Colour in successive chapters
Deep garnet to purple-red in spring and summer, followed by warm orange and red in autumn.
Acer 'Royal Garnet'® 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 'Royal Garnet' ('Opstal11' PBR)
Small in the pot, regal in colour 👑🍁
- Deep garnet foliage
- Deeply divided leaves
- Dense broad crown
- Orange-red autumn colour
Acer palmatum ‘Royal Garnet’ wears a deep garnet colour that immediately brings a sense of luxury to a planting. Deeply divided leaves open purple-red, retain a rich dark tone through the season and warm to orange and red in autumn. Its dense crown begins upright and gradually broadens, with softly arching branches adding natural flow. Its presence reads clearly from a distance and reveals still more detail at close range, creating a complete, luxurious display that renews itself with every seasonal change.
Its strong dark palette makes it an excellent focal point at an entrance, on a sheltered terrace or in a small garden where the crown can develop freely. Beside lime, gold or silver-green foliage it creates clear contrast and gives the composition depth and elegant cohesion.
What makes it special
Three substantial qualities explain why ‘Royal Garnet’ stands out both in close detail and in its overall presence.
Foliage that rewards a closer look
Deeply divided leaves form a rich articulated surface with refined outlines.
A silhouette with design value
The dense upright young habit broadens with age and develops a softly arching line.
Why you will love it: Regal depth of colour and dense natural architecture in an Acer with unmistakable collectable presence.
In the garden & on the balcony Placement & plant combinations A focal point in sheltered bright partial shade, with enough open space to appreciate its dense initially upright crown becoming broader with softly arching branches
A position that reveals its dense broad crown with deep garnet 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 dense initially upright crown becoming broader with softly arching branches and benefits from a calm background and sufficient open space to retain its natural architecture.
In a group planting, allow enough open space for branches to develop without crowding. In a pot choose a stable base, free drainage and a position where the roots are protected from overheating.
Combinations that work
The deep garnet with orange-red autumn colour palette of ‘Royal Garnet’ becomes clearer beside yellow lines, yellow spring flowers and ivory 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’ — keeps a fine evergreen yellow line in the foreground and lights up the small dense garnet crown throughout the year
- Epimedium perralderianum ‘Fröhnleiten’ — spreads low evergreen foliage and bright yellow spring flowers in front of the small dense garnet crown
- Athyrium niponicum var. pictum ‘Pearly White’ — the ivory centres of its fronds brighten the shaded base and give a delicate contrast to the small dense garnet crown
Care at a glance
Light
Morning sun or bright partial shade, sheltered 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
Morning sun or bright partial shade, sheltered 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 approaches the verified height of approx. 2 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 dense broad crown with deep garnet 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 dense initially upright crown becoming broader with softly arching 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: deep garnet in spring and summer and orange-red autumn colour, followed by natural leaf fall.
Mature form & dimensions
Maturity at 7 yearsHeight approx. 2 mDense initially upright crown becoming broader with softly arching branches
Indicative natural silhouette; verified height approx. 2 m at the stated stage of maturity.
The palette through the year
Deciduous
Spring → summerDeep garnet to purple-red
AutumnOrange and 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, it reaches approximately approx. 2 m in height at 7 years and broadens naturally as it matures. Growth usually remains more restrained in a pot.
History & breeding Cultivar origin Breeder, original selection and the cultivar’s history
‘Royal Garnet’ carries the code ‘Opstal11’ and was discovered in the Netherlands by Ron van Opstal. He selected it for the combination of deeply divided leaves, strong branching and a broad, gently cascading mature habit.
The cultivar begins with a denser, more upright framework and broadens markedly from about its fifth year. It is protected in the European Union under no. 57550 and was introduced internationally through Plantipp.
Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScience nobody asked forBotanical details for anyone curious about what lies behind the plant’s appearance
Dissectum horticultural group
In the Dissectum Group, the main lobes reach almost to the leaf base and divide again into finely toothed segments; this secondary division creates the characteristic lace-like texture.
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 and drying wind. A sheltered microclimate matters just as much as the number of hours of light.
02Why does its colour change through the year?
Garnet intensity varies with gentle light and temperature, while the autumn transition adds warm orange and red.
03Can it remain in a pot?
It can grow for years in a large outdoor pot with free drainage and even moisture. As it approaches the verified height of approx. 2 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 approx. 2 m in height at 7 years. Final spread is shaped by microclimate, available root space and natural branching.
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.