Butterfly Japanese Maple Tree

Acer palmatum ‘Butterfly’ is an upright Japanese maple grown for small leaves edged in cream, often flushed pink when they emerge. Variegation changes through the season, and fall foliage may turn orange, red, or magenta depending on form and growing conditions. ## Landscape use and cultivar identity Use it as a foliage specimen in a protected small garden or spacious container. RHS lists ‘Kochō-no-mai’ as a synonym and notes occasional small red flowers in spring. Maple Ridge Nursery traces the cultivar to Koichiro Wada Nursery in Japan before 1938, but notes that more than one form has circulated under this name. See the [RHS profile](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/62336/acer-palmatum-butterfly-p-v/details) and [Maple Ridge Nursery](https://japanesemaplesandconifers.com/collections/japanese-maples/products/acer-palmatum-butterfly). ## Size and siting RHS gives a mature range of 8–13 ft tall and 3–5 ft wide. Maple Ridge lists 6–8 ft by 4–6 ft at ten years, while [Urban Tree Farm](https://www.urbantreefarm.com/product/acer-palmatum-butterfly/) gives 7–12 ft by 4–8 ft. Use partial shade, especially where hot afternoon sun may scorch the pale margins. Moist, well-drained soil is appropriate. ## Maintenance Keep soil evenly moist during establishment and dry weather. Thin crowded inner growth as needed and remove reverted shoots if maintaining variegation. Avoid hard pruning.