Acer Palmatum Starfish Japanese Maple

Acer Palmatum Starfish is a small deciduous Japanese Maple tree with deeply incised red leaves that suits sheltered borders. This is a striking ornmental tree that also works well in smaller gardens. 

Acer Palmatum are Japanese Maples and native to Japan but over the years many cultivars have emerged from plant breeders. Japanese Maple Starfish was bred by Piet Vergeldt and introduced in 2014 by the Van Son & Koot nursery in the Netherlands. It’s prized for its small stature and intensely red deeply incised downward curling leaves that look very much like a starfish.

This is a deciduous acer so it will lose its leaves in winter and regrow fresh new foliage in spring. Starfish’s foliage appears on ornamental reddish-brown stems in early spring unfurling to reveal deep red leaves and tiny red flowers. Throughout summer red to purple shades dominate before turning bright shocking red and falling in autumn along with green-winged seed pods.

Although it has excellent colour, it’s the starfish leaves that attract admiration. They have hardly any centres, the leaf being mostly lobed. They create fun textures and shapes in a leafy border and it’s a real favourite for a balcony plant container.

Height And Spread of Acer Palmatum Starfish
Japanese Maple Starfish is very slow-growing and remains small at its maximum height of 2 metres and 70 cms in spread.

How Hardy Is Acer Palmatum Starfish
If the roots are well-drained it can withstand minus temperatures, and although it’s more resistant to leaf scorch than other acers it does need some shelter from the wind.

How To Use  Palmatum Starfish
Japanese Maple Starfish is a dramatic small specimen tree made for a patio or balcony. It suits a compact garden with its loose columnar and low growing habit too.
Its fine autumn colour, ornamental stems, and super textured starfish foliage create a good deal of texture and shape in a leafy low maintenance border, a gravel garden, or a Japanese garden. Acer Starfish can fit into most sheltered spaces to bring colour, shape and interest from spring to summer. It’s a really lovely and unusual Japanese Acer choice.

How To Care For Acer Palmatum Starfish
Japanese Maple Starfish is easy to grow and requires little attention if it’s planted in the right spot.  
It likes full sun to partial shade and shelter from the prevailing wind, so near a wall or in the middle of a sheltered border is perfect. Neutral to acidic soil is preferred, but it will do well in the majority of well-drained soils if you can give it a thick layer of mulch in spring and again in autumn.
Regular pruning isn’t needed and may ruin its shape. Only cut crossed or damaged branches in the dormant season.
Water until established and ensure that any acers grown in a pot are watered and well-fed in summer. Container-grown acers should be placed upon feet during winter to create free-draining conditions and avoid frost damage from extreme cold.