Colour in successive chapters
Deep purple and aubergine hold through the warm season before turning brilliant crimson and red in autumn.
4
Acer 'Inaba-shidare'® premium 19cm
Normal price
€39,00
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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 ‘Inaba-shidare’®
“Just a little colour”, it said… then burgundy appeared everywhere 🙃
- Deep purple laceleaf foliage
- Vigorous cascading growth
- Fluid arching branches
- RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit
Acer palmatum ‘Inaba-shidare’® clothes its arching branches in deep purple lace, creating a crown that flows in overlapping layers. The finely cut leaves retain rich dark tones through summer, while openings between them reveal the elegant branching. Its charm lies in this meeting of strong colour and airy texture. With autumn, purple gives way to bright crimson and red, as though the whole cascade were lit from within.
Its vigorous cascading form acts as a natural sculpture on a border edge, above low planting or in a wide outdoor pot. The crown flows around the trunk and softens stone, steps and modern rigid lines with a rich collectable presence.
The cultivar ‘Inaba-shidare’ holds the RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit (1993), an internationally recognised distinction for dependable garden performance.
What makes it special
Three substantial qualities explain why ‘Inaba-shidare’ stands out both in close detail and in its overall presence.
Foliage that rewards a closer look
Exceptionally deep divisions give the foliage an airy lace-like texture even when the palette is very dark.
A silhouette with design value
Vigorous arching branches build a broad layered crown that flows naturally outwards and down.
Why you will love it: A rich purple cascade that becomes a luminous crimson scene in autumn.
In the garden & on the balcony Placement & plant combinations A focal point in sheltered bright partial shade, with enough open space to appreciate its vigorous arching crown with a cascading habit
Purple curves
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 vigorous arching crown with a cascading habit 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 indicative mature spread of 1.5–2.5 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 purple palette and vivid red autumn colour of ‘Inaba-shidare’ become clearer beside golden arcs, white margins and coppery 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.
- Hakonechloa macra ‘All Gold’ — Golden-yellow arches light the ground beneath the purple leaves.
- Liriope muscari ‘Variegata’ — Pale stripes add fine lines at the base, with foliage that remains through winter.
- Dryopteris erythrosora — Coppery young fronds connect the warm colours, while their fine divisions complement the laceleaf texture.
Care at a glance
Light
Bright partial shade or gentle morning sun, sheltered from fierce afternoon 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, sheltered from fierce afternoon 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 years in a large outdoor pot with free drainage and even moisture. As it matures towards 1.5–2.5 m × 1.5–2.5 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 cascading crown with deep purple 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 vigorous arching crown with a cascading habit. 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 purple from spring through summer and brilliant crimson-red in autumn, followed by natural leaf fall.
Mature form & dimensions
Maturity 20–50 yearsHeight 1.5–2.5 mSpread 1.5–2.5 mVigorous arching crown with a cascading habit
Strong lateral branches spread into looser, cascading tips.
Form through time
Deciduous
Spring → summerDeep purple foliage
WinterThe same branching after leaf fall
The leaves fall naturally in autumn. Winter reveals the woody framework that will support new growth the following spring.
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 20–50 years. Growth usually remains more restrained in a pot.
History & origin Cultivar origin A laceleaf selection awarded the RHS AGM in 1993
‘Inaba-shidare’ is a cultivar of Acer palmatum in the Dissectum Group, with purple, deeply divided foliage and a weeping habit. Its original selector, parents and precise date of origin are unknown.
In 1993 the Royal Horticultural Society awarded it the Award of Garden Merit for its performance as an ornamental garden plant.
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.
One fruit, two samaras
The small spring flowers can produce pairs of winged samaras. Botanically, the pair forms a schizocarp that separates into two parts, each with its own wing. The samaras mature towards autumn and may turn red.
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, sheltered from fierce afternoon sun and drying winds. A sheltered microclimate matters just as much as the number of hours of light.
02Does it stay purple through summer?
Yes, it usually retains rich purple tones through summer. Their depth varies with light and temperature; in autumn the foliage brightens to crimson 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 matures towards 1.5–2.5 m × 1.5–2.5 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 1.5–2.5 m in height and 1.5–2.5 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.
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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.