Snakebark Maple ‘Esk Flamingo’ 150/175cm (10L)

The Snakebark Maple ‘Esk Flamingo’ is an absolutely stunning deciduous tree that delivers visual interest throughout every season. This slow-growing beauty forms a small, elegant tree that becomes a true focal point in any garden setting. What makes this particular maple so special is its extraordinary combination of variegated foliage and distinctive bark that catches the eye year-round.

The lobed leaves are a masterpiece of natural artistry, displaying gorgeous variegation in pink, green and white. These colours appear as mottling and splashes across each leaf, creating a tapestry effect that changes with the seasons. The pink tones are particularly prominent on new growth, giving the tree an almost flamingo-like appearance that inspired its common name. As the growing season progresses, the foliage continues to provide a stunning display that brightens shaded corners and adds sophistication to mixed borders.

The young stems emerge in a vivid red colour, providing additional visual appeal and creating beautiful contrast against the variegated foliage. However, it’s the remarkable bark that truly sets this tree apart and earns it the ‘snakebark’ designation. The bark displays an eye-catching pattern of red with distinctive white markings running along its length, resembling the skin of a snake. This ornamental bark becomes increasingly prominent as the tree matures, ensuring that even during the dormant winter months, your garden maintains its visual appeal.

Previously known as Acer conspicuum ‘Red Flamingo’, this cultivar has been cherished by gardeners for its compact size and multi-season interest. The relatively slow growth rate makes it perfectly manageable for smaller gardens where space is at a premium, whilst still providing the architectural presence of a specimen tree.

Growing & Care Guide

Plant your Snakebark Maple ‘Esk Flamingo’ in moist but well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. This tree thrives in partial shade, which actually helps protect the delicate variegated foliage from scorching during hot summer days. Whilst it can tolerate some sun, avoid positioning it in full, intense sunlight as this may cause the pink and white portions of the leaves to brown.

Water regularly during the first two growing seasons to establish a strong root system. Once established, the tree becomes more drought-tolerant, though it appreciates consistent moisture during prolonged dry spells. Apply a generous layer of mulch around the base each spring to retain moisture and suppress weeds, keeping the mulch away from direct contact with the trunk.

Feed with a balanced, slow-release fertiliser in early spring to encourage healthy growth and vibrant foliage colours. Pruning is rarely necessary beyond removing any dead, damaged or crossing branches. If pruning is required, undertake this work in late summer or early autumn to avoid bleeding sap, which can weaken the tree.

This maple is fully hardy and copes admirably with British winters. The tree’s compact nature and striking appearance make it ideal for planting as a specimen in lawns, incorporating into mixed borders, or even growing in large containers on patios where its beautiful bark can be appreciated up close.

Ultimate height
4–8 metres

Time to ultimate height
10–20 years

Ultimate spread
4–8 metres

Please note: Decorative pots shown are for display purposes only. Your tree will be supplied in a standard plastic nursery pot shown in the other pictures.