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Acer saccharum
'Newton Sentry'
"
I like this tree because it has an interesting shape to it, with the long upright branches which gives a landscape some height without taking up a lot of space. This tree also has great fall colour and will stand out.
"
Family |
Sapindaceae |
Genus |
Acer |
Species |
saccharum |
Cultivar |
'Newton Sentry' |
Category |
Woody |
Type |
Tree (deciduous) |
USDA Hardiness Zone |
3 - 8 |
Canadian Hardiness Zone |
4b - 8b |
RHS Hardiness Zone |
H4 - H7 |
Temperature (°C) |
(-34) |
Temperature (°F) |
(-30) |
Height |
15 - 20 m |
Spread |
3 - 5 m |
General Description |
There has been a lot of confusion with this tree when another upright maple was introduced called Monumentale. This cultivar of sugar maple grows very slowly and will grow 1ft in most soils each year. The tree is sensitive to heat and drought, which will turn the leaves brown along the edges, this is called Leaf scorch. The ‘Newton Sentry’ is a narrow tree with upright branches that grows 50 to 60’ and 10 to 15’ wide. The tree has many leaders, and has to be maintained to keep its shape. It has green pale flowers in the spring and dark green leaves in the summer, which turns to a reddish orange colour in the fall. |
Landscape |
This tree would do well on a wide lawn, by a fence line, in parks (but not by a road) or just by itself as a specimen tree. This tree can’t be used by roads or anywhere the tree would get salt on it. |
Cultivation |
Grown in average to medium moisture, full sun to part shade and well-drained slightly acidic soil. Doesn’t like compacted soils, road salt and urban pollution. |
Shape |
This tree has a long column like shape, long upright branches, with short stubby branches giving the tree a fuller appearance. The shape is very ununified, and flares out somewhat at the top due to its multiple leaders, which result in a messy look. |
Growth |
Slow |
ID Characteristic |
The tree has a opposite leaf arrangement, with the leaf being a simple leaf with a palmate venation to it. The branches grow upright and don’t droop at all, but will need pruning to help structure of the tree. The tree has long upright branches and has many leaders, which makes the appearance look messy. |
Pests |
Aphids can infest maples, and when the infestation is bad enough it can cause leaves to drop. Honey dew is another sign of a heavy infestation. These bugs can be controlled by spraying, or by use of predatory insects like ladybugs. The tree is very sensitive to heat and drought, which will turn the leaves brown along the edges. This happens when the roots of the tree can’t get enough water to the main part of the tree, so the leaves will slowly be sacrificed in an attempt to save itself. Be more diligent in a watering schedule during heatwaves. |
Habitat |
Grown in average, moist, well- drained soils down south. |
Bark/Stem Description |
The bark is brown and not showy, and branches grow upright mostly and don’t droop down. |
Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
The leaf and flower bud are dark brown, medium sized, shiny look to it and will be in groups of two. |
Leaf Description |
The leaf arrangement is opposite from each other. The leaf itself is a simple, star-shaped and palmate venation leaf. It is dark green in the summer and reddish orange in the fall. |
Flower Description |
The Flowers blooms in the spring, are small, have a pale green colour with no ornamental value. |
Fruit Description |
The fruit also have no ornamental value to it. The fruit is small, elongated, brown and dry to the touch. Animals likes to eat the fruit. There is no litter problem for this tree. |
Colour Description |
The bark is brown. Leave are dark green, turning red, yellow, and orange in the fall. The fruit is a light brown, and the flower bloom is pale yellowish-green. |
Texture Description |
The texture of the bark is coarse but the overall look to the tree is soft. |
Notable Specimens |
There wasn’t much information on where these trees are planted. But there is one present in Burlington, Waterdown, Dundas, Ontario, Canada. |
Propagation |
To propagate this, tree cuttings will have to be taken and grown in a greenhouse, with a rooting hormone and heated benches. |
Ethnobotanical Uses (Disclaimer) |
The use of this plant hasn’t changed from when it was first introduced until now. This tree is still used for wind brakes, specimen trees, and fence lines. |