Colour in successive chapters
Green foliage carries cream and pink margins through spring and summer before the whole crown turns vivid red in autumn.
Acer 'Iyoshi'® 10.5cm
Normal price
€10,00
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 ‘Iyoshi’®
You wanted “something discreet” and got pink margins staring back at you 🙃
- Cream-pink margins
- Fine palmate leaves
- Compact upright habit
- Vivid red autumn colour
Acer palmatum ‘Iyoshi’® looks as though it has passed beneath a miniature painter’s brush: cream and pink strokes unfold around the green of each leaf, sometimes delicate and sometimes so broad that pink almost takes over. Fresh growth lights the crown like a little flowering made entirely of leaves. As the season changes, this gentle variegation gives way to vivid autumn red, bringing an unexpectedly theatrical finale to such a delicate maple.
Its small upright dense form suits a sheltered entrance, terrace or compact garden where close viewing matters. Variegated margins read best against a calm dark background, while the compact crown creates a complete focal point without visual weight.
What makes it special
Three substantial qualities explain why ‘Iyoshi’ stands out both in close detail and in its overall presence.
Foliage that rewards a closer look
Fine palmate leaves show natural variation in the width and intensity of the pale margins.
A silhouette with design value
The compact upright crown acts as a small elegant focal point that rewards close observation.
Why you will love it: A fine pink-cream signature that becomes an entire red scene in autumn.
In the garden & on the balcony Placement & plant combinations A focal point in sheltered bright partial shade, with enough open space to appreciate its small upright crown with dense bushy growth
Pink edges in focus
Use it as a focal point near an entrance, sheltered seating area or in the middle layer of a cool mixed planting. At maturity, it develops a small upright crown with dense bushy growth and benefits from a calm background and sufficient open space to retain its natural architecture.
For several plants retaining a free natural crown, allow centre-to-centre spacing close to the mature spread of 1.5–2.5 m. In a pot choose a stable base, free drainage and a position where the roots are protected from overheating.
Combinations that work
The cream, pink and green palette of ‘Iyoshi’ becomes clearer beside cream stripes, ivory ferns and yellowish margins in contrasting textures. All three choices suit bright partial shade and organic soil with even moisture and good drainage, creating clean layers around the Acer’s natural form.
- Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Little Tabby’ — Small cream-striped clumps continue the variegation at ground level without hiding the trunk.
- Athyrium niponicum var. pictum ‘Pearly White’ — Pale frond centres brighten the shaded base with a contrasting feathery texture.
- Liriope muscari ‘Variegata’ — Pale margins echo the maple’s leaf edges and retain interest after leaf fall.
Care at a glance
Light
Bright partial shade or gentle morning sun; protect the pale margins from fierce afternoon sun and drying wind.
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 pale margins from fierce afternoon sun and drying wind.
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 years in a large outdoor pot with free drainage and even moisture. As it matures towards 1.5–2.5 m × 1.5–2.5 m, check available root space periodically and move to a larger pot when required.
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 a compact upright crown with cream and pink marginsCareful 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 small upright crown with dense bushy growth. 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: green with cream-pink margins in spring and summer, then vivid red autumn colour, followed by natural leaf fall.
Mature form & dimensions
Maturity 10–20 yearsHeight 1.5–2.5 mSpread 1.5–2.5 mSmall upright crown with dense bushy growth
Small palmate leaves brighten the branching crown with pink and cream margins.
Form through time
Deciduous
Spring → summerPink and cream margins
WinterThe same branching after leaf fall
The leaves fall naturally in autumn. Winter reveals the woody framework that will support new growth the following spring.
What to expect after planting: In a suitable position in open ground, the mature form reaches approximately 1.5–2.5 m in height and 1.5–2.5 m in spread over 10–20 years. Growth usually remains more restrained in a pot.
History & origin Cultivar origin The identity of variegated ‘Iyoshi’
‘Iyoshi’ is cultivated as a variegated selection of Acer palmatum, with green leaves combining pale and pink areas in spring.
Its original selector, place of origin, parents and precise introduction date are unknown.
Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScience nobody asked forBotanical details for anyone curious about what lies behind the plant’s appearance
One leaf, several lobes
The five to seven “fingers” are lobes of one continuous leaf blade. The main veins spread from near the point where the stalk joins the blade towards their tips. This palmate arrangement remains clear even where cream and pink change the visual outline.
Pale margins and chlorophyll
In variegated leaves, very pale areas contain less chlorophyll than green tissue. The green surface therefore carries out a greater share of photosynthesis. In ‘Iyoshi’, the contrast between green centres and pale edges makes this difference visible within the same leaf.
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 pale margins from fierce afternoon sun and drying wind. A sheltered microclimate matters just as much as the number of hours of light.
02Why does the amount of pink vary between leaves?
The balance of cream and pink varies naturally between leaves and growth stages; this variation is part of the cultivar’s identity.
03Can it remain in a pot?
It can grow for years in a large outdoor pot with free drainage and even moisture. As it matures towards 1.5–2.5 m × 1.5–2.5 m, check available root space periodically and move to a larger pot when required.
04How large does it become and how quickly?
In a suitable position in open ground it reaches approximately 1.5–2.5 m in height and 1.5–2.5 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 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.
📦 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.