Introduction:

The International Maple Society is the International Cultivar Registration Authority (ICRA) for the genus Acer, appointed by the International Society for Horticultural Science (I.S.H.S.) in 2013. The ICRA system aims to promote stability in the naming of cultivated plants by promoting lists of authenticated names in a number of important groups of plants which are commonly cultivated. Further information on ICRAs may be found here.

Click Here To Download the Registration Form (February 2026)

Registration of Acer cultivars

The Maple Society, dedicated to further the knowledge, supporting the conservation and promoting the culture of all Acer species, was appointed in 1998 as the International Cultivar Registration Authority (ICRA) for this beautiful genus.

With over 3,000 verified cultivars already documented, registration is an important step to guard against duplication, confusion and mis-naming by providing a trusted record detailing the origins and characteristics of a potential new cultivar. Please be aware the registering a cultivar is not the same as patenting or trademarking.

After submitting the form to The Registrar, you will receive one of three responses: Accepted, Requires Modification or Rejected. The response will be determined based on the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP) 9th edition, Appendix VIII, Part 1. Appendix IX provides a useful guide to naming new cultivars.

If your application is accepted, no further action is required from you and once the administrative work is completed you will receive your registration number. If your application requires modification or is rejected, you may resubmit your application with the required changes.

If necessary, you may attach your answer in a separate document, making sure to mark clearly which question applies.

Before completing this form, we would urge you to consider the following wise words of J.D. Vertrees:

‘It should be clearly evident that any new selection suitable for naming as a new cultivar must have such outstandingly desirable and distinctive features that it can easily be distinguished from any other existing cultivar’

Once completed, please return to me at the email address below. If you have any questions or require any further information before completing this form, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Registrar, via the email on the submission form.