Colour in successive chapters
Reddish purple with vivid pink margins in spring, olive-green and cream notes in summer and orange-red autumn colour.
Acer 'Shirazz'® 19cm
Normal price
€42,00
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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 'Shirazz'
- Vivid pink margins
- Purple to olive-green foliage
- Arching broad crown
- Orange-red autumn colour
Acer palmatum ‘Shirazz’ combines the depth of purple with a vivid pink margin that appears hand-painted. The spring crown opens reddish purple with a strong pink edge, develops olive-green and cream notes through summer and warms to orange and red in autumn. Every leaf contributes a slightly different stroke to the whole display. 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.
The upright young habit broadens with age and arching branches create a wide elegant silhouette. At a sheltered entrance or in a generous courtyard it becomes a collectable focal point, especially against a calm pale background that reveals the pink margins.
What makes it special
Three substantial qualities explain why ‘Shirazz’ stands out both in close detail and in its overall presence.
Foliage that rewards a closer look
Lobed leaves show natural variation in their pink and cream margins, creating a richly painted surface.
A silhouette with design value
Upright growth becomes broader and arching branches bring flow to the mature crown.
Why you will love it: A purple Acer with a pink signature, rich seasonal development and a mature silhouette that softens its setting.
In the garden & on the balcony Placement & plant combinations A focal point in sheltered bright partial shade, with enough open space to appreciate its upright gradually broad crown with elegant arching branches
A position that reveals its broad arching crown with pink-edged 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 an upright gradually broad crown with elegant arching 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 verified mature spread of 2.5–4 m. In a pot choose a stable base, free drainage and a position where the roots are protected from overheating.
Combinations that work
The purple, pink and olive-green palette of ‘Shirazz’ becomes clearer beside black bases, white margins and silver-purple 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.
- Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ — creates a low near-black base that makes the broad purple crown with bright pink margins stand out immediately
- Liriope muscari ‘Variegata’ — the white margins on its evergreen leaves add clean light at ground level and emphasise the broad purple crown with bright pink margins
- Athyrium niponicum var. pictum — its silver-green fronds with purple veins add a cool glow beside the broad purple crown with bright pink margins
Care at a glance
Light
Bright partial shade or gentle morning sun; protect the pink and cream 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 pink and cream 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 4–8 m × 2.5–4 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 arching crown with pink-edged 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 an upright gradually broad crown with elegant 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: reddish purple and pink in spring, olive-green and cream in summer and orange-red autumn colour, followed by natural leaf fall.
Mature form & dimensions
Maturity 10–20 yearsHeight 4–8 mSpread 2.5–4 mUpright gradually broad crown with elegant arching branches
Indicative natural silhouette; verified mature dimensions 4–8 m high × 2.5–4 m wide.
The palette through the year
Deciduous
Spring → summerReddish purple with a vivid pink margin
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, the mature form reaches approximately 4–8 m in height and 2.5–4 m in spread over 10–20 years. Growth usually remains more restrained in a pot.
History & breeding Cultivar origin Breeder, original selection and the cultivar’s history
The cultivar was found in 2001 by James Palmer Rumbal at Brixton, New Zealand, as a variegated sport of ‘Geisha’. Rumbal retained the stable shoot and developed it as a new selection.
Duncan & Davies Nursery released it in 2006 under the original name ‘Gwen’s Rose Delight’. The same cultivar later became established in the European market under the trade name ‘Shirazz’.
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?
Bright partial shade or gentle morning sun; protect the pink and cream margins 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?
The balance of pink, cream, purple and olive green varies naturally by season and from leaf to leaf.
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 × 2.5–4 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 2.5–4 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.
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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.