Acer negundo Variegatum - Maple

Acer negundo 'Variegatum' is a beautiful form of the box elder maple, notable for its variegated foliage and almost white young wood, and its slightly smaller size compared to that typical of the species. It is a tree with a graceful habit, highly decorative from spring to autumn. Its young, pink shoots unfurl into leaves edged with white and cream, sometimes entirely white, occasionally tinged with pink, or entirely green, before turning yellow in autumn. Plant it prominently in the garden and do not hesitate to prune it to encourage colourful new growth. This wonderful maple prefers partial shade to protect its foliage from sunburn.

Acer negundo, also known as Box Elder Maple, Ash-leaved Maple, Manitoba Maple, belongs to the Aceraceae family. It is native to the western United States and Virginia, but is found as far south as Florida and as far north as Canada and Quebec. It is considered an invasive species, and has naturalized in France, particularly in Corsica where it has escaped into the wild and is subject to special monitoring. This hardy tree prefers stream banks and wet areas, but can tolerate somewhat dry summers once established. It prefers clay-lime soils, but can adapt to a wide range of soils that are not too acid. In its natural habitat, Acer negundo grows into a wide-crowned tree, reaching a height of 15 meters (49ft). It is a deciduous tree that loses its leaves in autumn.

The 'Variegatum' variety is smaller and rarely exceeds 6-7 m (20-23ft) in height and 5-6 m (16-20ft) in spread if left unpruned. It can easily be maintained at 3 m (10ft) in height and spread, which also encourages the plant to produce decorative pink-coloured new shoots. This small tree has a relatively short and stocky single trunk, or sometimes multiple trunks, with low branches if given space. If surrounded by other shrubs or trees, it will tend to grow taller in search of light. Its habit is naturally spreading, somewhat irregular, supported by thin and fragile, brittle branches. Its rough, ash-grey bark cracks with age, taking on a darker grey tone. The young branches are bluish-green and covered with a white bloom. The leaves, 5 to 10 cm (2 - 3.9 in) long, are divided into 3 to 9 oval leaflets with sharply-toothed margins. They are randomly variegated or solid in colour, creating a beautiful multicoloured effect, and turn yellow before falling. The inconspicuous flowering occurs in April-May, at the same time or slightly before the development of the new leaves. It consists of clusters of yellowish-green female flowers in dense pendant clusters, and red male flowers arranged in long filamentous clusters. The flowers are followed by clusters of winged fruits called samaras, 3 to 5 cm (1.2 - 2 in) long. The shrub can flower and fruit as early as 3 years old.

Acer negundo 'Variegatum', which has brittle wood, requires only a sheltered location away from strong winds and moist soil, these are the only requirements for this superb little luminous tree. It is ideal at the base of large trees to create a medium-sized screen of greenery or to brighten up a slightly dull corner of the garden. It requires less water than the 'Hakuro Nishiki', Flamingo willow, but plays a similar role in garden ornamentation. Try combining it with a purple hazel or a Black Lace elderberry; their dark foliage will complement its extremely bright foliage beautifully. It also looks great as a specimen tree in a medium-sized or even small garden, as long as it is regularly pruned to control its size.

Tip: Remove completely green branches (side shoots) that often distort its shape.