Colour in successive chapters
Very early growth is apricot and golden-orange with pink margins, matures to green and closes the season in orange and yellow.
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Acer 'Katsura'® 19cm
Normal price
€35,00
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 ‘Katsura’®
An early spring “spark” of golden-orange foliage with pink margins 🍁
- Early apricot flush
- Fine pink leaf margins
- Dense elegant crown
- RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit
Acer palmatum ‘Katsura’® opens spring with small apricot and golden-orange leaves, delicately outlined in pink. Its particularly early budbreak brings colour to the crown while many other maples are still bare. As the season progresses, the foliage settles into green, revealing the close arrangement of its neatly lobed leaves. Yellow and orange return before leaf fall, giving the same tree a second luminous highlight rather than a single brief moment of interest.
The dense upright young habit gradually opens into an elegant small tree with a rounded presence. It is particularly effective at entrances, in sheltered courtyards and small gardens, where the early flush becomes the first major colour event of spring.
What makes it special
Three substantial qualities explain why ‘Katsura’ stands out both in close detail and in its overall presence.
Foliage that rewards a closer look
Small palmate leaves create a dense fine surface that keeps the rounded crown visually clear.
A silhouette with design value
The crown begins compact and upright, becoming broader and more balanced with maturity.
Why you will love it: The first colour spark of spring held within a crown that matures with elegance.
In the garden & on the balcony Placement & plant combinations Early spring focal point
Early spring focal point
Choose a position visible from the house to enjoy its early budbreak. Allow the crown to round out freely and keep low planting away from the base of the trunk.
Compatible planting
Echo the apricot spring tones with the fern’s coppery new growth. Near-black leaves and pale yellow lines below provide contrast without competing with the crown. These companions suit bright partial shade with moisture and good drainage.
- Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’ — an evergreen pale yellow line brightens the foreground year-round and complements the warm tones of the spring flush
- Heuchera ‘Obsidian’ — its glossy near-black rounded leaves act as a calm base for the early apricot new growth
- Dryopteris erythrosora ‘Brilliance’ — its orange-red new fronds repeat the warm tones and give an airy counterweight to the early apricot new growth
Care at a glance
Light
Bright partial shade or morning sun, sheltering the early flush from fierce midday sun, drying wind and late frost.
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, sheltering the early flush from fierce midday sun, drying wind and late frost.
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. Growth in a pot depends on available root space; check the roots and repot when needed.
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 habitDense upright crown
First establishment
The first apricot flush may precede substantial branch extension. A young plant has not yet developed the dense rounded crown of maturity.
The natural habit becomes clear
Over successive growing seasons, upright limbs gain more fine lateral branches. The crown gradually broadens and the small leaves form a more continuous surface.
A mature seasonal rhythm
With maturity it repeats its distinctive colour cycle each year: apricot-gold spring, green summer and orange-yellow autumn, followed by natural leaf fall.
Mature habit & dimensions
in the groundHeight 2.5–4 mSpread 2.5–4 mDense upright crown
The trunk divides into upright limbs and finer lateral branches. Small leaves cluster around closely spaced nodes, and the crown broadens as it matures.
Form through time
two viewsDeciduous
SpringSmall golden-orange leaves along the fine branches.
WinterLeaves fall to reveal the branching framework.
The very early, warm-coloured flush turns green in summer. After an orange-yellow autumn, leaves fall while the branches remain for the next cycle.
Mature scale: 2.5–4 m high and 2.5–4 m wide. Eventual growth depends on soil, microclimate and available space.
History & origin Cultivar origin An early spring selection
‘Katsura’ is an established garden selection of Acer palmatum. Its original selector and precise selection date remain unclear.
Early budbreak and small, closely spaced leaves distinguish it in cultivation. Its garden performance is also recognised by the RHS Award of Garden Merit. The award was granted in 2002.
Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScience nobody asked forBotanical details for anyone curious about what lies behind the plant’s appearance
One blade, several lobes
The leaf lobes remain connected within one blade carried on a single petiole. They are not separate leaflets: this distinguishes the maple’s palmately lobed leaf from a palmately compound 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 morning sun, sheltering the early flush from fierce midday sun, drying wind and late frost. A sheltered microclimate matters just as much as the number of hours of light.
02Why does its colour change through the year?
The apricot spring shade and pink margin are strongest on the first flush and naturally soften as the leaves become green.
03Can it remain in a pot?
It can grow for years in a large outdoor pot with free drainage and even moisture. Growth in a pot depends on available root space; check the roots and repot when needed.
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 20–50 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?
‘Katsura’ naturally loses its leaves in winter and starts again particularly early in spring. Fresh growth needs protection from late frost, even when the established tree tolerates winter cold.
📦 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.