This store requires javascript to be enabled for some features to work correctly.

HOME

PLANTS

Cacti & Succulents
Indoor Plants
- All Plants
- Philodendron
- Calathea
- Sansevieria
- Peperomia
- Hoya
- Ferns
- Carnivorous Plants
Outdoor Plants
- All
- Shrubs
- Acer®
- Alstroemeria®
- Hydrangeas®
- Tropical Plants
- Fruit Snacks®
- Grasses®
- Climbing Plants
- Conifers
New varieties
Roses
Baby Plants
Mystery Box®

PLANT FINDER

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

HYDROCULTURE

GARDENING

Pots and Planters

PLANT CARE

GIFT CARD

BLOG

HOME
PLANTS
- Cacti & Succulents
- Indoor Plants
  - All Plants
  - Philodendron
  - Calathea
  - Sansevieria
  - Peperomia
  - Hoya
  - Ferns
  - Carnivorous Plants
- Outdoor Plants
  - All
  - Shrubs
  - Acer®
  - Alstroemeria®
  - Hydrangeas®
  - Tropical Plants
  - Fruit Snacks®
  - Grasses®
  - Climbing Plants
  - Conifers
- New varieties
- Roses
- Baby Plants
- Mystery Box®
PLANT FINDER
- Indoor Plants
- Outdoor Plants
SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
HYDROCULTURE
GARDENING
- Shop all gardening
- Lawns
  - Grass seed
  - Rolled turf
Pots and Planters
- Globee®
- Mica® Pots
- Capi® Pots
- Pots
- Lechuza
- Orchid Pots
- Terraneo
- Plantopia Baskets
PLANT CARE
GIFT CARD
BLOG

Acer palmatum 'little princess'® - Άτσερ

Acer 'little princess'® 19cm

Name: Acer 'little princess'® 19cm
Brand: Greenleaf Garden Center
SKU: Acerlitprinc19cm
Price: 28.0 EUR
Availability: InStock

€35,00

€28,00

Quantity

Deciduous ornamental shrub or small tree · Sapindaceae · Dwarf compact crown with a low spreading habit

Acer palmatum ‘Little Princess’®

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

Dwarf compact habit
Red-edged young growth
Bright green foliage
Yellow-orange autumn colour

Acer palmatum ‘Little Princess’® catches the eye with one small, precious detail: the fine red line embracing its fresh green leaves. In spring, every edge seems carefully picked out, as though separately illuminated within the dense crown. Summer makes the picture cool green and calm, before warm yellow and orange shades take over in autumn. This is a maple that brings the pleasure of close observation into an everyday walk around the garden.

Its low, dense and softly spreading habit suits small courtyards, sheltered terraces and the front layer of borders. It retains the presence of a true Japanese maple at a more approachable scale, creating a complete focal point without overwhelming the setting.

What makes it special

Three substantial qualities explain why ‘little princess’ stands out both in close detail and in its overall presence.

Colour in successive chapters

The red edge of fresh green growth gives way to clear summer green and then to yellow and orange autumn colour.

Foliage that rewards a closer look

Small palmate leaves keep the low crown dense, orderly and rich in detail.

A silhouette with design value

The delicate low-spreading silhouette works as a complete small-scale focal point.

Why you will love it: The charm of a Japanese maple at compact scale, with colour that never stops evolving.

In the garden & on the balcony Placement & plant combinations A focal point in sheltered bright partial shade, with enough open space to appreciate its dwarf compact crown with a low spreading habit

Planting position

Small seasonal focal point

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 dwarf compact crown with a low spreading 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 mature spread of 1–1.5 m. In a pot choose a stable base, free drainage and a position where the roots are protected from overheating.

Colour & compatibility

Combinations that work

The bright green with red margins palette of ‘little princess’ becomes clearer beside cream stripes, small evergreen ferns and yellow spring flowers. 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 ‘Little Tabby’ — its small cream-striped clumps stay low and add fine detail beside the small low-spreading crown
Polystichum setiferum ‘Congestum Cristatum’ — its small dense evergreen rosette adds texture without visually overtaking the small low-spreading crown
Epimedium × perralchicum ‘Fröhnleiten’ — spreads low evergreen foliage and bright yellow spring flowers in front of the small low-spreading crown

Care at a glance

Light

Bright partial shade or gentle morning sun, with shelter 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, with shelter 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 × 1–1.5 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 a low compact crown with fine palmate 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 dwarf compact crown with a low spreading 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: green spring with red margins and yellow-orange autumn colour, followed by natural leaf fall.

Mature form & dimensions

Maturity 10–20 years

Height 1.5–2.5 mSpread 1–1.5 mDwarf compact crown with a low spreading habit

Small leaves with reddish spring margins cover the compact, densely branched crown.

Form through time

Deciduous

Spring → summerSmall green leaves

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 1–1.5 m in spread over 10–20 years. Growth usually remains more restrained in a pot.

History & origin Cultivar origin The charm of dwarf Japanese maples

The history of ‘Little Princess’ is linked with a second name, ‘Chiyo-hime’. In botanical records, ‘Little Princess’ is listed as a synonym of this dwarf cultivar of Acer palmatum: two names for the same cultivated selection.

The person who first selected it and its exact year of introduction into cultivation have not been established. The trail of its names is therefore clearer than the earliest origins of the cultivar itself.

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

Small but still one leaf

The small leaf of ‘Little Princess’ is palmate: its lobes spread like fingers around a shared point. They remain joined in one blade with one stalk. The fine divisions you see therefore belong to a single leaf rather than a group of separate leaflets.

How autumn is revealed

Summer green is associated with chlorophyll. Before leaf fall, chlorophyll breaks down, allowing the yellow and orange carotenoid pigments to become more visible. In ‘Little Princess’, yellow and orange are the characteristic colours of this final seasonal stage.

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, with shelter from fierce afternoon sun and drying winds. A sheltered microclimate matters just as much as the number of hours of light.

02Why do the red leaf edges fade?

The red margin appears mainly on fresh growth and becomes subtler as the leaves mature to green.

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 × 1–1.5 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 1–1.5 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 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.

Cart (0)

Acer 'little princess'® 19cm

Acer 'little princess'® 19cm

Acer palmatum ‘Little Princess’®

What makes it special

Colour in successive chapters

Foliage that rewards a closer look

A silhouette with design value

Small seasonal focal point

Combinations that work

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 form & dimensions

Form through time

Small but still one leaf

How autumn is revealed

Frequently asked questions

Acer 'little princess'® 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.

Recently Viewed