The Crimson King Norway maple is a colorful cultivar of the much-maligned Norway maple, with many of the same issues. A medium-sized tree with attractive dark red to purple foliage that lasts until the summers end can make for a nice ornamental tree. Though beautiful and with a form that makes a lovely specimen or shade tree in a large landscape, it has many issues that should be considered before choosing it for a landscape project. Without considering the potential for invasiveness and the fact that there are better alternatives that are native, there are some serious downsides to consider before planting one that can affect your property.
It is a pretty tree, but for the number of issues it faces, you would be better off looking towards other native maple varieties or even Japanese maples as alternatives.
The Crimson King maple (Acer platanoides ‘Crimson King’) is a popular landscaping tree appreciated for its striking deep reddish-purple foliage that lasts from spring through fall. However, this beautiful maple variety is prone to several issues that can threaten its health and appearance. As a gardening enthusiast, I’ve learned to recognize and address these crimson king maple problems to keep my tree thriving.
Overview of Crimson King Maple Issues
Through research and personal experience caring for crimson king maples, I’ve identified the following as the most common problems:
- Insect pests like aphids, scale, and borers
- Diseases like verticillium wilt, anthracnose, and powdery mildew
- Messy fruit and seeds leading to unwanted sprouts
- Surface roots that interfere with lawns and hardscapes
- Branch breakage from heavy snow or ice
- Intolerance to heat, drought, and pollution
- Susceptibility to storm damage
Paying close attention to your tree and being proactive can help avoid serious issues down the road. Let’s explore the top problems in more detail, along with solutions to treat and prevent them.
Major Insect Pests
Several insects target crimson king maples, feasting on the nutrient-rich sap. Heavy infestations can weaken and even kill trees. Here are the most common maple pests and how to control them
Aphids
Tiny sap-sucking insects that congregate on young shoots and the undersides of leaves. Aphids secrete sticky honeydew that can attract sooty mold fungus.
Solutions: Strong sprays of water can dislodge populations. Insecticidal soap or neem oil also control aphids. Ladybugs and other beneficial insects will help keep populations in check.
Scale Insects
Armored insects that attach themselves to branches and leaves to feed on sap. Heavy infestations cause yellowing foliage, dieback, and reduced growth.
Solutions: Prune out isolated colonies. Use horticultural oil or insecticidal soap sprays for heavy infestations. Systemic insecticides that are taken up by the roots can also be effective.
Borers
Several species of moth larvae bore into trunks and branches, creating tunnels in the sapwood and heartwood that can severely weaken trees. Maple petiole borer and Asian longhorned beetle are especially damaging.
Solutions: Maintain tree health and avoid wounds that allow borers entry. Keep trees well watered and fertilized. Injecting systemic insecticides directly into trunks can kill larvae. For valuable landscape trees, call an arborist to assess and treat infestations.
Major Diseases
Maples are susceptible to several fungal diseases that can defoliate, weaken, and potentially kill trees. Practice prevention and be prepared to treat infections before they escalate.
Verticillium Wilt
Fungal disease that clogs water-conducting tissue, causing leaves to wilt and turn brown. Eventually leads to dieback of branches and whole trees.
Solutions: Improve drainage and avoid wounding roots. Fungicides applied by soil injection or as a root drench can help protect high value trees. Remove and destroy infected trees to prevent spread.
Anthracnose
Foliar fungus that causes leaf spots, defoliation, and twig dieback. Most damaging during cool, wet spring weather.
Solutions: Rake and remove fallen leaves to reduce spore load. Apply fungicidal sprays at bud break to protect new foliage. Ensure good air circulation around trees.
Powdery Mildew
White fungal growth on leaves that can cause premature defoliation. Most common during wet, humid weather.
Solutions: Improve air circulation around trees through proper spacing and pruning. Apply fungicidal sprays labeled for powdery mildew control at first sign of infection. Remove and destroy infected leaves.
Messy Fruit and Seeds
Crimson king maples produce abundant winged fruit (samaras) that lead to self-sown saplings popping up in lawns and gardens.
Solutions: Collect and dispose of fallen seeds. Promptly pull unwanted saplings when they emerge. Prune out seed-bearing flowers and immature fruit to reduce production. Installing mesh screens around trees can help catch dispersed seeds.
Surface Roots
Dense surface roots compete with surrounding grass and plants for moisture and nutrients. They can also crack sidewalks and interfere with mowing.
Solutions: Select planting sites carefully and allow enough space for root spread. Mulch around trees to discourage grass. Vertically mulch problem areas to redirect roots downwards. Carefully cut and remove roots as needed.
Branch Breakage
The large, wide-spreading crown and shallow roots make crimson king maples prone to breakage, especially when heavy snow or ice accumulates.
Solutions: Prune to develop a strong central leader and scaffold branching when trees are young. Remove weak or problematic branches. Hire an arborist to cable and brace larger trees. Reduce crown weight by thinning inner branches.
Intolerance to Stress
Crimson king maples perform best in evenly moist, fertile soils with cooler climates. They are intolerant of drought, heat, wind, salt, and pollution.
Solutions: Water trees during dry periods, especially while establishing. Mulch root zones to conserve moisture. Provide some afternoon shade if possible. Avoid pruning during heat waves. Use tree wraps to protect thin bark from sunscald.
Storm Damage
The large crown combined with shallow root system makes crimson kings vulnerable to uprooting and breakage during heavy winds and storms.
Solutions: Inspect soil around base of tree after storms and push any lifted soil back in place. Remove any broken or damaged branches but avoid unnecessary pruning that could further weaken the tree. Provide supplemental water until the tree recovers.
Maintaining Health is Key
By staying vigilant and addressing issues promptly, you can keep your crimson king maple healthy and minimize pest and disease problems. Proper siting, regular pruning, mulching, and occasional fertilization will go a long way in preventing issues. Identify and treat infections early before they escalate into something more serious. With a bit of care and proactive maintenance, you can enjoy the beauty of a crimson king maple for years to come.
Types of ‘Crimson King’ Norway Maple
Acer platanoides Crimson King is itself a cultivar of the Norway Maple, meaning there will be no other cultivars of the Crimson King Norway maple. If you are looking for trees similar but with different forms or sizes, you may want to consider one of the many Japanese maple varieties.
Soil
One of the things that makes the Crimson King Norway maple so problematic is how easily it spreads and thrives. That has a lot to do with the fact that it tolerates a wide range of soils. If the soil is fairly average, has medium moisture, and drains well, Acer platanoides Crimson King will thrive. The only soil where it will have a tough time is poor draining soil.
Crimson King Maple Tree Diseases Review
FAQ
Why is my crimson maple dying?
Watering issues are a common culprit when it comes to unhealthy maple trees. Overwatered plants often display yellowing leaves, wilting, and root rot, while underwatered trees show dry, crispy leaves, leaf drop, and stunted growth.
What is the lifespan of a Crimson King Maple tree?
Under perfect conditions a Crimson King maple will live to about 250 years. Providing perfect conditions in todays world of climate change and development is not easy so most trees will not make it to that ripe age.
What are the downsides of red maple trees?
Red maple trees are popular but suffer from a number of problems. They are slow to establish, have poor branching structure and, most importantly, they are susceptible to long-term trunk injury or damage, which results in internal rot and decay.
Is Crimson King Maple a good tree?
It is a strong maple that really brings a different look to your landscape. This Maple gets up to 30 to 40 feet tall and grows in most areas. It’s not fussy about where its planted and just wants to grow. The Crimson King Maple is a great choice if you don’t need anymore green and are looking for something different.