Foliage like green lace
Deep divisions separate the leaves into very fine lobes, giving the crown an exceptionally light, feathery texture.
7
Acer 'Emerald Lace'® 10.5cm
Normal price
€10,00
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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 ‘Emerald Lace’®
Lacy elegance that ripples in the slightest breeze 🪶
- Exceptionally fine laceleaf foliage
- Mounded crown with arching branches
- Intense red autumn colour
- RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit
Acer palmatum ‘Emerald Lace’® creates an airy green filigree that moves in the slightest breeze. Deeply divided leaves with fine, feathery lobes spread across arching branches, forming a luminous flowing surface with exceptional depth and detail. In autumn, this graceful green presence becomes a rich palette of red and orange, delivering a striking finale to the season.
Its vigorous mound-forming habit softens hard lines and brings movement to sheltered courtyards, borders and large outdoor pots. It is equally compelling as a low focal point or as a light visual bridge between stone, timber and foliage with a more solid texture.
The cultivar ‘Emerald Lace’ holds the RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit (2012), an internationally recognised distinction for dependable garden performance.
What makes it special
‘Emerald Lace’ stands out through three genuinely different qualities, from the detail of each leaf to its mature outline.
Curves that create movement
Branches spread and arch naturally, forming a mounded outline that appears to flow over its base.
A warm autumn finale
Clear green moves into red, orange and deeper burgundy shades before natural leaf fall.
Why you will love it: It brings together the delicacy of lace, the presence of a generous mature crown and a spectacular autumn transformation.
In the garden & on the balcony Placement & plant combinations A flowing focal point in sheltered partial shade, with room for the mounded crown to develop
An open arching canopy
Give it a position as a low, broad focal point beside seating, in a stone courtyard or in the front-to-middle layer of a cool mixed planting. The mature mounded crown becomes as broad as it is tall, so clear space around it is essential.
For several plants retaining a free natural form, allow approximately 2.5–4 m from centre to centre, following the mature spread. Growth remains more restrained in a pot, but long-term stability and free drainage are essential.
Lace and contrast
Dark rounded leaves contrast with the fine green lace, while golden tussocks and coppery ferns add warmer layers. These companions share a preference for bright partial shade and organic soil that retains moisture while draining freely.
- Heuchera ‘Obsidian’ — its glossy near-black rounded leaves act as a calm base for the fine green lace and red autumn colour
- Hakonechloa macra ‘All Gold’ — creates a low luminous golden-yellow base that makes the fine green lace and red autumn colour appear even deeper
- Dryopteris erythrosora ‘Brilliance’ — its orange-red new fronds repeat the warm tones and give an airy counterweight to the fine green lace and red autumn colour
Care at a glance
Light
Bright partial shade or morning sun; protect the exceptionally fine foliage 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; protect the exceptionally fine foliage 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
Choose a stable outdoor pot with unobstructed drainage and a structured growing mix. Check the available root space periodically and move to a larger pot when roots fill it. Keep enough room around the crown for its natural outline.
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.
Development over timeFrom a young Acer to open mounded crown with arching branchesCareful establishment gradually gives way to characteristic natural branching and increasingly rich seasonal changes.
First establishment
After planting, new growth may be restrained while the root system settles. Even moisture and a sheltered microclimate matter more than rapid extension.
The natural habit becomes clear
As the main shoots branch, the plant gradually develops a vigorous, mound-forming crown with arched branches. Its natural line is most attractive when it is not clipped into a rigid shape.
A mature seasonal rhythm
With maturity it repeats its distinctive colour cycle each year: bright green from spring through summer and red-orange in autumn, followed by natural leaf fall.
Mature form & dimensions
10–20 yearsHeight 2.5–4 mSpread 2.5–4 mArching laceleaf canopy
Branches arch outwards and downwards to form a broad mounded crown. Deeply divided leaves leave small openings between them.
Form through time
Spring–summerArching laceleaf canopy
WinterBare branching after leaf fall
A bare winter framework is normal for a deciduous Acer. Colour and the timing of leaf fall depend on the local microclimate.
What to expect after planting: In a suitable position in open ground, the mature form reaches approximately 2.5–4 m in height and 2.5–4 m in spread over 10–20 years. Growth usually remains more restrained in a pot.
History & origin Cultivar origin The European introduction of ‘Emerald Lace’
Esveld, the specialist maple nursery in Boskoop, the Netherlands, included ‘Emerald Lace’ among its own introductions. In 2003 the cultivar received a Certificate of Merit, providing a dated milestone in its European horticultural history.
It belongs to the Dissectum Group, with deeply divided leaves and finer secondary lobes. Esveld’s recorded introduction does not by itself identify the original raiser or the year in which the first plant appeared.
Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScience nobody asked forBotanical details for anyone curious about what lies behind the plant’s appearance
Lace cut from one leaf blade
The deep cuts in ‘Emerald Lace’ extend close to the base of the leaf, and its lobes divide again into finer segments. It remains a simple leaf with one stalk, rather than a compound leaf made of separate leaflets. This repeated division explains the characteristic lace-like texture of the Dissectum Group.
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 warm European regions?
Bright partial shade or morning sun; protect the exceptionally fine foliage 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?
The natural transition begins in bright green and peaks in red and orange during autumn. Timing and intensity vary with light, temperature and microclimate.
03Can it remain in a pot?
It can live for many years in a large, broad outdoor pot. Because it is vigorous and mound-forming, it needs periodic root checks and ample space around the crown.
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 2.5–4 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 it normal for the tree to be bare in winter?
Yes. It is deciduous and sheds its leaves in autumn after completing its colour cycle. Fresh growth returns in spring.
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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.