Colour in successive chapters
Later purple-red spring growth holds deep red through summer and turns clear brilliant red in autumn.
Acer 'Red Emperor'® 19cm
Normal price
€35,00
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Acer palmatum 'Red Emperor'
It brings depth in summer and lights up red in autumn 🍁
- Deep red through the season
- Later spring leaf emergence
- Upright architectural crown
- Brilliant red autumn colour
Acer palmatum ‘Red Emperor’ keeps red as its defining signature from spring into autumn. Its relatively late flush opens purple-red, holds rich deep red through summer and clears to brilliant scarlet in autumn. Deeply lobed leaves bring fine texture, while the large upright crown adds depth and architectural strength to the landscape. Its presence remains refined at close range and clear from a distance, allowing it to act as a complete ornamental feature that renews the composition with every seasonal transition. It is a cultivar with a distinct identity, capable of turning even a restrained corner into a scene of colour, movement and collectable character.
Its upright broad clearly branched form is intended for a setting where it can mature into a substantial small tree. It acts as a strong garden focal point, gives dark depth behind brighter foliage and marks the autumn transition with striking clarity.
What makes it special
Three substantial qualities explain why ‘Red Emperor’ stands out both in close detail and in its overall presence.
Foliage that rewards a closer look
Deeply lobed leaves break the dark mass into fine lines and keep the crown light.
A silhouette with design value
The large upright crown creates a strong vertical presence and needs long-term space for free development.
Why you will love it: Deep red with architectural confidence and an autumn finale impossible to overlook.
In the garden & on the balcony Placement & plant combinations A focal point in sheltered bright partial shade, with enough open space to appreciate its large upright crown with broad branching
A position that reveals its large upright crown with stable deep red foliage
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 large upright crown with broad branching 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 verified mature spread of 4–8 m. In a pot choose a stable base, free drainage and a position where the roots are protected from overheating.
Combinations that work
The deep red and purple palette of ‘Red Emperor’ becomes clearer beside golden arcs, winter evergreen fragrance and green feathery rosettes. 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.
- Hakonechloa macra ‘All Gold’ — creates a low luminous golden-yellow base that makes the large upright architectural crown appear even deeper
- Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis — adds a low glossy evergreen mass and subtle winter fragrance behind or beside the large upright architectural crown
- Polystichum setiferum — its soft evergreen rosettes retain green winter structure and quietly support the large upright architectural crown
Care at a glance
Light
Morning sun or bright partial shade, sheltered from fierce afternoon sun, reflected heat 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
Morning sun or bright partial shade, sheltered from fierce afternoon sun, reflected heat 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 years in a large outdoor pot with free drainage and even moisture. As it matures towards 4–8 m × 4–8 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 large upright crown with stable deep red 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 large upright crown with broad branching. 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: purple-red spring, deep red summer and brilliant scarlet autumn colour, followed by natural leaf fall.
Mature form & dimensions
Maturity 20–50 yearsHeight 4–8 mSpread 4–8 mLarge upright crown with broad branching
Indicative natural silhouette; verified mature dimensions 4–8 m high × 4–8 m wide.
The palette through the year
Deciduous
Spring → summerPurple-red and deep red
AutumnClear brilliant red
The crown is naturally bare in winter. Colour intensity and timing vary with light, temperature and microclimate.
What to expect after planting: In a suitable position in open ground, the mature form reaches approximately 4–8 m in height and 4–8 m in spread over 20–50 years. Growth usually remains more restrained in a pot.
History & breeding Cultivar origin Breeder, original selection and the cultivar’s history
‘Red Emperor’, also known as ‘Emperor I’ and ‘Wolff’, was selected by Dick Wolff at Red Maple Nursery in Pennsylvania. Wolff introduced it in 1976 as a distinct red-leaved selection with a later spring flush.
Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScience nobody asked forBotanical details for anyone curious about what lies behind the plant’s appearance
Palmatum horticultural group
In the horticultural classification of Japanese maples, this cultivar belongs to the Palmatum Group: its leaves usually have five to seven lobes, cut beyond halfway into the blade without the fine secondary division 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 Greece?
Morning sun or bright partial shade, sheltered from fierce afternoon sun, reflected heat 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?
Summer red depth varies with gentle light and temperature, while later leaf emergence is characteristic and often reduces exposure to early frost.
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 4–8 m × 4–8 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 4–8 m in height and 4–8 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 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.