Acer rubrum Sekka - Red Maple

Acer rubrum 'Sekka' is a remarkable variety of Red Maple known for its autumn colours. The beautifully cut leaves with toothed lobes are carried by red petioles, creating a nice contrast with the bright green upper surface. Early in autumn, the foliage gradually turns into a flamboyant orange-red that catches everyone's attention in the garden, as the spectacle is magnificent. It has a moderately fast growth rate and forms a beautiful medium to large tree with a conical to pyramidal habit, more suitable for larger spaces than small gardens. It thrives in a humus-rich soil, with a slightly acidic and moist environment in summer, as well as a sunny exposure. It is also very hardy.

The Maple or Acer gives its name to the family of Aceraceae, which only includes one other genus, the Dipteronia. In some classifications, this family is integrated into the much larger Sapindaceae family. The Acer genus comprises more than 150 species, native to the entire northern hemisphere (America, Europe, and Asia). They are mainly trees, but also shrubs, such as the charming Japanese Maples. Maples are recognised by their double samara fruits, which fall and spin like helicopter blades, as well as their opposite leaves. All species are deciduous, except for Acer sempervirens (from Crete) and A. paxii (from China).
Acer rubrum, or Red Maple, is native to the eastern part of North America, where it is called Red Maple, Swamp Maple, or Marsh Maple, which indicates its water requirements. In these regions, it forms a large tree that can exceed 30 m in height, with a relatively fast growth rate in deep and moist soil, and its wood is used for furniture making. It has a straight trunk, ideal for foresters, and displays a narrow habit that widens with age. Its dark red clusters of flowers appear before the leaves, and after fertilisation, they produce fruits with two wings, each measuring 1 cm, forming an angle of 60°, also red. The lobed leaves are green on the upper side, whitish-blue on the underside, and turn into bright garnet red in autumn.
'Sekka' is a variety with a more modest development, reaching a height of 10 to 15 m at maturity, with a width of 6 to 10 m. Its annual growth rate is relatively moderate for a Red Maple, about 30 to 40 cm in height and 15 to 20 cm in width. The tree has a conical to pyramidal silhouette, with a rounded crown supported by a straight trunk with smooth grey bark, which may slightly peel with age. It flowers March-April, before the leaves, but the flowers are too inconspicuous to be truly ornamental. On the other hand, the reddish young shoots are decorative, before the palmate leaves with 3 or 5 lobes spread out. They measure from 5 to 10 cm in length and width, and with their toothed lobes, they are truly elegant. The leaf blades are carried by long red petioles, creating a lovely contrast with the bright green and slightly shiny upper surface. The underside is matte, whitish to bluish.
This tree has a certain elegance and becomes truly valuable in autumn when it takes on its end-of-season colours quite early. Gradually, the edges of the leaves begin to turn red, and then the entire leaf surface turns into an extremely vivid orange-red, to magnificent, head-turning effect.

The 'Sekka' Maple is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful trees with autumn colours, and it is also extremely hardy. Provide it with deep soil, preferably acidic, humus-bearing, and above all, moist, and it will delight you. If you have enough space, you can create a scene by planting a Ginkgo biloba 'Horizontalis' nearby, a spreading version of the famous Maidenhair Tree, which turns golden yellow in autumn. The contrast with the orange-red of 'Sekka' will be lovely. Another tree that provides a grand spectacle is Nyssa sylvatica 'Autumn Cascade', also fond of acidic, moist soils, celebrating autumn in a range of yellow, orange, red, and purple. And to also celebrate winter, add a Himalayan Birch (Betula utilis jacquemontii), whose green leaves turn yellow in autumn, leaving behind one of the whitest trunks in the plant kingdom... truly splendid!