Acer saccharinum L.

Acer saccharinum growing in its native habitat on the banks of the Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA 31 May 2013 Image Paul W. Meyer.

Trunk of a mature Acer saccharinum (Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, August 2022). Image John Grimshaw.

A mature Acer saccharinum (Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, August 2022). Image John Grimshaw.

The winter silhouette of an especially shapely Acer saccharinum 26 m tall at Borde Hill, West Sussex, UK whose form has not yet been spoiled by breakage of the rather brittle branches. April 2015. Image Owen Johnson.

Juvenile foliage on Acer saccharinum, with characteristically deeply lobed leaves, taken from a tree once growing at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, UK (26 July 2007). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

Leaves of Acer saccharinum. The lamina is deeply lobed, with narrow U-shaped sinuses and the terminal lobe is narrowed towards its base (Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, UK – 26 July 2007). Image © Jan De Langhe - Arboretum Wespelaar.

'Asplenifolium'

A selection close to ‘Wieri Laciniatum’, though with narrower leaves that are not so deeply incised and are often perforated (van Gelderen, de Jong & Oterdoom 1994). The elongated branches are semi-drooping and are also less pendulous than in ‘Wieri Laciniatum’ (Hatch 2021–2022). It was recorded as growing at the Royal Nurseries De Bie van Aalst Ltd., The Netherlands, since around 1925, and sold as a subsititute for ‘Wieri Laciniatum’ (van Gelderen, de Jong & Oterdoom 1994). However, the nursery no longer exists and the mother plants have been lost (van Gelderen, de Jong & Oterdoom 1994). Some plants sold as ‘Wieri Laciniatum’, historically at least, belong here (van Gelderen, de Jong & Oterdoom 1994).

'Aureum'

Introduced by Naperville Nursery, Illinois, in 1934 (Jacobson 1996), with leaves that are golden yellow above (Hatch 2021–2022). It was described as rare in North America by 1996 (Jacobson 1996), and as probably lost to cultivation by van Gelderen et al. (1994).

'Beebe Cutleaf Weeping'

A clone with drooping lower limbs and deeply cut leaf lobes, though these are shorter in length than the similarly cut-leaved ‘Wieri’ (Hatch 2021–2022). This selection was considered by Jacobson (1996) to be the best of all cut-leaved silver maples. It was introduced by Cole Nursery, Ohio, in 1953 and speculated to have been named for the City of Beebe, Ohio (Hatch 2021–2022).

'Bicolor'

A selection with mottled, yellowish green leaves that later turn to green (Hatch 2021–2022), reported to be rarely grown by van Gelderen, de Jong & Oterdoom (1994).

'Blair'

Originating from Blair, Nebraska, this has an upright habit and noted for its short limbs that are less prone to storm damage than some other cultivars (van Gelderen, de Jong & Oterdoom 1994; Jacobson 1996). It was introduced by Marshall Nursery, Nebraska, in 1939 (Jacobson 1996).

'Born's Gracious'

A vigorous tree with narrow, very deeply lobed leaves and thread-like new growth (Hatch 2021–2022). Described as a graceful tree of slightly weeping habit by van Gelderen et al. (1994), it was introducd by George Born of Rosenheim, Germany (Bean 1976) having been discovered by him in 1948 as a chance seedling (van Gelderen et al. 1994). The synonym ‘Born’s Graciosa’, used by Bean (1976), was published by Gerd Krüssmann in 1959, though this name was rejected by the cultivar registrar, which at the time was the Arnold Arboretum (van Gelderen et al. 1994). ‘Bruno’ is considered identical and is assumed to be a spelling error (van Gelderen, de Jong & Oterdoom 1994); plants have been sold under this name by Plantentuin Esveld (van Gelderen et al. 1994).

'Crispum'

A clone with deeply lobed leaves with crinkled margins (Bean 1976), now considered to be lost from cultivation (van Gelderen, de Jong & Oterdoom 1994).

'Golden'

Introduced by Jewell Nurseries, Minnesota, in around 1947 (van Gelderen, de Jong & Oterdoom 1994; Jacobson 1996), noted for its orange to golden bark (van Gelderen, de Jong & Oterdoom 1994; Jacobson 1996). ‘Luteum’ is considered to be probably the same clone by Jacobson (1996), whose opinion is followed here.

'Heterophyllum Laciniatum'

A fast-growing tree with more deeply dissected leaves than ‘Wieri Laciniatum’ (van Gelderen, de Jong & Oterdoom 1994). Reported as much circulated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries (Jacobson 1996), it is now rare and was thought to be no longer available in the trade by van Gelderen, de Jong & Oterdoom (1994).

'JFS H1'

This interesting tree was grown from seed collected from a witches’ broom, selected by Dr William Hoch in Wisconsin (Schmidt & Son Co. 2023). Described as having a ‘unique, compact growth habit and excellent branch structure that forms a remarkably symmetrical, upright oval tree to 10 m’ (Schmidt & Son Co. 2023). Neither flowers nor seeds have been seen on the selection, with over 20 years of observations (Schmidt & Son Co. 2023).

'Lockstead'

Discovered by N. Stewart of Stewart’s Botanical Garden, Lockstead Settlement, New Brunsick, and introduced by Sheriden Nursery, Ontario (Jacobson 1996). It has small, threadlike leaves and pendulous branch tips (Jacobson 1996).

'Lutescens'

A selection with orange-yellow young leaves that turn yellow later (Bean 1976). It was introduced by Späth’s nurseries in 1881 (Jacobson 1996), and imported to the US by the Arnold Arboretum in 1927 (Jacobson 1996). van Gelderen, de Jong & Oterdoom (1994) state that it is slow growing and of only limited availability.

In cultivation in the UK at least, Acer saccharinum 'Lutescens' seems to be a somewhat inconspicuous tree rather than a rare one. Sidney Park, Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, 9 June 2023. Image Owen Johnson.

'Northline'

A seedling selected in 1970 at the Morden Research Station, Manitoba, with a wide branching habit (van Gelderen, de Jong & Oterdoom 1994; Jacobson 1996), also noted as cold-adapted (van Gelderen, de Jong & Oterdoom 1994; Jacobson 1996).

'Pendulum'

A European selection with pendulous branches made around the 1870s (Jacobson 1996) and distributed by Van Volxem’s nurseries (Bean 1976). It was recorded in the United States by around 1897, but was always rare there and considered commercially extinct by 1996 (Jacobson 1996). Plants that had grown at RBG Kew had long since disappeared by 1976 (Bean 1976). It is distinguised from ‘Wieri Laciniatum’ by its more prominently three-lobed leaves (Jacobson 1996).

An old specimen of Acer saccharinum 'Pendulum' at Red House Grounds, Leatherhead, UK (fronted by a holly bush), just at the start of its autumn colour on 11 October 2008. Image Owen Johnson.

'Pyramidale'

A tree of broadly columnar habit first sold by Späth’s nurseries in 1885 (Bean 1976). It is fast growing, with leaves indistinguishable from those of the species (van Gelderen, de Jong & Oterdoom 1994). Jacobson (1996) notes that more than one clone may have been given this name.

'Schwerinii'

Although no longer available in nurseries, it is perhaps not extinct from collections (van Gelderen, de Jong & Oterdoom 1994). It has an erect habit, with deeply dissected leaves (van Gelderen, de Jong & Oterdoom 1994).

'Silver Cloud'

A particularly hardy selection from Manitoba, Canada. It has upright form in youth, becoming broad oval to rounded with age, its leaves turning yellow in autumn (Dirr & Warren 2019).

'Silver Queen'

According to Dirr & Warren (2019), this is a very popular Acer saccharinum selection, developing an upright oval crown with a better branch structure than is typical of the species. Glossy leaves turn yellow in autumn (Dirr & Warren 2019).

'Skinneri'

A cut-leaved selection that develops a pyramidal crown with weeping branches (Dirr & Warren 2019). Introduced by Naperville Nursery, Illinois, in 1934 (Jacobson 1996), the original tree was found by J.H. Skinner of Skinner Nursery, Kansas. Its leaves turn yellow in autumn (Jacobson 1996).

'Variegatum'

An old German cultivar, thought no longer to be in cultivation by van Gelderen et al. (1994).

'Wagneri Laciniatum'

Noted as commercially extinct by Jacobson (1996), we include it here as plants belonging to ‘Wieri Laciniatum’ may be found in some gardens and nurseries under the synonym ‘Wagneri’, though its leaves are more deeply incised (van Gelderen, de Jong & Oterdoom 1994). The cultivar was introduced by Haage & Schmidt Nursery, Germany in 1865, and is thought to have been named for Sir Charles Wager who introduced the species to UK cultivation (albeit his name was mis-spelled) (Jacobson 1996).

'Wieri Laciniatum'

A widely grown tree discovered in 1870 in the Genesee Valley near Rochester, New York, by Dr D.B. Wier of Lacon, Illinois, who sold it to Ellwanger & Barry of Rochester (Mitchell 1996; Jacobson 1996). It was subsequently introduced in 1873 and has been common ever since (Jacobson 1996). It has deeply dissected leaves and develops a somewhat flat-topped crown (van Gelderen, de Jong & Oterdoom 1994), though with weeping branches, on full-size trees. Mitchell (1996) reported one example just under 29 m tall at Anglesey Abbey, Cambridge, UK in 1990.

Sometimes seen listed as simply ‘Wieri’, and also as ‘Laciniatum Wieri’ (e.g. van Gelderen, de Jong & Oterdoom 1994), and often with the name misspelled to put the first i after the e (e.g. Mitchell 1996), the name used here follows the original literature, as advocated by Jacobson (1996) and Hatch (2021–2022).

Acer saccharinum 'Wieri Laciniatum' (RBG Kew, 22 November 2024). Image John Grimshaw.

Fallen leaves of Acer saccharinum 'Wieri Laciniatum' (RBG Kew, 22 November 2024). Image John Grimshaw.