Dark purple with transparency
Deep colour does not form a flat mass because the fine divisions allow light to pass between the lobes.
2
Acer 'Black Lace'® premium 19cm
Normal price
€42,00
What does the legal guarantee mean for plants?
The legal guarantee concerns the plant’s conformity at delivery. It is not a guarantee of survival or growth for two years. Each issue is assessed taking into account the nature of the plant, its care and the conditions in which it is kept. Your statutory rights remain unaffected.
Acer palmatum ‘Jww2’ Black Lace®
Dark, mysterious and dangerously attractive 🖤
- Dark red-purple leaves
- Deeply divided feathery texture
- Upright narrow habit
- Orange-red autumn colour
Acer palmatum ‘Jww2’ Black Lace® forms an upright crown of deep purple leaves that can appear almost black in certain light. Five narrow, pointed lobes are separated by deep cuts, allowing glimpses of the fine branching between them. The dark foliage therefore retains an airy quality instead of becoming a solid mass. Bronze-green tones may develop towards late summer, followed by vivid orange and red before autumn leaf fall.
Unlike cascading laceleaf cultivars, its own form is small, upright and relatively narrow. This makes it especially useful near an entrance, in a sheltered courtyard or as a vertical dark accent among brighter foliage.
What makes it special
‘Black Lace’ builds its character through three separate elements: colour, texture and upright architecture.
Five deeply cut lobes
Feathery leaves divide deeply, creating a fine graphic texture very different from broad solid foliage.
A narrow upright silhouette
The crown rises cleanly and remains markedly narrower than its height, offering strong contrast within limited width.
Why you will love it: It brings the dramatic palette of a dark Acer into an elegant upright form with exceptionally detailed foliage.
In the garden & on the balcony Placement & plant combinations Dark upright accent
Dark upright accent
Place beside brighter, lower foliage with clearance from walls. Its upright growth provides contrast without the same broad base required by a weeping maple.
Compatible planting
Brighten the base of the narrow purple crown with golden grass, cream margins and pale fern fronds. Keep the contrast low so the tree’s upright form remains distinct. Bright partial shade and humus-rich, well-drained soil with even moisture suit the combination.
- Hakonechloa macra ‘All Gold’ — creates a low luminous golden-yellow base that makes the near-black finely cut crown appear even deeper
- Liriope muscari ‘Variegata’ — the white margins on its evergreen leaves add clean light at ground level and emphasise the near-black finely cut crown
- Athyrium niponicum var. pictum ‘Pearly White’ — the ivory centres of its fronds brighten the shaded base and give a delicate contrast to the near-black finely cut crown
Care at a glance
Light
Bright partial shade or morning sun; gentle light supports the dark colour, with shelter from fierce afternoon sun and drying winds.
Watering
Water thoroughly when the upper layer begins to dry, maintaining even moisture without waterlogging; check pots more frequently in hot weather.
Climate & hardiness
Deciduous and hardy in winter cold; fresh growth benefits from shelter against late frost, hot dry air and extreme summer exposure.
Safety
An ornamental plant, not food. It is not intended for consumption; place it away from children or animals that tend to chew plant material.
Detailed careComplete care guideLight, microclimate, ground planting, pots, growing medium, watering, feeding, pruning and the winter cycle
Light & microclimate
Bright partial shade or morning sun; gentle light supports the dark colour, with shelter from fierce afternoon sun and drying winds.
Planting in the ground
Plant in fertile, organic, acid to neutral soil that retains moisture yet drains freely. Keep the root collar level with the surrounding soil and allow the natural crown the space indicated by its mature habit.
Growing in a pot
Use a roomy, stable outdoor pot with unobstructed drainage holes and a structured growing medium that resists compaction. Its narrow upright habit can perform for years in a large outdoor pot, with free drainage, even moisture and periodic root-ball checks.
Watering & cool roots
Water thoroughly when the upper layer begins to dry, maintaining even moisture without waterlogging; check pots more frequently in hot weather. An organic mulch helps buffer sudden changes in moisture and temperature.
Feeding & clean foliage
A light application of balanced fertiliser in early spring is usually sufficient. Avoid excessive nitrogen and late feeding, which encourage soft new growth.
Pruning & the winter cycle
Pruning is rarely necessary. Remove only dead, damaged or awkwardly crossing branches after leaf fall and before midwinter. A bare crown in winter is entirely normal. During hard frost, protect the pot as well, as roots in pots are more exposed to cold than roots in the ground.
Development over timeGrowth and seasonal habitUpright narrow branching
First establishment
The young crown may be open, with a few long upright shoots. Deep purple foliage appears before the branching reaches its eventual density.
The natural habit becomes clear
Main branches continue chiefly upwards, adding smaller lateral branches. ‘Black Lace’ does not develop into a low weeping Dissectum maple.
A mature seasonal rhythm
With maturity it repeats its distinctive colour cycle each year: dark red-purple, bronze notes in late summer and bright orange-red autumn colour, followed by natural leaf fall.
Mature habit & dimensions
in the groundHeight 2.5–4 mSpread 1–1.5 mUpright narrow branching
Branches follow a mainly upward course, supporting a relatively narrow crown. Deep cuts in the purple leaves allow the inner framework to remain visible.
Form through time
two viewsDeciduous
In leafNarrow purple lobes on upright branching.
WinterLeaves fall to reveal the branching framework.
Deep purple may acquire bronze-green touches in late summer. After orange-red autumn colour, the bare, mainly upright framework remains.
Mature scale: 2.5–4 m high and 1–1.5 m wide. Eventual growth depends on soil, microclimate and available space.
History & origin Cultivar origin A Dutch selection by Jan Willem Wezelenburg
‘Black Lace’ was found and introduced by Jan Willem Wezelenburg in the Netherlands. The selection combined deeply cut, dark purple foliage with an upright habit.
The selection was named ‘Jww2’ and became known in the trade as Black Lace. It belongs to the horticultural Matsumurae Group; its lace-like appearance should not be confused with the weeping habit of many other finely leaved maples.
Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScience nobody asked forBotanical details for anyone curious about what lies behind the plant’s appearance
Matsumurae, not Dissectum
Cuts extend roughly three quarters of the way towards the leaf base, leaving narrow lobes with coarsely toothed margins. In Dissectum maples, the lobes themselves are further divided into very fine segments; this anatomical distinction matters more than the word ‘Lace’ in a trade name.
Frequently asked questions
Six practical answers covering light, seasonal colour, pots, mature size, pruning and winter leaf fall.
01How much sun will it tolerate in Greece?
Bright partial shade or morning sun; gentle light supports the dark colour, with shelter from fierce afternoon sun and drying winds. A sheltered microclimate matters just as much as the number of hours of light.
02Why does its colour change through the year?
Leaves begin dark red-purple, may take on bronze or green notes by late summer and become orange and red in autumn.
03Can it remain in a pot?
Yes. Its narrow upright habit can perform for years in a large outdoor pot, with free drainage, even moisture and periodic root-ball checks.
04How large does it become and how quickly?
In a suitable position in open ground it reaches approximately 2.5–4 m in height and 1–1.5 m in spread over 10–20 years. Microclimate and available root space influence the rate.
05Does it need pruning to hold its shape?
Usually not; its natural architecture is central to its beauty. If cleaning is needed, work after leaf fall and before midwinter, removing only what is necessary.
06Is a leafless winter crown normal?
Yes. Purple colour belongs to the leaves, which fall after their autumn change. Winter leaves an upright woody framework, not a permanent screen of dark foliage.
📦 Your plant travels protected
Every order is prepared with care so your plant arrives upright, secure and safe.
Individual protection
Plants in pots with a capacity of 3 litres or more are placed in individual boxes that hold the pot securely and reduce the risk of tipping over.
Sturdy packaging
We use reinforced cardboard designed to protect against impacts and vibration during transport.