Key features
Final size5 x 5 metres in 20 years
FoliageGreen leaves with autumn colour (deciduous)
SoilPrefers moist yet well-draining soil
Description
This is a beautiful snake barked maple tree. It boasts lovely purple/blue new bark, which matures to an olive green; all the while decorated with silvery white lines that snake upwards toward the branches. The foliage, which emerges from dark-purple shoots, is smaller and narrower than that of the davidii ‘George Forrest’ and turns deep red in the autumn.
Planted in any soil with good drainage and out of cold winds, this interesting tree will brighten up any space. Offering year-round interest, Acer Serpentine will develop into a slightly spreading form with arching branches, reaching just 5 x 5 metres in 20 years.
AKA Snake Bark Maple, Snakebark Maple, Père David’s maple ‘Serpentine’, Acer davidii ‘Serpentine’
Planting Steps
1Preparation
- Pot-grown plants can be planted at any time of year, whereas bare roots need to be planted between November and March.
- Clear weeds and grass within a metre of the planting hole.
- Dig a hole as deep as the root mass and twice as wide.
- To help your plant establish more effectively, sprinkle Rootgrow in the hole.
2Planting
- Gently loosen the roots and place into the planting hole.
- Ensure the top of the plant’s compost is flush with the level of the surrounding soil and the graft union or collar of the tree is above ground level.
- Mix 50% of the original soil with 50% compost.
- Fill in the hole, firming the soil gently.
3Last Steps
- Water generously around the base of the plant.
- If you are planting either a single stem tree or mature standard tree, we recommend adding a staking kit and rabbit guard.
Aftercare Advice
Trees and shrubs require a good watering regime for a couple of years whilst they establish. Water well and regularly through spring and summer, increasing in hot or dry weather. If planting in autumn, you may only need to water a little. It is advisable to keep the area free of competing weeds and grass during this period.
For more detailed advice and video guides, please visit our Help & Advice section.
