Acer pseudoplatanus L.

Acer pseudoplatanus in Gstaad, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. Image MC de Laubarède.

Although supplied as Acer pseudoplatanus 'Atropurpureum' this is clearly a seedling that lacks the notable purple underside to the leaves. The foliage is distinctly olive-green, however, adding a different shade to the palette. Yorkshire Arboretum, May 2020. Image John Grimshaw.

Foliage of Acer pseudoplatanus, with a leaf showing sycamore tar spot, at Arboretum Hof ter Saksen, Belgium (19 September 2007). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

A strongly fastigiate Acer pseudoplatanus, Church Street, Norton-on-Derwent, North Yorkshire, 21 April 2020. Image John Grimshaw.

The famous Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) of Sycamore Gap, along side Hadrian's Wall in the far north of England. Image Tom Christian.

'The Drumlanrig Sycamore'. This veteran Acer pseudoplatanus grows in parkland close to Drumlanrig Castle, Dumfriesshire, Scotland. Photographed early June 2015. Image Tom Christian.

The bole of the famous Acer pseudoplatanus at Drumlanrig Castle, Scotland (June 2015). Image Tom Christian.

Typical 3-to 5-lobed leaves on Acer pseudoplatanus (Eeklo, Belgium – 5 August 2007). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

Fruiting specimen of Acer pseudoplatanus (Eeklo, Belgium – 5 August 2007). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

Many bud scale scars and typical green bud on Acer pseudoplatanus (Eeklo, Belgium – 5 August 2007). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

In older trees Acer pseudoplatanus bark begins to peel in large, thick, irregular plates. This example grows on the banks of the Tay in Perthshire, Scotland. May 2020. Image Tom Christian.

A narrow-crowned Acer pseudoplatanus at the Yorkshire Arboretum, March 2020. Image John Grimshaw.

A treen bowl made from Sycamore wood c. 1820, valued for this purpose for its pale colour and freedom from odour. Image Simon Baldwick.

A Sycamore treen scoop from c. 1850, possibly used for measuring out flour. Image Simon Baldwick.

Acer pseudoplatanus winter buds. January 2021. Image Tom Christian.

Roadside trees of Acer pseudoplatanus on the Yorkshire Wolds showing their distinctive winter silhouette. Image John Grimshaw.

The magnificent structure of a venerable Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus at the Yorkshire Arboretum, December 2020. Image John Grimshaw.

Stately Sycamores Acer pseudoplatanus are a great feature of the Yorkshire countryside, as here near Malton, November 2021. Image John Grimshaw.

It is unusual for Acer pseudoplatanus to colour much, but it can happen (Malton, North Yorkshire, October 2021). Image John Grimshaw.

Acer pseudoplatanus in flower (Yorkshire Arboretum, May 2020) Image John Grimshaw.

Huge and ancient Acer pseudoplatanus are scarce in the warm conditions of south-east England. This example with a hollow trunk 2.2 m wide grows on a rich Greensand soil at Godinton Park in Kent; August 2014. Image Owen Johnson.

Acer pseudoplatanus is a remarkably tough if not stubborn tree. This veteran in Taunton's Goodland Gardens, Somerset, UK, appears to have germinated within a garden wall which has since been demolished around it. June 2017. Image Owen Johnson.

A magnificent parkland Acer pseudoplatanus at Ardgowan, western Scotland, in June 2007. Image Owen Johnson.

Exfoliating bark leaving attractive patterns on a branch of an ancient Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus (The Alnwick Garden, Northumberland, October 2022). Image John Grimshaw.

A fine Acer pseudoplatanus in Farmington, Gloucestershire. October 2022. Image Dan Crowley.

A rather narrow Acer pseudoplatanus in the park at Villa Reale di Marlia, near Lucca, Tuscany, September 2023. Image John Grimshaw.

'Amry'

Named in 1894, ‘Amry’ has a rather erect form suited to use as a street tree. It was selected as a chance seedling at the Forestry Research Station of De Dorschkamp, the Netherlands (van Gelderen et al. 1994).

'Annae'

Very rare in cultivation and no longer available, ‘Annae’ is a German selection named by Schwerin in 1893 (van Gelderen et al. 1994). Its leaves emerge dark brown, stained with dark red spots, which turn to pink and white as the leaves turn green (van Gelderen et al. 1994).

'Argutum'

Named by Schwerin in 1893, ‘Argutum’ has pale green leaves with serrate margins similar to those of A. rubrum (van Gelderen et al. 1994).

'Atropurpureum'

Described by Groinland in 1862 and introduced by Späth’s nurseries, Germany in 1883, ‘Atropurpureum’ has dark green leaves that are strikingly purple beneath (van Gelderen et al. 1994; van Gelderen & van Gelderen 1999). It reached North American cultivation in around 1897, and has been available commercially there since around 1930 (Jacobson 1996). ‘Atropurpureum’ is also commonly grown under the name ‘Spaethii’, and occasionally ‘Purpureum Spaethii’, both invalid synonyms (van Gelderen et al. 1994). ‘Extra Fort’ is an obscure Belgian clone of this ilk, named in 1867, with leaves with purple lower surfaces (van Gelderen et al. 1994); it is possibly extinct.

‘Atropurpureum’ seedlings may also bear purple leaf undersides, but these are almost never such a strong colour as in the parent. Similar, though invariably less distinct forms occur in the wild and are referrable to f. purpureum. ‘Atropurpureum’ should be propagated vegetatively to avoid the washed-out look of most seedlings. Grown in some parts as a street tree, it is striking in the landscape, planted both as single trees and in groups in parkland settings. Groups of five, planted at five metre spacings from one another work very well, and examples of group and individual plantings of more than a century old can be seen at Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire, UK. It achieves similar sizes to normal sycamores, however, so thinning will be desirable as groups develop.

In the clone of Acer pseudoplatanus which probably represents the original 'Atropurpureum', the leaves unexpectedly flush dark green for a week or two before the under-surface matures to rich purple. This is the UK champion, 25 m tall, in Henrietta Park, Bath, on 26th April 2014. Image Owen Johnson.

'Aucubifolium'

A green-leaved form with leaves dotted golden throughout, appearing somewhat similar in this respect to the commonly cultivated form of Aucuba japonica. It arose among seedlings at Little and Ballantyne nurseries, Carlisle, around 1876 and was described by Nicholson in 1881 (Bean 1976a; van Gelderen et al. 1994). ‘Bicolor’ was a similar selection, named five years previously by Späth, though now unknown (van Gelderen et al. 1994).

'Bob'

Originating in Belgium and in the trade since 1985, ‘Bob’ has leaves that emerge pink, with yellow variegation later on, with purplish lower surfaces (i.e. Hardÿ de Beaulieu 2003).

'Brilliantissimum'

‘Brilliantissimum’ has been cultivated in Europe since 1905 and North America since 1927 (Jacobson 1996). It is undoubtedly at its best in spring, the most dramatically coloured of all the leaf variants; the foliage emerges a show-stealing salmon pink to orange, but it eventually fades to a rather pallid and sickly-looking green. It is slow growing, eventually making a small tree with a rounded crown (Jacobson 1996; Dirr & Warren 2019). Somewhat prone to sunburn (van Gelderen et al. 1994), Dirr & Warren (2019, p. 99) describe it as ‘an absolute knockout in early spring’. It is comparable to ‘Prinz Handjery’, though rarely so large.

Acer pseudoplatanus 'Brilliantissimum'. Lime Close, Oxfordshire, UK, April 2018. Image M-C de Laubarède.

Acer pseudoplatanus 'Brilliantissimum'. Lime Close, Oxfordshire, UK, April 2018. Image M-C de Laubarède.

Acer pseudoplatanus 'Brilliantissimum'. Lime Close, Oxfordshire, UK, April 2018. Image M-C de Laubarède.

The earlier spring foliage of Acer pseudoplatanus 'Brilliantissimum' when it is at its best. Image Dan Crowley.

Acer pseudoplatanus 'Brilliantissimum' on 5th May 2009 at Nuneham Park, Oxfordshire. At this time of the year the foliage colour changes almost daily through a gamut of shocking tints. Image Owen Johnson.

Acer pseudoplatanus 'Brilliantissimum' (Kew, May 2008). Image John Grimshaw.

Acer pseudoplatanus 'Brilliantissimum' seen in its yellow phase at the Savill Garden, Windsor Great Park, UK. Late May 2021. Image Tom Christian.

Acer pseudoplatanus 'Brilliantissimum' in its pallid midsummer phase, complete with sun-scorched foliage, at Lotherton Hall, Leeds (June 2022). Image John Grimshaw.

Acer pseudoplatanus 'Brilliantissimum' at Kew; 9th April 2011. Image Owen Johnson.

Acer pseudoplatanus 'Brilliantissimum' in flower (RHS Garden Wisley, April 2010). Image John Grimshaw.

'Bruchem'

A Dutch selection named in 1984, ‘Bruchem’ is a form with erect branches, forming a slender crown to 20 m tall. It was selected as a chance seedling from a wood near Bruchem, the Netherlands. It is suited to use as a street tree (van Gelderen et al. 1994).

'Constant P'

A clone with a narrow, irregular crown to 20 m tall, ‘Constant P’ was found in Bruchem, the Netherlands and named for C.P. van Goor, Assisant Director of the Research Station for Forestry, De Dorschkamp (van Gelderen et al. 1994).

'Corstorphinense'

One of several yellow-leaved Sycamores, Acer pseudoplatanus ‘Corstorphinense’ was described by Sutherland in 1883 and named after the suburb of Edinburgh where the original tree grew. Its young leaves emerge yellow in spring, slightly sooner than is typical for the species, gradually turning pale green later on. It has no autumn colour of note but drops its leaves somewhat earlier than other selections (le Hardÿ de Beaulieu 2003). It also seems not to grow so large as the typical species (T. Christian, pers. comm. 2020). It makes a fine parkland tree, as observable at Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire, and it remains a common sight in parks and large gardens in the city of Edinburgh where, curiously, it is represented only by older trees (T. Christian, pers. comm. 2020). In the late 1990s some young trees were propagated and planted individually in sites across Scotland. Several of this vintage were apparently sent to Gorhambury, Hertfordshire (A. Dickson, pers. comm. to T. Christian 2020).

The original Corstorphine sycamore was reputedly one of Edinburgh’s finest living landmarks for centuries. It was thought to have been planted in around 1600, perhaps as part of an avenue that led to Corstorphine Castle, where it persisted until 2005, having been heavily reduced at 8:10 p.m. on Boxing Day 1998 in a gale. In between times it saw the murder of the second Lord Forrester, James Baillie, on 26th August 1679, killed with his own sword by his lover, Christian Nimmo, who also happened to be his wife’s sister! She was later executed for the deed and their ghosts were said to haunt the tree. Lord Forrester is thought to have buried treasure beneath the tree and it was presumably the voice of his ghost that, legend has it, warned villagers to stop digging for it. Artefacts made from the timber of the tree include a violin made by renowned maker Colin Adamson (Rodger et al. 2006; Edwards & Marshall 2019).

‘Corstorphinense’ can be confused with ‘Worley’, the other most frequently planted yellow-foliaged cultivar. Distinguishing them has never been easy but Owen Johnson (pers. comm. 2020) has kindly sent the following comments:

‘“Corstorphinense” is bright lemon yellow for a couple of weeks as the leaves flush, and then becomes a normal-looking sycamore in terms of leaf-shape and colour and growth and habit. A vigorous young one would have yellow growth-tips but the clone is nearly always seen as an old tree, with just a dusting of yellow-green perceptible across the top of the crown in early summer. It could be that a few of the biggest and oldest trees with these characteristics are independent sports.

“Worley” has noticeably small leaves with narrower, triangular lobes and grows rather slowly into a quite neat dome. It is golden through spring with the newer leaves still yellow(ish) through summer.’

A perfect, domed specimen of Acer pseudoplatanus 'Corstorphinense' in Edinburgh's Davidson's Mains churchyard. Early May, 2020. Image Tom Christian.

Acer pseudoplatanus 'Corstorphinense' leafing out in Edinburgh's Inverleith Park, mid-April 2020. The young yellow leaves of this clone are well advanced while other typical Sycamores growing nearby were still to break bud. Image Tom Christian.

Many of Edinburgh's parks and more affluent areas are dotted with trees of Acer pseudoplatanus 'Corstorphinense' that all appear to be about the same age. Sadly no young trees are being added. Late April 2020. Image Tom Christian.

This pair of Corstorphine Sycamores (Acer pseudoplatanus 'Corstorphinense') were planted to frame the western entrance to Edinburgh's Inverleith Park, but their effect is being somewhat subdued by overgrown Ilex in April 2020. Image Tom Christian.

Even on a dull day Acer pseudoplatanus 'Corstorphinense' makes a striking feature, here in Edinburgh's Trinity area. Late April 2020. Image Tom Christian.

Placed in a sunny position Corstorphine Sycamores (Acer pseudoplatanus 'Corstorphinense') appear almost to glow in the spring sunshine. By mid-summer they will be an ordinary green. Late April 2020.

Another old and picturesque Scottish example of Acer pseudoplatanus 'Corstorphinense' grows in Stirling's Top o'the Town Cemetery. 12th May 2015. Image Owen Johnson.

'Cox'

A budded selection ‘offering uniformity’ listed by Carlton nursery of California and Oregon in 1993–1994, without additional information (Jacobson 1996).

'Crispum'

Named by Schwerin in 1893, ‘Crispum’ has crisped, asymmetric leaves with pale yellow veins (van Gelderen et al. 1994).

'Erectum'

A narrow tree with erect branches, ‘Erectum’ was selected and introduced by Dutch dendrologist S.G.A. Doorenbos, who noticed it in The Hague’s Nightingale Square in 1935 (Jacobson 1996), its name first appearing in the catalogue of Lombarts Nurseries, the Netherlands, in 1949 (van Gelderen et al. 1994). van Gelderen et al. (1994) advocate its use as a street tree. It was reportedly introduced to North America by Scanlons Nursery, Ohio, though van Gelderen et al. (1994) suggest that this was a different clone and that both may be in circulation in the United States under the same name. This is supported by the observation that some plants of so-called ‘Erectum’ have unfortunately developed a spreading form in maturity in North America (as have specimens at the Yorkshire Arboretum (J. Grimshaw, pers. comm. 2020)), while others have retained their upswept branched habit (Jacobson 1996). Clearly anyone prescribing this selection in North America should first satisfy themselves that they are dealing with the genuine article!

Acer pseudoplatanus grown as 'Erectum' at the Yorkshire Arboretum (July 2021). Caveat emptor! Image John Grimshaw.

Strikingly erect plantings of Acer pseudoplatanus are occasionally seen, though these are seldom if ever obviously grafted and may not have been obtained as 'Erectum'. The best of these certainly represent genotypes worth growing, as here at Kington Recreation Ground, Herefordshire, UK, in September 2023. Image Owen Johnson.

'Esk Sunset'

Slow growing, ‘Esk Sunset’ produces leaves that emerge pink, turning green to yellow-white, developing salmon pink streaks, speckles and blotches, while purplish beneath, making it perhaps the gaudiest of all Sycamore cultivars to date. It is prone to sun burn in North America (Dirr & Warren 2019). It was selected at Trelinnoe Park in the Esk Valley, near Napier, New Zealand, by the garden’s creator John Wills, and passed to the New Zealand nursery trade sometime in the 1990s (C. Sanders, pers. comm. 2021). ‘Eskimo Sunset’ is a derivative synonym, while ‘Esk Flamingo’ belongs in Sect. Macrantha.

Acer pseudoplatanus 'Esk Sunset' glowing in full sun (The Patch, Victoria, Australia, December 2022). Image Don Teese.

Acer pseudoplatanus 'Esk Sunset' contre jour (The Patch, Victoria, Australia, December 2022). Image Don Teese.

Foliage of Acer pseudoplatanus 'Esk Sunset' displaying its full repertoire of colour and markings (The Patch, Victoria, Australia, December 2022). Image Don Teese.

By high summer the brightness of the leaves of Acer pseudoplatanus 'Esk Sunset' has waned, with the variegation and red undersides showing through normal dark green (private garden, Pennsylvania, July 2010). Image John Grimshaw.

'Euchlorum'

A fast-growing form with large, dark green leaves and large fruit, ‘Euchlorum’ was introduced by Späth’s nurseries in 1878 (Bean 1976a). It was first recorded in North America around 1897. The specimen at East Bergholt Place, Suffolk mentioned by Bean (1976a) and van Gelderen et al. (1994) is described as the only plant known by Jacobson (1996). Owen Johnson (pers. comm. 2020) recalls that when he ‘saw it in April 2004 the only unusual thing about it seemed that it was rather large for the microclimate (23 m, dbh 130 cm). It had been removed by 2016. I can’t remember seeing an obvious graft.’ Owen has observed other trees that may be this clone, but without labelling it is impossible to be certain of the attribution. It would seem that this clone has lapsed into obscurity.

'Extra Fort'

See under ‘Atropurpureum’.

f. erythrocarpum (Carr.) Pax

Recorded from the Bavarian Alps in the 19th century, but likely present elsewhere, f. erythrocarpum has distinctly red fruits (Bean 1976a) that can be conspicuous and very attractive. It was also named as a cultivar, from a tree in the nursery of S. Vaillant, France, in 1727 (van Gelderen & van Gelderen 1999), and some specimens in cultiuvation may be this clone, or derivatives of it. Given its presence in nature, including not infrequently in Britain, the rank of forma is more appropriate than treating it as a cultivar. A superior clone with fruits consistently red ought to be given an unambiguous name.

f. purpureum (Loudon) Rehder

Though selections of so-called purple-leaved Sycamores have been made, such forms also occur in the wild in different parts of its range, including in populations whose ‘nativeness’ is disputed, such as in the United Kingdom and Ireland. If a purple-leaved form is desired ‘Atropurpureum’ should be planted.

An attractive seedling of Acer pseudoplatanus at Common Farm, Semer, Suffolk, UK, combining soft purple under-leaves with a fastigiate habit in youth; July 2016. Image Owen Johnson.

f. variegatum (West.) Rehd

Variegated forms of the species have been reported both from the wild and seedbeds since the early 18th century (van Gelderen et al. 1994). Plants sold by nurseries in the late 18th and early 19th centuries under names including ‘albo-variegatum’ ‘foliis variegatis’ and ‘variegatum’ are thought to have been seedlings that arose in cultivation (Bean 1976a). Trees attain similar dimensions to those of the typical form, and the best clones have since been named as cultivars, for example ‘Leopoldii’. Variegated seedlings frequently appear in the vicinity of cultivars such as ‘Leopoldii’ but should not be named unless they are exceptional in some way.

A very large but not very showy form of Variegated Sycamore at Hulne Park, Northumberland; July 2009. Image Owen Johnson.

'Flavescens'

‘Flavescens’ was named by Schwerin in 1893. It is slow growing and has dull yellow leaves (van Gelderen & van Gelderen 1999).

'Jaspideum'

‘Jaspideum’ is a French selection with yellowish branches named in 1877, having been cultivated for many years prior at Arboretum Segrez. It was first offered by Dieck Nurseries, Germany in about 1895 (van Gelderen et al. 1994).

'Kaki'

‘Kaki’ has foliage emerging pale green and changing colour several times in spring, with pinky-red lower surfaces (le Hardÿ de Beaulieu 2003).

'Leat's Cottage'

A slow-growing form seemingly of unknown origin, ‘Leat’s Cottage’ has leaves salmon pink in spring, similar to those of ‘Brilliantissimum’ but not as strongly coloured (van Gelderen & van Gelderen 1999).

'Leopoldii'

Originating in Belgium and named for King Leopold I by Vervaene in 1864, ‘Leopoldii’ is a full-sized clone with leaves that are variably pinkish-yellow when young, soon turning green with yellow and white mottling (van Gelderen et al. 1994). It was introduced to British cultivation almost immediately, receiving a First Class Certificate in 1865 (Edwards & Marshall 2019). It entered the North American nursery trade in or before 1891, and is more common there than the similar clones ‘Simon-Louis Frères’ and ‘Tricolor’ (Jacobson 1996). Seedlings should not be confused with the authentic selection. Plants sold as ‘Variegatum’ are usually this selection, listed here in synonymy.

‘Leopoldii’ is one of the few variegated trees that get large enough to have real presence in the landscape, and with its softly yellowish-green leaves can add a welcome modest variation to parkland or woodland edges without being too ‘shouty’. In the Ryedale area of North Yorkshire it was frequently planted on larger estates and is a common sight in the countryside, with often very large trees now present. A few younger ones are also to be seen (J. Grimshaw, pers. comm. 2020).

A magnificent Acer pseudoplatanus 'Leopoldii' at Jervaulx Abbey, North Yorkshire, June 2008. It is an outstanding tree for large landscapes. Image John Grimshaw.

An Acer psudoplatanus 'Leopoldii' in East Grinstead, West Sussex, England June 2017. Image Ron Kemeny.

Splashes of creamy yellow on the leaves of Acer pseudoplatanus 'Leopoldii' in the John Pears Recreation Ground, Ashurst Wood, West Sussex, England, May 2017. Image Ron Kemeny.

The pallor of the foliage, coupled with the density of the crown make a young Acer pseudoplatanus 'Leopoldii' a very striking sprecimen in the playground of Nafferton School, East Riding of Yorkshire (August 2021). Image John Grimshaw.

'Leopoldii' is probably the commonest variegated Sycamore clone in the Scottish Highlands, where it grows large. Glendye estate, Aberdeenshire, May 2007. Image Owen Johnson.

Another splendid Scottish example of 'Leopoldii' at Murthly Castle, Perthshire. Image Owen Johnson.

'Negenia'

Selected in the Netherlands in 1948 by the Dutch Selection Service for Horticulture (van Gelderen et al. 1994), ‘Negenia’ is a vigorous grower with a conical habit and dark green, red-stalked leaves (Edwards & Marshall 2019). Tolerant of poor growing conditions, it is used a street tree in Europe (van Gelderen & van Gelderen 1999).

‘Zenith’ is another Dutch cultivar, selected for fastigiate form, but it does not grow well as a young plant and production was discontinued (van Gelderen et al. 1994). Despite this there is a 14.6 m (2017) specimen in the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Hampshire (Tree Register 2020).

'Nervosum'

Named by Schwerin in 1893, ‘Nervosum’ is slow-growing, with a densely branched pyramidal habit. Its leaves are small and those of the first flush are yellowish-pink above, orange to pink below. Those of the second flush are typically coloured for the species (van Gelderen et al. 1994).

'Nizetii'

Introduced by Makoy Nurseries, France, in 1887, this selection has leaves speckled and spotted yellow, similar to those of ‘Leopoldii, though with more pronounced variegation and with purple lower leaf surfaces (van Gelderen & van Gelderen 1999).

The variegated and purple-backed leaves of 'Nizetii' create an unusual and distinctive foliage tint. Hall Place, Bexley, Greater London; June 2022. Image Owen Johnson.

'Prince Camille de Rohan'

A broadly spreading clone introduced by P.T.P. Bijhouwer of the Netherlands in 1927, ‘Prince Camille de Rohan’ has dark green leaves that are variegated pink and white, with purple lower surfaces (van Gelderen & van Gelderen 1999).

A showily variegated Acer pseudoplatanus adds its ghostly brilliance to a palette of foliage and flower colours in the policies of Floors Castle, Scottish Borders, on 2nd June 2014. This specimen corresponds quite well with the tree grown in the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh as 'Prince Camille de Rohan'. Image Owen Johnson.

A slow-growing and brightly-variegated Acer pseudoplatanus at Colesbourne, Gloucestershire, UK, which could represent the clone 'Prince Camille de Rohan'. 3rd July 2018. Image Owen Johnson.

'Prinz Handjery'

Introduced by Späth’s nurseries in 1883 or earlier, ‘Prinz Handjery’ has leaves that emerge salmon pink, turning pink then light green (van Gelderen et al. 1994). Its lower leaf surfaces are also purple (van Gelderen et al. 1994). It is similar to ‘Brilliantissimum’, which lacks purple leaf undersides, though is reportedly slightly less prone to sunburn and grows slightly larger (Dirr & Warren 2019). It forms a dense shrub to 5 m tall when grafted at the base (van Gelderen et al. 1994; van Gelderen & van Gelderen 1999), but when top-worked it evidently gets much taller and can form a very broad canopy. The British champion grows in the garden of the late Maurice Mason at Fincham, Norfolk, and was 14 m tall in 2019 (Tree Register 2020); there are many specimens over 10 m throughout Britain and Ireland. As with ‘Brilliantissimum’ its placing needs a certain discretion.

Acer pseudoplatanus 'Prinz Handjery' coming into growth (Yorkshire Arboretum, April 2020). Image John Grimshaw.

Acer pseudoplatanus 'Prinz Handjery' can form an attractive, compact, domed tree. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 22nd April 2022. Image Tom Christian.

Acer pseudoplatanus 'Prinz Handjery' (Holker Hall, Cumbria, May 2022). Image John Grimshaw.

Early summer colour in the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh; 13th June 2009; the foliage interest lasts a little longer than in the comparable clone 'Brilliantissimum'. Image Owen Johnson.

Acer pseudoplatanus 'Prinz Handjery' at Leonardslee, West Sussex; 24th May 2010. Image Owen Johnson.

Looking up into the crown of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh's specimen of 'Prinz Handjery' on 26th May 2012. Image Owen Johnson.

Puget Pink Group

‘Puget Pink’ arose at Heronswood Nursery, situated near the Puget Sound in Kingston, Washington, who introduced it through their 1994–1995 catalogue (Jacobson 1996). A seedling of ‘Prinz Handjery’ (Heronswood Nursery Ltd. 1999), it has shrimp-pink early growth, turning green by summer, but is ‘in all likelihood neither better or worse’ (D. Hinkley, pers. comm 2020). The original tree still grows at Heronswood, where it is much admired, and at one time was effectively paired with the bronze young foliage of Viburnum plicatum ‘Roseum’. Plants sold from Heronswood were all seedlings as they come ‘virtually true from seed’ (D. Hinkley, pers. comm 2020) and the Puget Pink Group was published by the nursery in its 2001 catalogue (Heronswood Nursery Ltd. 2001). The original tree and any grafted progeny are the clone ‘Puget Pink’ – seedlings belong to the Group.

'Rotterdam'

‘Rotterdam’ has a pyramidal crown when young, developing a broadly upright crown in maturity (van Gelderen et al. 1994). It was raised and introduced by H.W. Vink of the Netherlands in 1944 (van Gelderen & van Gelderen 1999).

'Simon Louis Frères'

‘Simon Louis Frères’ has leaves that emerge pink, turning white-variegated later (van Gelderen & van Gelderen 1999). It was raised and introduced by Simon Louis Frères Nurseries, France, in 1881 (van Gelderen & van Gelderen 1999). It was recorded in North America first in Canada, around 1896, introduced to the United States by the Arnold Arboretum in 1955 (Jacobson 1996). It is currently (2020) very freely available in the United Kingdom, promoted as a slow-growing small tree (Matthews 2020). While it may not have the vigour of a plain green Sycamore, ‘Simon-Louis Frères’ can however achiece significant stature: the largest recorded British specimen was measured at 19 m in 2009, growing at Deene Park, Corby, Northamptonshire (Tree Register 2020).

This variegated Sycamore is at its showiest in spring and early summer. Deene Park, Northamptonshire; 19th June 2009. Image Owen Johnson.

Shockingly coloured unfolding leaves at Chipping Campden parish church, Gloucestershire, on 5th May 2009. Image Owen Johnson.

Later spring foliage of Acer pseudoplatanus Simon Louis Frères' in the Canterbury City Cemetery, Kent, UK on 27th May 2013. Image Owen Johnson.

'Spring Gold'

An offspring of ‘Brilliantissimum’, ‘Spring Gold’ grows to 4 m tall and has similar early spring foliage to that selection, with salmon pink leaves, though also with green spots and turning to green sooner than ‘Brilliantissimum’. Raised and introduced by K.W. Verboom of the Netherlands in 1991, it is also quicker growing (van Gelderen & van Gelderen 1999). Often grafted on to whips of the typical species, if grafted at the base it will remain shrubby (van Gelderen & van Gelderen 1999).

'Ternatum'

Named by Schwerin in 1893, ‘Ternatum’ has very deeply divided leaves, somewhat resembling A. negundo (van Gelderen et al. 1994). Possibly now extinct but seemingly interesting as an extreme leaf variant.

'Tricolor'

A form named from Germany by Koch in 1853, having originated at the Muskau Arboretum, ‘Tricolor’ is a fast-growing tree with leaves flecked red, white and green, hence the name (van Gelderen et al. 1994). It is similar to ‘Leopoldii’ and ‘Nizetii’, though a larger and stronger grower (van Gelderen et al. 1994).

'Trilobatum'

Named in 1877, ‘Trilobatum’ has larger leaves than typical for the species, with cordate bases. It originated at the Arboretum de Segrez, France (van Gelderen et al. 1994).

var. tomentosum Tausch

Frequently occuring within its distribution (van Gelderen et al. 1994), the parent plants of WITA 46 and 47, collected in Calabria in 2016, fit here, while also possessing glaucous lower leaf surfaces. The characters of the plants grown from this gathering have not yet been critically appraised.

'Worley'

According to van Gelderen et al. (1994) ‘Worley’ was named in 1879 and introduced to cultivation by the Hamburg-based Ohlendorff in 1893, though reportedly it was in the trade in the United States by 1891 (Jacobson 1996). van Gelderen et al. (1994) list numerous miss-spellings of its name, of which ‘Worleei’ is most commonly encountered. It has leaves yellow at first, turning to pale green and is described by Bean (1976a) as superior to ‘Corstorphinense’. Distinguishing them is not easy: Bean (1976a) says that ‘Worley’ has red petioles (but does not mention the colour of those of ‘Corstorphinense’), while van Gelderen et al. (1994) suggest that its leaf margins are more serrate and that it’s a brighter yellow, but see ‘Corstorphinense’ for further discussion.

Acer pseudoplatanus 'Worley' 14 m tall at Ardgowan, Inverclyde, UK; 24th May 2017. Image Owen Johnson.