Colour in successive chapters
Spring opens golden yellow with pink tips, summer settles to yellow-green and autumn peaks in bright orange and yellow.
7
Acer 'Orange Dream'® 19cm
Normal price
€37,00
What does the legal guarantee mean for plants?
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 ‘Orange Dream’®
- Golden-yellow spring growth
- Pink tips on young leaves
- Bright green stems
- RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit
Acer palmatum ‘Orange Dream’® brings the feeling of a golden dawn into the garden. In spring, its palmate leaves unfold in yellow and orange, with warm pink to orange-red touches along their edges. As they open, their delicate outlines give the upright crown an airy glow. Summer softens the palette to yellow-green before autumn warms the leaves with gold and orange again: a small spectacle that changes its expression with the seasons.
Beside dark foliage, timber or grey stone, its luminous shades become the place the eye returns to. Upright, well-branched growth suits a sheltered courtyard or a large terrace pot, while the green young stems retain a delicate line of interest after leaf fall.
The cultivar ‘Orange Dream’ holds the RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit (2012), an internationally recognised distinction for dependable garden performance.
What makes it special
Three substantial qualities explain why ‘Orange Dream’ stands out both in close detail and in its overall presence.
Foliage that rewards a closer look
Palmate leaves form a clear luminous surface while retaining their finely articulated outline.
A silhouette with design value
Upright compact branching brings height and presence without visual heaviness.
Why you will love it: An Acer that illuminates the setting through three seasons and keeps a clean green line after leaf fall.
In the garden & on the balcony Placement & plant combinations A focal point in sheltered bright partial shade, with enough open space to appreciate its compact upright crown with a softly rounded outline
A golden focal point
Use it as a luminous focal point against dark evergreen planting or beside a sheltered entrance. The upright branches gradually develop a fuller crown, so keep neighbouring low plants away from the trunk and leave room for the branches to extend naturally.
In a group, leave enough distance to prevent mature crowns becoming crowded. In a pot choose a stable base, free drainage and a position where the roots are protected from overheating.
Combinations that work
The golden-yellow, pink and bright green palette of ‘Orange Dream’ becomes clearer beside black bases, burgundy-silver ferns and coppery texture. 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 ‘Nigrescens’ — Almost black foliage makes the spring gold stand out above a low, contrasting base.
- Athyrium niponicum var. pictum ‘Burgundy Lace’ — Burgundy and silver shades add depth beneath the bright crown.
- Dryopteris erythrosora — Coppery young fern fronds subtly continue the orange shades of the new growth.
Care at a glance
Light
Bright partial shade or gentle morning sun; shelter 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; shelter 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 years in a large outdoor pot with free drainage and even moisture. Check the available root space periodically and move to a larger pot when needed; pot-grown size depends on root space and care.
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 luminous upright crownCareful 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 compact upright crown with a softly rounded outline. 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: golden-yellow spring, yellow-green summer and orange-yellow autumn, followed by natural leaf fall.
Mature form & dimensions
Maturity 10–20 yearsHeight 2.5–4 mSpread 2.5–4 mCompact upright crown with a softly rounded outline
Upright branches open into a bushy crown with yellow leaves and warm orange margins.
Form through time
Deciduous
Spring → summerGolden-yellow spring 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 2.5–4 m in height and 2.5–4 m in spread over 10–20 years. Growth usually remains more restrained in a pot.
History & origin Cultivar origin An Italian introduction from Gilardelli nursery
‘Orange Dream’ was introduced by Gilardelli nursery in Italy. Its cultivar origin is therefore Italian, although it belongs to the Asian species Acer palmatum. No specific parental cross is known.
In 2012 it received the Royal Horticultural Society 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
The structure of a palmate leaf
The leaves of ‘Orange Dream’ are palmate: the main veins radiate from the base towards the lobes. Although the blade is deeply indented, it remains continuous; the lobes are not separate leaflets of a compound leaf.
Leaves in opposite pairs
In Acer palmatum, two leaves arise opposite one another at the same stem node. This arrangement is easiest to see on the young green branches of ‘Orange Dream’ before the foliage becomes dense.
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; shelter from fierce midday sun and drying winds. A sheltered microclimate matters just as much as the number of hours of light.
02Does Orange Dream stay orange all summer?
The intensity of gold and pink varies with growth stage, gentle light and temperature, while yellow-green summer foliage is a natural part of the cycle.
03Can I grow Orange Dream on a terrace?
It can grow for years in a large outdoor pot with free drainage and even moisture. Check the available root space periodically and move to a larger pot when needed; pot-grown size depends on root space and care.
04How much room does its upright crown need?
The upright young habit gradually becomes fuller and broader. Its rate depends on microclimate and available root space; use the indicative dimensions above to avoid choosing a cramped planting position.
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.