Acer conspicuum Red Flamingo - Maple

Acer consipicuum 'Red Flamingo' is a variety of Snakeskin Maple with a unusual appearance. In spring, its bright red branches are adorned with green foliage splashed with shrimp-pink and creamy-white. In autumn, its leaves turn a rosy-orange, and when they fall, its beautiful red branches are veined with white, prolonging the show into winter. This magnificent little tree reaches a height of 3 to 5 m (10-16ft) at maturity, with a spread of 2.50 m (8ft). It is, therefore, perfect for small gardens. Give it a prime location, not far from the house, so you can admire it all year round.                                                 

Acer conspicuum 'Red Flamingo' is the result of cross between Acer pensylvanicum and Acer davidii. It is a deciduous shrub from the large Aceraceae family. Moderately fast-growing, it will reach an average height of 3 to 5 m (10-16ft) with a spread of 2.50 m (8ft). It has an upright habit with spreading branches. The young branches are bright red. The older branches and trunk, resembling the skin of a snakeskin during shedding, are longitudinally streaked with a slightly greyish-white colour. The deciduous, opposite leaves are three-lobed and around 6 to 8 cm (2.4 - 3.1 in) long. They are green and fuchsia-pink when they first emerge, gradually variegating with shrimp-pink and white during summer, and finally turning rosy-orange in autumn. In June, insignificant flowers give way to winged fruits, 3 to 5 cm (1.2 - 2 in) in length.

Acer conspicuum 'Red Flamingo' is a small tree that thrives in full sun or partial shade, in lime-free, moist soils. If your garden can provide the conditions it loves, it will become the main attraction. This modest-sized variety will be most at home in small gardens, highlighted in the centre of an ericaceous bed surrounded by understated perennials such as hostas, ferns, or bleeding hearts; plants that will not overshadow its distinctive personality.