acer pseudoplatanus Carnelian Wave

Acer pseudoplatanus 'Carnelian Wave'

If you've never seen a sycamore maple put on a spring color show, 'Carnelian Wave' will change your mind. Emerging in a deep, jewel-toned vermillion-carnelian each spring, the foliage is nothing short of spectacular — and unlike many colorful maples, it holds up beautifully in full sun.

As the season progresses, leaves shift into a lively green-and-white variegation with striking red petioles through summer, then close out the year with soft pastel yellows, oranges, and reds in fall. Three seasons of color from a single tree.

'Carnelian Wave' grows into a handsome, rounded shade tree reaching approximately 4.5m (15ft) in 15 years — substantial enough to anchor a landscape while remaining garden-friendly in scale. Cold hardy to -26°C (-15°F), it performs reliably across a wide range of climates.

A seedling selection discovered in 2002 at Mendocino Maples Nursery from the variegated cultivar 'Nizetti', 'Carnelian Wave' is a rare find in the trade and a genuine four-season ornamental. Grafted for consistency. A Very Nice Plant!