Colour in successive chapters
Vivid red in spring, deep maroon-red in summer and warm crimson-red in autumn.
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Acer 'Shaina'® 19cm
Normal price
€38,00
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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 'Shaina'
Small in size, enormous in red character 🍷
- Vivid red spring growth
- Deep maroon summer foliage
- Dense compact crown
- Crimson autumn colour
Acer palmatum ‘Shaina’ brings saturated red colour to a dense well-shaped crown that appears rich from a young age. Spring growth is vivid red, summer deepens to maroon-red and autumn adds warm crimson and red shades. Smaller leaves and short internodes create a compact texture with an exceptionally composed appearance. Its presence reads clearly from a distance and reveals still more detail at close range, creating a complete, luxurious display that renews itself with every seasonal change.
Its dense upright form suits small entrances, sheltered terraces and borders that need strong colour without airy gaps in the crown. It works as an elegant focal point and provides excellent contrast beside lime, golden-green or silver-green foliage.
What makes it special
Three substantial qualities explain why ‘Shaina’ stands out both in close detail and in its overall presence.
Foliage that rewards a closer look
Smaller leaves and dense arrangement give the crown a clean, full surface.
A silhouette with design value
The compact upright habit provides intensity without loose or excessively broad growth.
Why you will love it: A compact red presence that looks rich, composed and striking at every seasonal stage.
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 dense upright bushy crown
A position that reveals its dense compact crown with deep maroon-red foliage
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 compact dense upright bushy crown 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 verified mature spread of 2.5–4 m. In a pot choose a stable base, free drainage and a position where the roots are protected from overheating.
Combinations that work
The vivid red and deep mahogany palette of ‘Shaina’ becomes clearer beside yellow lines, white margins and small evergreen 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.
- Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’ — keeps a fine evergreen yellow line in the foreground and lights up the dense compact red-mahogany crown throughout the year
- Liriope muscari ‘Variegata’ — the white margins on its evergreen leaves add clean light at ground level and emphasise the dense compact red-mahogany crown
- Polystichum setiferum ‘Congestum Cristatum’ — its small dense evergreen rosette adds texture without visually overtaking the dense compact red-mahogany crown
Care at a glance
Light
Morning sun or bright partial shade, sheltered from fierce afternoon sun and reflected heat.
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
Morning sun or bright partial shade, sheltered from fierce afternoon sun and reflected heat.
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 2.5–4 m × 2.5–4 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 dense compact crown with deep maroon-red 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 compact dense upright bushy crown. 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: vivid red in spring, maroon-red in summer and crimson-red in autumn, followed by natural leaf fall.
Mature form & dimensions
Maturity 10–20 yearsHeight 2.5–4 mSpread 2.5–4 mCompact dense upright bushy crown
Indicative natural silhouette; verified mature dimensions 2.5–4 m high × 2.5–4 m wide.
The palette through the year
Deciduous
Spring → summerVivid red, then deep maroon-red
AutumnCrimson and red
The crown is naturally bare in winter. Colour intensity and timing vary with light, temperature and microclimate.
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 & breeding Cultivar origin Breeder, original selection and the cultivar’s history
‘Shaina’ was selected and named in the late 1960s by William “Billy” Schwartz at Green Mansions Nursery in Pennsylvania. It is recorded as a compact mutation within the red-leaved ‘Atropurpureum’ group.
Schwartz retained the mutation as a distinct clone and gave it the name ‘Shaina’, under which it entered international cultivation.
Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScience nobody asked forBotanical details for anyone curious about what lies behind the plant’s appearance
Palmatum horticultural group
In the horticultural classification of Japanese maples, this cultivar belongs to the Palmatum Group: its leaves usually have five to seven lobes, cut beyond halfway into the blade without the fine secondary division of the Dissectum Group.
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?
Morning sun or bright partial shade, sheltered from fierce afternoon sun and reflected heat. A sheltered microclimate matters just as much as the number of hours of light.
02Why does its colour change through the year?
Red naturally deepens through summer and returns to brighter crimson shades in autumn.
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 2.5–4 m × 2.5–4 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 2.5–4 m in height and 2.5–4 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.
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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.