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Acer 'Butterfly'® 19cm

Name: Acer 'Butterfly'® 19cm
Brand: Greenleaf Garden Center
SKU: AcerButterf19cm
Price: 29.0 EUR
Availability: InStock

€37,00

€29,00

Quantity

Deciduous ornamental shrub or small tree · Sapindaceae · Upright, narrow and bushy habit

Acer palmatum ‘Butterfly’®

Beautiful, symmetrical and effortlessly classy 🦋

Family: Sapindaceae · Pot diameter: 19 cm · Height: approx. 45 cm

Cream-edged foliage
Pink flushes on fresh growth
Elegant upright habit
Bright autumn colour

Acer palmatum ‘Butterfly’® lights its crown with small green leaves and irregular creamy margins. Slight differences in lobe size and direction give the variegation a hand-painted quality rather than a repeating pattern. Pink often touches the freshest growth in spring, particularly around the young edges. Relatively narrow, upright branching keeps the whole tree delicate and clearly defined, while warm autumn tones provide a final transformation before leaf fall.

Its upright, relatively narrow and bushy form gives structure to an entrance, sheltered terrace or compact border. Small palmate leaves keep the crown intricately textured at close range, while warm orange and red autumn shades create a second, entirely different seasonal peak.

What makes it special

Three distinct qualities give ‘Butterfly’ its bright and refined personality.

Variegation without rigid repetition

Each leaf carries its cream margin with small natural variations, making the crown feel lively and individually painted.

A pink signature on fresh growth

Young edges can take on pink flushes that warm the green-and-white palette and make the spring display even more precious.

An elegant vertical line

The upright, narrower habit creates a clean silhouette and brings height without spreading excessively through a smaller composition.

Why you will love it: It combines the detail of a collectable maple with a luminous palette that renews itself naturally through the year.

In the garden & on the balcony Placement & plant combinations Light against a backdrop

Planting position

Light against a backdrop

A dark backdrop brings out the cream margins. Use it as a slender upright presence in a sheltered courtyard, leaving the flexible side branches free rather than clipping a rigid outline.

Colour & compatibility

Compatible planting

Keep planting low around the slender upright crown. Near-black Ophiopogon emphasises the cream outline, pale fern fronds echo its lighter tones, and Liriope adds purple flowers later in the season. All suit bright partial shade and cool, well-drained soil.

Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ — creates a low near-black base that makes the cream-and-pink variegated crown stand out immediately
Athyrium niponicum var. pictum ‘Pearly White’ — the ivory centres of its fronds brighten the shaded base and give a delicate contrast to the cream-and-pink variegated crown
Liriope muscari ‘Royal Purple’ — adds evergreen dark green foliage and upright purple flower spikes that balance the cream-and-pink variegated crown in late summer

Care at a glance

Light

Bright partial shade or gentle morning sun; protect the variegated foliage from fierce midday sun 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

Bright partial shade or gentle morning sun; protect the variegated foliage from fierce midday sun 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 many years in a large outdoor pot because its habit is relatively narrow. Free drainage, even moisture and periodic checks on available root space remain important.

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. During hard frost, protect the pot as well, as roots in pots are more exposed to cold than roots in the ground.

Development over timeGrowth and seasonal habitNarrow variegated crown

First establishment

On a young plant, cream margins are more apparent on individual leaves than across a full crown. Flexible lateral shoots remain slender.

The natural habit becomes clear

With age, the upright crown develops more short lateral branches and flexible tips. Density increases without losing its delicate variegated texture.

A mature seasonal rhythm

With maturity it repeats its distinctive colour cycle each year: cream-green spring with pink flushes and a warm orange-red autumn, followed by natural leaf fall.

Mature habit & dimensions

in the ground

Height 2.5–4 mSpread 1–1.5 mNarrow variegated crown

The slender trunk carries upright branching with flexible lateral tips. Small leaves have irregular variegated margins rather than forming a uniformly white surface.

Form through time

two views

Deciduous

In leafCream margins and small leaves on slender side branches.

WinterLeaves fall to reveal the branching framework.

Pink young tips and cream margins belong to the leafy season. Natural winter leaf fall exposes the fine, flexible branches.

Mature scale: 2.5–4 m high and 1–1.5 m wide. Eventual growth depends on soil, microclimate and available space.

History & origin Cultivar origin From Japan into international cultivation

‘Butterfly’ is an old Japanese variegated selection known since the nineteenth century. Its history reaches back to 1882, and it may have been cultivated even earlier as ‘Kocho Nishiki’ and ‘Kocho No Mai’.

In 1938, Japanese nurseryman Koichiro Wada distributed it as ‘Butterfly’. Small, irregularly cream-and-green leaves and pink-flushed young margins preserved its distinctive character as it entered international cultivation.

Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScience nobody asked forBotanical details for anyone curious about what lies behind the plant’s appearance

When a green shoot stands out

A shoot consistently producing wholly green leaves may be a reversion rather than a seasonal colour change. Its greater green surface can support stronger growth than the variegated shoots and gradually alter the balance of the 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; protect the variegated foliage from fierce midday sun 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?

Cream margins and pink flushes vary with growth stage, light and temperature. Natural variation between individual leaves is a defining feature of the cultivar.

03Can it remain in a pot?

It can grow for many years in a large outdoor pot because its habit is relatively narrow. Free drainage, even moisture and periodic checks on available root space remain important.

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 1–1.5 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 a leafless winter crown normal?

Yes. ‘Butterfly’ is deciduous, although its bright foliage may suggest an evergreen variegated plant. The fine branches remain bare until the next flush.

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Acer 'Butterfly'® 19cm

Acer 'Butterfly'® 19cm

Acer palmatum ‘Butterfly’®

What makes it special

Variegation without rigid repetition

A pink signature on fresh growth

An elegant vertical line

Light against a backdrop

Compatible planting

Care at a glance

Light

Watering

Climate & hardiness

Safety

Light & microclimate

Planting in the ground

Growing in a pot

Watering & cool roots

Feeding & clean foliage

Pruning & the winter cycle

First establishment

The natural habit becomes clear

A mature seasonal rhythm

Mature habit & dimensions

Form through time

When a green shoot stands out

Frequently asked questions

Acer 'Butterfly'® 19cm — Care & Tips

We take care of the packaging!

With specially designed boxes, we ensure that the plants will reach you intact, no matter what they encounter on the way!

All plants in 3L pots or larger are placed in individual boxes that secure the plant at the base of the pot, preventing it from tipping over.

The cardboard used for the boxes is specially made to provide resistance to potential impacts during transport.

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