Monroe

Character & interest

‘Monroe’ combines the look of a vine maple (supple silhouette, often multi-stemmed) with particularly dissected foliage that lets the light through. It fits easily into a naturalistic scene or a more refined garden, and it offers a bright end-of-season display even in partial shade.

Colours

• Spring : light green to chartreuse, very luminous on young leaves.

• Summer : green (maturing to a deeper green).

• Autumn : yellow to golden yellow (often the dominant color).

Habit & vigour

Large shrub / small tree habit, frequently multi-stemmed, rather spreading (often wider than tall). Moderate to good vigor: steady growth in cool, moist soil.

Indicative size

Observed orders of magnitude depending on sources and training:

• often 3 to 4 m tall,

• sometimes 4 to 5 m in favorable conditions,

• spread 2.5 to 4 m depending on training (naturally broad/spreading).

Exposure

Bright partial shade is ideal, but the plant tolerates a wide range. In hot climates, protection from harsh afternoon sun helps limit dehydration of the fine foliage.

Origin & history

‘Monroe’ is a very finely cut-leaf selection of Acer circinatum native to northwestern North America. The references consulted indicate it was discovered in the wild in Oregon (Cascade Mountains) by Warner Monroe and introduced into cultivation around 1965. One European source adds that the cultivar may have been named by Brian Mulligan in honor of Warner Monroe.