Acer cappadocicum Aureum - Maple

Acer cappadocicum 'Aureum' is a variety of Cappadocian Maple, stunning with its changing colours. Its foliage emerges yellow with a red border in spring, gradually turning light green in summer, and finally golden-yellow in autumn. This beautiful tree, which grows rather slowly, reaches a height of about 15m (49ft) at maturity, with a spread of 10m (33ft). With a rounded and dense habit, it is at its best in medium to large gardens, either as a standalone or in a group of trees. It can also be used as a street tree, adorning pathways and edges with its sumptuous colours throughout the year. It thrives in partially shaded positions, in rich, moist, and well-drained soil.

Native to the mountain forests of the Caucasus in Turkey, the Acer cappadocicum, also known as Cappadocian Maple, belongs to the Aceraceae family. The cultivar 'Aureum' was developed in 1914 by the German botanist Hermann Albrecht Hesse. Growing slowly, it will reach an average height of 15 to 20m (49-65ft) and form a crown 10 to 15m (33-49ft) wide in our gardens, if left unpruned. Its is a rather wide and dense, spreading tree with a rounded crown. The deciduous waxy foliage of this maple consists of large leaves measuring 10 to 15cm (3.9 - 5.9 in) long, with 5 to 7 lobes. Milky sap oozes from the leaves in this species. The young foliage emerges yellow with a reddish-purple border in spring. It turns soft green in summer and then, with the first frosts of autumn, it flames up again with coppery golden-yellow. The inconspicuous flowering takes place in spring, at the same time as the leaves emerge. The small flowers are greenish and grouped in corymbs followed by winged fruits, often reddish, called samaras. The wings of this fruit are opposite and perfectly aligned. The grey-brown, stripey bark of Acer cappadocicum is  highly decorative with the branches of young trees often having purple-brown bark.

The Acer cappadocicum 'Aureum' is easy to grow as long as it is planted in ordinary, deep, moist, and well-drained soil. Be aware that its young leaves tend to scorch if the sun becomes too intense. A partially shaded location is preferred. The Cappadocian Maple will be stunning as a free-standing specimen tree, where you can take advantage of its changing foliage from year to year. It will light up small woodlands where it will love the shade and coolness there, and will also be majestic along drives and edges.