Colour in successive chapters
Orange-red spring colour becomes reddish green in summer and returns to bright orange and red in autumn.
Acer 'Orangeola'® 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 ‘Orangeola’®
Yes, it is “just a little tree”. Say that again when you see it in October 😏
- Orange-red spring growth
- Fine laceleaf foliage
- Flowing cascading crown
- RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit
Acer palmatum ‘Orangeola’® unfurls orange-red lace in spring, flowing over gently arching branches. As the leaves mature, the palette deepens to reddish green, while younger tips can introduce fresh warm highlights. The crown becomes an ever-changing composition, with different tones meeting within the same soft folds. In autumn, brighter orange and red return to complete one of the most expressive colour cycles among laceleaf Japanese maples.
Its broad mounded cascading form is ideal on a border edge, above low planting or in a wide outdoor pot. Branches flow in layers and create a clear architectural line, softening stone, steps and rigid surfaces.
The cultivar ‘Orangeola’ holds the RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit (2012), an internationally recognised distinction for dependable garden performance.
What makes it special
Three substantial qualities explain why ‘Orangeola’ stands out both in close detail and in its overall presence.
Foliage that rewards a closer look
Deeply divided leaves create a fine lace-like surface moving freely across arching branches.
A silhouette with design value
The broad mounded crown flows outwards and down, acting as a complete natural sculpture.
Why you will love it: An orange-red cascade that changes tone without ever losing its flowing elegance.
In the garden & on the balcony Placement & plant combinations A focal point in sheltered bright partial shade, with enough open space to appreciate its broad mound with arching cascading branches
Orange-red lace
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 broad mound with arching cascading branches 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 indicative 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 orange-red, green and deep red palette of ‘Orangeola’ becomes clearer beside yellow lines, near-black leaves and coppery ferns. 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.
- Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’ — Yellowish stripes and arching blades brighten the front edge throughout the year.
- Heuchera ‘Obsidian’ — Broad, almost black leaves form a quiet base beneath the finely cut crown.
- Dryopteris erythrosora — Coppery young fronds repeat the warm colours with a more upright, feathery texture.
Care at a glance
Light
Bright partial shade or gentle morning sun, sheltered from fierce afternoon sun, reflected heat 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, sheltered from fierce afternoon sun, reflected heat 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 2.5–4 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 broad cascading crown with orange-red laceleaf foliageCareful 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 broad mound with arching cascading 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: orange-red spring, reddish-green summer and bright orange autumn colour, followed by natural leaf fall.
Mature form & dimensions
Maturity 10–20 yearsHeight 2.5–4 mSpread 1.5–2.5 mBroad mound with arching cascading branches
Arching branches carry successive layers of finely divided foliage cascading towards the ground.
Form through time
Deciduous
Spring → summerOrange-red new growth
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 2.5–4 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 A laceleaf selection with an Award of Garden Merit
‘Orangeola’ is a laceleaf, weeping selection of Acer palmatum, with orange-red new growth. Its original selector, place of origin and parents are unknown.
In 2012 the Royal Horticultural Society awarded the cultivar its Award of Garden Merit.
Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScience nobody asked forBotanical details for anyone curious about what lies behind the plant’s appearance
Lobes divided a second time
Deep cuts extend almost to the leaf base. Each main lobe divides again into fine, toothed segments: this secondary division distinguishes the Dissectum Group from simply lobed maples.
New growth above a mature crown
Young orange-red leaves and mature reddish-green leaves have different pigment balances. Anthocyanins contribute red tones, while chlorophyll contributes green. A fresh flush can therefore add a second colour layer to the same summer 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, sheltered from fierce afternoon sun, reflected heat and drying wind. A sheltered microclimate matters just as much as the number of hours of light.
02Why are green and orange leaves present together?
The summer shift to reddish green is natural; fresh growth may introduce warmer orange tones again during the season.
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 2.5–4 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 2.5–4 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.