As the Years Roll by, a Well-Chosen Sycamore or Maple Becomes Part of the Garden’s Story, Marking Family Picnics, Swings, Washing Lines and Quiet Moments Alike.

Handsome Trees With Strong Seasonal Interest

Sycamore and larger ornamental maples (Acer species such as A. pseudoplatanus, A. platanoides and A. campestre) are all about presence and season. In spring they break into fresh, generous foliage, often with soft tints of bronze or lime. Many carry dangling flower clusters that bees appreciate, followed by the familiar winged seeds. Through summer they cast a cool, steady shade, turning a bare patch of lawn into a proper sitting place. Come autumn, plenty of varieties colour well, with leaves turning yellow, orange or red before they fall and make that satisfying, crunchy carpet children love.

  • Handsome Trees With Strong Seasonal Interest
  • Reliable Structure And Shelter For Real Gardens
  • Tough, Hardy And Adaptable To Many Soils

Sycamore & Maples at a Glance:

Common name: Sycamore And Maple Trees.

Latin name: Acer.

Size in UK gardens: Very variable – compact ornamental forms can be kept around 3–5m tall, while more vigorous trees may reach 8m+ over time if not pruned; always check the variety and rootstock.

Best position: A sunny or lightly shaded, reasonably open spot with room for the canopy to develop without crowding roofs, cables or tiny beds.

Soil: Deep, reasonably fertile, moisture‑retentive but well‑drained soil; many maples tolerate clay or chalk once established if structure is improved.

Flowering time: Usually spring for flowers and young foliage; winged seeds (samaras) follow in late summer and autumn, with strong autumn leaf colour on many cultivars.

Fragrance: Flowers are not strongly scented; the main appeal is foliage, shade and seasonal colour.

Hardiness: Generally fully hardy across the UK once established.

Care level: Moderate – mainly about choosing the right size, giving a good planting start, and keeping up with sensible pruning while trees are still manageable.
Some of our team!

Home-grown, backed by local specialists.

The Simpson’s team raises the majority of our trees here at the nursery. For varieties outside our own production, we work with independent local growers we trust - all chosen for UK climate suitability.

Sycamore & Maple Care at a Glance:

Planting time: As container‑grown trees, sycamores and maples can be planted in most months when the soil isn’t frozen or waterlogged; autumn and early spring are usually easiest, giving roots time to settle before summer heat or winter cold.

Watering: Water regularly in the first few years, particularly through dry springs and summers, so the rootball and surrounding soil stay evenly moist. Once established in decent soil, most trees cope well with normal dry spells but benefit from occasional deep watering in prolonged drought.

Feeding: In good ground, a spring mulch of compost or well‑rotted manure is often all that’s needed. On poorer soils, a light application of balanced fertiliser in early spring can help; aim to feed modestly, encouraging steady, sturdy growth rather than very soft, sappy shoots.

Pruning: Prune mainly in late winter, focusing on shaping young trees, removing crossing or rubbing branches and maintaining a strong, balanced framework. Larger trees in small gardens may need occasional crown‑lifting or thinning to let light reach underneath; if in doubt with big trees, seek professional help.

Winter: Established sycamores and maples need very little winter attention beyond a mulch and the usual checks on stakes and ties. Younger trees benefit from secure staking and a quick look after storms to make sure they haven’t rocked or loosened.

Varieties We Usually Stock

Availability is always changing, so please check with us if you have a particular variety in mind.

Acer pseudoplatanus ‘Brilliantissimum’

Acer pseudoplatanus ‘Leopoldii’

Acer pseudoplatanus ‘Prinz Handjery’

Acer pseudoplatanus

A compact sycamore maple prized for its soft shrimp-pink spring growth, which settles to pale green as the season matures. Neater and slower than the wild species, it suits smaller gardens and makes a lovely light canopy near lawns or patios. Give it shelter from drying winds and late frosts.

A variegated sycamore maple with green leaves splashed and marbled in cream, creating a bright, painterly canopy. Strong and long-lived once established, it’s best for medium to large gardens where its pattern can be appreciated at distance. Plant in good light for the clearest variegation.

An eye-catching variegated sycamore maple with green leaves flecked in cream, sometimes flushed pink on new growth. It brings colour and lift without flowers, and forms a shapely small to medium tree. Ideal as a statement on a lawn or beside a drive, with a tidy outline and gentle shade.

The classic sycamore maple: tough, wind-tolerant and quick to establish, with a broad, shady crown of fresh green leaves. It’s a dependable choice for bigger gardens, open sites and avenue planting where a substantial, long-lived tree is needed. Give it space and it will reward you for years.

Acer pseudoplatanus ‘Simon Louis Frères’

Acer pseudoplatanus ‘Worley’

A handsome variegated sycamore maple with crisp cream-white markings over mid-green leaves, giving a calm, elegant canopy. More composed than some heavily splashed forms, it suits larger borders and lawns where you want brightness without fuss. Best in sun or light shade for clear colour.

A golden-leaved sycamore maple that opens bright yellow in spring and stays luminous through summer, bringing warmth and contrast to the canopy layer. It makes a strong focal tree for medium to large gardens, especially against dark evergreens. Avoid very hot, exposed sites to prevent scorch.

Frequently Asked Questions

They don’t have to be. Traditional, seedling sycamores can indeed become very large, which is why they sometimes get a bad name, but there are many smaller ornamental maples and carefully chosen rootstocks that keep trees to a more modest size. In a typical suburban Cambridgeshire garden, picking a variety that tops out around 3–5m and giving it a little formative pruning as it grows will usually be fine. The key is to match the eventual size of the tree to the space you actually have, rather than planting a vigorous park tree in a tiny courtyard and hoping for the best.

Most maples have fibrous, wide‑spreading roots rather than a single, deep tap‑root, and in normal garden conditions they are no more troublesome than many other trees of similar size. As a general rule, avoid planting any sizeable tree right up against a house, wall or tightly built patio. In many UK gardens, leaving several metres between the trunk and major structures is sensible, particularly on clay soils where any tree can influence moisture levels. Smaller ornamental maples on compact rootstocks are usually quite safe a reasonable distance from the house, but if you’re unsure it’s wise to take specific advice for very tight sites.

Young trees benefit from some formative pruning to develop a strong, balanced framework – removing competing leaders, crossing branches and very low limbs that will be in the way later. Once that basic shape is set, many maples only need occasional attention to remove dead or awkward branches and to keep the canopy where you want it. Most pruning is best done in the dormant season, from late autumn to late winter, avoiding very late winter on some maples that can bleed sap from fresh cuts. In small gardens, little and often is a good approach; if the tree is already large and near buildings, a qualified tree surgeon is usually worth the investment.

Yes, many smaller maples can be grown quite successfully in large containers, especially the more compact, ornamental forms. You’ll need a generous pot with drainage holes, a good loam‑based compost, and a sunny but not scorching position – often a spot with a bit of shelter from strong winds. Container trees do need more regular watering and feeding than those in the ground, and their ultimate size will be limited by the pot, but that can actually be an advantage in a small plot. A potted maple on a patio or in a courtyard can still provide graceful branches, seasonal colour and a pleasant sense of height without overwhelming the space.