Acer p. 'Butterfly'

Acer palmatum ‘Butterfly’ is a compact variegated cultivar of the Japanese maple, from the Japanese breeding tradition that has been selecting new maple varieties for centuries. It is named ‘Butterfly’ because of the shape of its leaves combined with its colour effect: the small, five-lobed leaves have a grey-green tone with creamy white to white markings along the leaf margin and on the young leaves also pink tints. This gives the plant a light, fleeting appearance reminiscent of butterfly wings. The growth habit is compact and ascending, with a narrow to broadly ascending habit. ‘Butterfly’ grows more slowly than the common Acer palmatum, making it manageable and suitable for smaller gardens and tub plantings. The trunk is grey-brown with the smooth, fine bark characteristic of Acer palmatum. In spring, the leaves sprout green with cream and pink markings. In summer, it is green-creamy-white variegated, refreshingly light in appearance. In autumn, the leaves turn red to orange to yellow, with the creamy-white areas giving lovely transitional tones. Flowering in April is inconspicuous: greenish-yellow flower clusters. After flowering, small brown winged fruits form. Available from Smits as multi-stemmed at 350/400 cm and as free growing at 300/350 cm.