Spring with a salmon glow
Yellow-green leaves open with pink to salmon flushes, making the fresh growth especially luminous.
5
Acer 'Bi Hoo'® 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 ‘Bi Hoo’®
From spring’s “wow” to winter’s “woooow” ❄️
- Yellow-green spring foliage
- Salmon-pink flushes
- Golden-yellow winter stems
- Compact bushy habit
Acer palmatum ‘Bi Hoo’® saves its most unexpected colour for winter: after the leaves fall, young shoots reveal golden-yellow and apricot tones. Fresh spring leaves bring yellow-green and soft pink shades before becoming greener in summer. Autumn returns the canopy to warm yellow and orange. This maple offers something to enjoy even in the garden’s barest season, when its colourful young branching becomes a feature in its own right.
Its dense, bushy and relatively compact habit suits courtyards, sheltered terraces and smaller gardens. Bare winter branching becomes part of the design and looks especially effective against a dark evergreen background or a calm architectural surface.
What makes it special
In ‘Bi Hoo’, foliage, stems and compact form provide three successive sources of interest.
Winter gold
After leaf fall, golden-yellow and orange young stems are revealed, keeping the composition alive.
A compact bushy crown
Dense upright branching creates a clear, useful outline for smaller outdoor settings.
Why you will love it: It offers four seasons of design: luminous spring growth, a green crown, warm autumn colour and golden bare stems.
In the garden & on the balcony Placement & plant combinations A multi-season focal point with a dark background that makes the winter stems especially visible
A winter focal point
Place it near an entrance, seating area or window used in winter so the golden-yellow branching remains visible after leaf fall. The compact bushy habit suits a small garden or large outdoor pot.
For several freely formed plants, allow approximately 1.5–2.5 m from centre to centre, following the mature spread. A dark evergreen or calm surface behind it increases the visibility of the winter stems.
Gold and burgundy
A dark evergreen base brings out the golden-yellow winter stems. In spring and summer, burgundy and silver ferns link the softer tones of the new foliage. These companions share a preference for bright partial shade and organic soil that retains moisture while draining freely.
- Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ — creates a low near-black base that makes the golden-yellow stems and lime new growth stand out immediately
- Liriope muscari ‘Royal Purple’ — adds evergreen dark green foliage and upright purple flower spikes that balance the golden-yellow stems and lime new growth in late summer
- Athyrium niponicum var. pictum ‘Burgundy Lace’ — burgundy and silver fronds link the spring and summer foliage colours; the fern rests below ground in winter.
Care at a glance
Light
Bright partial shade or morning sun; shelter from fierce afternoon sun and drying winds helps preserve the delicate foliage.
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; shelter from fierce afternoon sun and drying winds helps preserve the delicate foliage.
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
Choose a stable outdoor pot with unobstructed drainage and a structured growing mix. Check the available root space periodically and move to a larger pot when roots fill it. Keep enough room around the crown for its natural outline.
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 compact upright bushy crown with bright stemsCareful 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, bushy and upright habit. Its natural line is most attractive when it is not clipped into a rigid shape.
A mature seasonal rhythm
Each year, yellow-green spring leaves with salmon-pink touches develop into a green summer canopy. Warm autumn colours are followed by leaf fall, revealing the golden young stems through winter.
Mature form & dimensions
10–20 yearsHeight 1.5–2.5 mSpread 1.5–2.5 mGolden young stems
An older trunk supports finer, golden-yellow young stems. After leaf fall, the difference between old and young wood becomes clearer.
Form through time
Spring–summerGolden young stems
WinterLeafless golden-yellow young stems
A bare winter framework is normal for a deciduous Acer. Colour and the timing of leaf fall depend on the local microclimate.
What to expect after planting: In a suitable position in open ground, the mature form reaches approximately 1.5–2.5 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 From Japan to Europe, 2003–2004
French nurseryman Guy Maillot acquired ‘Bi Hoo’ in Japan in 2003. His nursery presented it as a new European introduction in 2004, highlighting the unusual golden-yellow to apricot colour of its young wood.
This records its arrival in Europe, rather than its original creation in Japan. The characteristic winter colour is most evident on younger branches, explaining its particular appeal as a maple offering interest through more than one season.
Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScience nobody asked forBotanical details for anyone curious about what lies behind the plant’s appearance
Buds on the winter framework
After leaf fall, pairs of opposite buds become easy to see on the young stems. Beneath each bud is the scar left by the detached leaf. The bare winter framework therefore reveals the arrangement from which new spring growth will develop.
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 warm European regions?
Bright partial shade or morning sun; shelter from fierce afternoon sun and drying winds helps preserve the delicate foliage. A sheltered microclimate matters just as much as the number of hours of light.
02Why does its colour change through the year?
Spring begins yellow-green with salmon flushes, autumn moves through yellow and orange, and golden to orange stems appear after leaf fall.
03Can it remain in a pot?
Yes. Its compact bushy habit is particularly suitable for a large outdoor pot, with free drainage, even moisture and periodic root checks.
04How large does it become and how quickly?
In a suitable position in open ground it reaches approximately 1.5–2.5 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.