Variegation without rigid repetition
Each leaf carries its cream margin with small natural variations, making the crown feel lively and individually painted.
Acer 'Butterfly'® 19cm
Normal price
€37,00
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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 ‘Butterfly’®
Beautiful, symmetrical and effortlessly classy 🦋
- Cream-edged foliage
- Pink flushes on fresh growth
- Elegant upright habit
- Bright autumn colour
Acer palmatum ‘Butterfly’® lights its crown with small green leaves and irregular creamy margins. Slight differences in lobe size and direction give the variegation a hand-painted quality rather than a repeating pattern. Pink often touches the freshest growth in spring, particularly around the young edges. Relatively narrow, upright branching keeps the whole tree delicate and clearly defined, while warm autumn tones provide a final transformation before leaf fall.
Its upright, relatively narrow and bushy form gives structure to an entrance, sheltered terrace or compact border. Small palmate leaves keep the crown intricately textured at close range, while warm orange and red autumn shades create a second, entirely different seasonal peak.
What makes it special
Three distinct qualities give ‘Butterfly’ its bright and refined personality.
A pink signature on fresh growth
Young edges can take on pink flushes that warm the green-and-white palette and make the spring display even more precious.
An elegant vertical line
The upright, narrower habit creates a clean silhouette and brings height without spreading excessively through a smaller composition.
Why you will love it: It combines the detail of a collectable maple with a luminous palette that renews itself naturally through the year.
In the garden & on the balcony Placement & plant combinations Light against a backdrop
Light against a backdrop
A dark backdrop brings out the cream margins. Use it as a slender upright presence in a sheltered courtyard, leaving the flexible side branches free rather than clipping a rigid outline.
Compatible planting
Keep planting low around the slender upright crown. Near-black Ophiopogon emphasises the cream outline, pale fern fronds echo its lighter tones, and Liriope adds purple flowers later in the season. All suit bright partial shade and cool, well-drained soil.
- Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ — creates a low near-black base that makes the cream-and-pink variegated crown stand out immediately
- Athyrium niponicum var. pictum ‘Pearly White’ — the ivory centres of its fronds brighten the shaded base and give a delicate contrast to the cream-and-pink variegated crown
- Liriope muscari ‘Royal Purple’ — adds evergreen dark green foliage and upright purple flower spikes that balance the cream-and-pink variegated crown in late summer
Care at a glance
Light
Bright partial shade or gentle morning sun; protect the variegated foliage from fierce midday 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 gentle morning sun; protect the variegated foliage from fierce midday 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. It can grow for many years in a large outdoor pot because its habit is relatively narrow. Free drainage, even moisture and periodic checks on available root space remain important.
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 habitNarrow variegated crown
First establishment
On a young plant, cream margins are more apparent on individual leaves than across a full crown. Flexible lateral shoots remain slender.
The natural habit becomes clear
With age, the upright crown develops more short lateral branches and flexible tips. Density increases without losing its delicate variegated texture.
A mature seasonal rhythm
With maturity it repeats its distinctive colour cycle each year: cream-green spring with pink flushes and a warm orange-red autumn, followed by natural leaf fall.
Mature habit & dimensions
in the groundHeight 2.5–4 mSpread 1–1.5 mNarrow variegated crown
The slender trunk carries upright branching with flexible lateral tips. Small leaves have irregular variegated margins rather than forming a uniformly white surface.
Form through time
two viewsDeciduous
In leafCream margins and small leaves on slender side branches.
WinterLeaves fall to reveal the branching framework.
Pink young tips and cream margins belong to the leafy season. Natural winter leaf fall exposes the fine, flexible branches.
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 From Japan into international cultivation
‘Butterfly’ is an old Japanese variegated selection known since the nineteenth century. Its history reaches back to 1882, and it may have been cultivated even earlier as ‘Kocho Nishiki’ and ‘Kocho No Mai’.
In 1938, Japanese nurseryman Koichiro Wada distributed it as ‘Butterfly’. Small, irregularly cream-and-green leaves and pink-flushed young margins preserved its distinctive character as it entered international cultivation.
Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScience nobody asked forBotanical details for anyone curious about what lies behind the plant’s appearance
When a green shoot stands out
A shoot consistently producing wholly green leaves may be a reversion rather than a seasonal colour change. Its greater green surface can support stronger growth than the variegated shoots and gradually alter the balance of the crown.
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 gentle morning sun; protect the variegated foliage from fierce midday 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?
Cream margins and pink flushes vary with growth stage, light and temperature. Natural variation between individual leaves is a defining feature of the cultivar.
03Can it remain in a pot?
It can grow for many years in a large outdoor pot because its habit is relatively narrow. Free drainage, even moisture and periodic checks on available root space remain important.
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. ‘Butterfly’ is deciduous, although its bright foliage may suggest an evergreen variegated plant. The fine branches remain bare until the next flush.
📦 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.