I have an unknown tree that I believe to be cappidocicum Aureum. The buds and AFAICT leaves match more or less exactly to another tree, identified, of the same cultivar. Trunk is also similarly striated. The difference is that the unknown tree burns tremendously in the sun. The identified, somewhat larger, Aureum only burns a little late in the season. At first, because of the leaf shape and burn, I thought I had longipes ssp amplum 'Gold Coin.' However the buds of this one are a little more oblong, with longer scales. Also the striping on Gold Coin seems less marked, and at leaf out the reddish border seems more like Aureum; Gold Coin is more entirely red during this period. My question is whether those of you in sunny climates see much leaf scorch on Aureum. I'd like to move this tree into the shade, but I fear if it really is cappidocicum it will quickly outgrow its new location. The tree is going into its 3rd season here, and seems healthy enough, but if it is Aureum I suspect it was kept in pretty heavy shade in the nursery. As opposed to my confirmed Aureum, which is field-grown and so presumably used to sun. Thanks, -E
Hi Emery, I have a large A. cappadocicum 'Aureum' which is in full sun from 9 am until about 3-4 pm and it does not show any significant tip burn. My supplier, C.Bessard, has plenty planted in full sun in his Nursery near Bourg-en-Bresse and no one burns. The pic below was taken in November with the leaves in very good shape(which is not the case with most of the other maple species). Gomero
Thanks for the photo Gomero. I'm now even more flummoxed about this maple. My confirmed Aureum looks a lot like yours although the lobes are slightly more indented, but that falls within the natural variation for this very polymorphic plant. I've now decide the mystery maple is not Aureum. I pulled it and carried over to the confirmed Aureum. Although the buds are the same, the trunk is darker, with a more reddish hue on the main stem than the yellowish Aureum. If anything the stem looks more like cappidocicum Rubrum... Held up next to longipes ssp amplum Gold Coin it is clearly different, more heavily striped and the branchlets are a deeper red-brown. So now I need to find another similar yellow cultivar to look at. Anyone growing x hillierii Summer Gold? I've replanted in a much shadier spot, that should give me more time to observe the leaves before they burn away. -E
