Description Family Sapindaceae Originating from Japan Vigorous, large shrub or small tree with vibrant, colourful foliage. Intense pink spring leaves with green veins shift to yellow-green, then fiery red in autumn. Easy to grow in non-alkaline soil, light or dappled shade, tolerates full sun with moisture. Vibrant pink leaves erupt in spring from Acer palmatum ‘Phoenix’, a standout Japanese maple. Its foliage, flushed with intense pink and green veins, forms a 6m-tall, 4m-wide shrub in 10-20 years. Spring’s pink hues evolve to yellow-green through summer. Its new shoots maintain this colourful progression throughout the season. Autumn ignites fiery red tones, a bold display for Norfolk and Suffolk gardens. This vigorous variety thrives in light or dappled shade with moist, non-alkaline soil. It tolerates full sun if roots stay consistently moist, perfect for East Anglian landscapes. The hardy small tree suits well-drained, non-alkaline soil in UK gardens. Its abundant, colourful crown shines in borders or as a specimen with minimal care. Pest-resistant, it grows quickly, delivering year-round vibrancy in any UK climate. Care Tips for Acer palmatum ‘Phoenix’ Soil & Sun: Non-alkaline, humus-rich soil works best. Light or dappled shade suits it; full sun needs moist soil. Planting: Space 4m in borders to highlight its tree-like form. Wide pots support its spread in smaller gardens. Watering: Maintain moist, non-waterlogged soil for its first 2 seasons while it establishes. Although more robust once its roots have spread, moisture ensures a fuller, more lush crown for established plants. Pruning: Trim lightly in late winter to shape. Removing dead tips maintains its natural, vigorous growth with ease. Radiant pink and fiery red hues paint your garden with Acer Phoenix. This Japanese maple cascades bold colours across East Anglian gardens. This small vibrant tree glows with seasonal brilliance, hardy throughout the UK. Planting Suggestions for the Japanese Maple When you have such an explosively colourful variety as ‘Phoenix’ at your disposal, why hold back? Create a kaleidoscopic Acer fiesta in your garden! Challenge the norm of this species’ usual use as serene woodland plants. Try planting Acer x conspicuum ‘Red Flamingo’, Acer palmatum ‘Trompenberg’ and Cercis canadensis ‘Carolina Sweetheart’ with it. A composition such as this would elevate Acer ‘Phoenix’ to the exotic style. Indulge in woodland flamboyance with Hedychiums ‘Devon Cream’, thyrsiforme and densiflorum ‘Stephen’ planted around the above. Add Iris confusa, Impatiens omeiana ‘Pink Nerves’ and Begonia grandis subsp. sinensis for a floral carpet flowing around them. For further reading on Acer palmatum visit: https://treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/acer/acer-palmatum/
