Acer palmatum 'Beni-maiko' 3 Ltr pot

Acer palmatum 'Beni-maiko' is a compact Japanese maple prized for its vivid spring foliage: young leaves open bright red, softening to pinkish tones before turning green in summer, then colouring brilliantly red to orange in autumn. Naturally slow-growing with a graceful, branching habit, it is well suited to small gardens, courtyards and containers. For the best colour and to avoid leaf scorch, grow in a sheltered spot in partial shade, in moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil that is preferably slightly acidic. Excellent in containers using an ericaceous compost; water in dry spells and mulch annually to conserve moisture. Little pruning is needed—remove only dead, damaged or crossing shoots in late autumn or winter.

To help give a clear sense of scale, the stone wall shown in our photos measures approximately 265cm in height. We also use familiar garden tools as visual references: a digging fork (110cm tall) and a hand fork (30cm tall). These are included purely as size guides to help you better judge proportions when viewing the images.

Position: Partial shade; shelter from cold winds and late spring frosts

Rate of Growth: Slow

Soil: Moist but well-drained, humus-rich; preferably slightly acidic to neutral

Hardiness: Fully hardy; protect young leaves from late frosts

Plant at a Glance