Acer x zoeschense Annae - Zoeschen Maple

Acer x zoeschense 'Annae' or Zoeschen Maple 'Annae' is a hybrid between Acer campestre (field maple) and A. cappadocicum subsp. lobelii (Colchis maple). With a medium size and a rather rounded crown, it stands out in spring with its reddish young shoots, but especially in autumn when its foliage turns yellow, orange, or red. This extremely cold-resistant, deciduous tree is also not demanding in terms of water once well rooted. It will find a place in the garden in a large informal hedge or a grove that will form a distant blaze of colour at the garden's edge in autumn.

Acer x zoeschense 'Annae' was obtained by Count von Schwerin from the Zoeschen nurseries near Berlin (Germany) in 1908. It is a fast-growing tree that reaches a height of between 8 and 10 m (up to 12 m) at maturity. Its initially narrow and erect crown, widens with age. On a mature subject, it can measure between 4 and 6 m wide. The bark is greyish-brown, and the young branches are red. The foliage of this deciduous maple consists of opposite, palmate, and lobed leaves with 3 to 5 deep lobes. They measure between 5 and 10 cm long and are dark green. Autumn and the first cold weather colour the foliage with shades of orange, copper, and red. The insignificant flowering takes place in spring before the leaves emerge. The small flowers are greenish and grouped in corymbs. It is a nectar-rich flowering that attracts pollinators. It is followed by winged fruits, called samaras, which are arranged in pairs and ripen in autumn.

The 'Annae' hybrid maple tolerates various types of soils, but it prefers a well-drained and slightly acidic to neutral soil. It is a beautiful tree for medium to large gardens, parks, or avenues. It offers visual interest for much of the year thanks to its foliage, bark, and attractive young branches. To accompany it, choose, for example, Quercus robur 'Fastigiata' (English Oak 'Fastigiata'), whose columnar habit provides an interesting contrast with the maple's rounded crown. But also Tilia cordata 'Greenspire' (Littleleaf Linden 'Greenspire'), with a pyramidal habit, bright green foliage, and fragrant flowers in summer. Betula utilis var. jacquemontii 'Doorenbos' (Himalayan Birch 'Doorenbos') is deciduous, with a highly decorative white bark that brings an elegant touch to the landscape.