Colour in successive chapters
Pink young growth matures to grey-green with cream margins and warms to reddish pink and golden orange in autumn.
Acer 'Kagiri-nishiki'® 19cm
Normal price
€22,00
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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 ‘Kagiri-nishiki’®
Airy foliage in shades of pink, cream and green 🎨
- Cream-variegated margins
- Pink spring flushes
- Airy asymmetric leaves
- Warm reddish-pink autumn colour
Acer palmatum ‘Kagiri-nishiki’® carries grey-green leaves outlined by a narrow, irregular cream margin. Pink washes the edges of fresh growth, while five slightly asymmetrical lobes give individual leaves their own character. Slender branches remain visible between loose groups of foliage, keeping the crown airy rather than solid. In autumn, reddish and pink tones gradually replace the cool summer palette before the leaves fall and reveal the branching beneath.
Over time, the plant can become a small tree with a broad crown, so it needs enough room to develop. When young it performs beautifully in a sheltered courtyard or large pot, but its true value appears when the variegated crown can open freely against a calm background.
What makes it special
Three substantial qualities explain why ‘Kagiri-nishiki’ stands out both in close detail and in its overall presence.
Foliage that rewards a closer look
Asymmetric finely lobed leaves create an airy surface with natural variation in the variegated margin.
A silhouette with design value
The upright crown broadens with age and needs space for its open branching and variegated foliage to stand out.
Why you will love it: Airy painted foliage maturing into a genuine small tree with presence.
In the garden & on the balcony Placement & plant combinations Room for the crown
Room for the crown
Plant against a quiet green backdrop, not beside a narrow passage. Its fine variegation needs visual space, and the tree needs long-term allowance for a broad crown.
Compatible planting
The broad variegated crown benefits from a quiet base rather than more patterned foliage. Dark Ophiopogon emphasises the cream margins, while skimmia and fern retain green structure after the maple loses its leaves. Choose bright partial shade and cool, humus-rich, well-drained soil.
- Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ — creates a low near-black base that makes the large airy variegated crown stand out immediately
- Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’ — its red winter buds and dark evergreen foliage create a calm background layer for the large airy variegated crown
- Polystichum setiferum — its soft evergreen rosettes retain green winter structure and quietly support the large airy variegated crown
Care at a glance
Light
Bright partial shade or gentle morning sun; protect the cream margins 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; protect the cream margins 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. Growth in a pot depends on available root space; check the roots and repot when needed.
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 habitOpen spreading crown
First establishment
Initially, a few main branches and gaps between variegated leaves are apparent. This sparse young outline does not represent the width the tree may acquire later.
The natural habit becomes clear
Lateral branches extend in different directions, creating a broad, relatively open crown. Natural asymmetry remains part of the cultivar’s habit.
A mature seasonal rhythm
With maturity it repeats its distinctive colour cycle each year: pink young growth, grey-green and cream summer foliage and reddish-pink autumn colour, followed by natural leaf fall.
Mature habit & dimensions
in the groundHeight 4–8 mSpread 4–8 mOpen spreading crown
Lateral limbs spread around the trunk, leaving visible gaps between groups of variegated leaves. The eventual crown needs more space than a young plant might suggest.
Form through time
two viewsDeciduous
In leafPale margins around asymmetrical grey-green leaves.
WinterLeaves fall to reveal the branching framework.
Pink margins on young growth mature to cream. Winter reveals the same open branching without the leaves that concealed parts of it.
Mature scale: 4–8 m high and 4–8 m wide. Eventual growth depends on soil, microclimate and available space.
History & origin Cultivar origin Variegation known since the 19th century
‘Kagiri-nishiki’ is an old variegated selection known in Europe since the 1880s. Earlier horticultural literature also records it as ‘Roseomarginatum’, referring to the pink margins of its young foliage.
Slightly asymmetrical, five-lobed leaves with grey-green centres and irregular pale edges distinguish the cultivar. It is not simply another name for ‘Butterfly’: its more open crown needs greater allowance for long-term spread.
Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScience nobody asked forBotanical details for anyone curious about what lies behind the plant’s appearance
Pale margins, green centres
Pale areas contain less chlorophyll than the green part of the blade. Variegation does not give every leaf an identical colour balance; the green centre remains an important photosynthetic surface.
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 cream margins from fierce afternoon 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?
The balance of cream and pink varies naturally from leaf to leaf and by growth stage, while pale areas need gentle light for a clean appearance.
03Can it remain in a pot?
It can grow for years in a large outdoor pot with free drainage and even moisture. Growth in a pot depends on available root space; check the roots and repot when needed.
04How large does it become and how quickly?
In a suitable position in open ground it reaches approximately 4–8 m in height and 4–8 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 a leafless winter crown normal?
Yes. The variegated leaves also fall in winter; bare branches do not retain a white margin. Fresh spring growth restores green, cream and pink-flushed edges.
📦 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.