Plant of the Month July 2026
Acer pseudoplatanus ‘Esk Sunset’.
GENERAL INFORMATION: Acer pseudoplatinus is fast growing and is invasive in many areas. However, this cultivar, (named after the Esk Valley in New Zealand) is a well behaved delight. It was found as a chance garden seedling in the 1980s and introduced to the trade in the 1990s.
Common Name: Esk Sunset Sycamore Maple. Sometimes called ‘Eskimo Sunset’ Plane Tree Maple.
Life Cycle: Broad leafed deciduous tree.
Height: up to 4.5m in 20 years.
Bloom Time: Late May, early June southern Ontario.
Flowers: Clusters of small yellowish flowers in late spring. My tree has not yet produced any.
Nectar: produces large amounts when it flowers.
Fruit: Small typical maple seeds. Resulting plants unlikely to have the unique leaf colouration.
Leaves: The large attractive leaves are salmon-pink in the spring, then becoming mottled with pink, green, and cream colours in summer, with a bright purple/pink underneath.
Range: A garden cultivar found in New Zealand in the 1980s.
CULTIVATION:
Plant: where it can be easily seen and admired, especially where breezes can reverse the leaves. It is tolerant of urban pollution and road salt.
Light: Partial to full sun. Some afternoon shade preferable.
Soil: Most well drained soils.
Water: Average to moist soil but must not dry out.
USDA Hardiness: Zones 5-8.
Prune: (if necessary) in late summer to avoid bleeding.
Pollinators: Many different insects.
Pests and Diseases: There should be few problems for plants growing in well drained, moist soil. Fungal leaf spots, Verticillium wilt, and pests like aphids or scale are possible.
Companion planting: Spring bulbs underneath.
Propagation: Try taking semi-hardwood or hardwood cuttings in the spring. Use a rooting hormone. Or graft onto seedling rootstock.
Toxicity: Seeds are toxic to horses.
References:
https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/acer-pseudoplatanus-esk-sunset
https://plants.vermeers.ca/11120001/Plant/5898/Eskimo_Sunset_Sycamore_Maple/
https://leafland.co.nz/plants/acer-pseudoplatanus-esk-sunset/?
Text and images supplied by Anna Leggatt, Toronto Master Gardener.