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Hedging Ireland

Purple-Leaved Sycamore – Acer pseudoplatanus ‘Spaethii’

Price range: €300.00 through €1,000.00

Acer pseudoplatanus ‘Spaethii’, commonly known as the Purple-Leaved Sycamore or Spaeth Sycamore, is a magnificent, robust ornamental deciduous tree that brings dramatic, dual-toned contrast to the landscape. Renowned for its unique and vibrant foliage, its large, sycamore-like leaves emerge a rich, dark green on top, contrasted brilliantly by a striking, deep metallic-purple underside. When caught in an Irish breeze, the swirling canopy creates a mesmerizing flash of color that adds immediate visual movement to your garden.

As autumn arrives, the foliage transitions to warm tones of gold and bronze, while still maintaining hints of its signature purple beneath. In late spring, delicate yellow-green flower clusters drape from the branches, later turning into winged red fruits (samaras) that provide excellent seasonal interest and look beautiful against the mature, grey-scaled bark.

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Description

This cultivar inherits all the legendary toughness of the native sycamore. It is exceptionally hardy, highly adaptable, and shrugs off challenging conditions like heavy clay, urban air pollution, and strong winds. Whether planted as a stand-alone specimen tree in a larger lawn or used in a shelterbelt to provide high-level wind screening, ‘Spaethii’ delivers structural impact and vibrant color where other ornamental trees falter.

Key Features & Benefits

  • Stunning Two-Tone Foliage: The stark contrast between the deep green upper leaf and the rich purple underside offers unparalleled visual drama all summer long.

  • Incredible Wind Tolerance: One of the best large ornamental trees for exposed, breezy, or hillside sites across Ireland.

  • Tough & Adaptable: Thrives in almost any soil type, handles urban pollution effortlessly, and shows excellent resistance to coastal sea spray.

  • Wildlife Friendly: The spring flowers are a fantastic early food source for pollinators, and the dense canopy provides excellent nesting habitats for wild birds.

Additional information

Size

10 – 12 ft, 7 – 8 ft

Growth Rate

Moderate to Fast

Hardiness

Very Hardy

Soil Conditions

Highly adaptable; prefers moist, well-drained soil but handles heavy clay and chalk

Common Names

Purple-Leaved Sycamore, Spaeth Sycamore

Mature Height / Spread

Can reach up to 15m–20m high with a broad, rounded canopy over decades

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