Acer palmatum 'Beni shien' Variegated Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum 'Beni Shien' is a variegated cultivar notable for its distinctive foliage and unpredictable leaf morphology, with no two leaves shaped identically. New growth emerges deep purple with cream markings along the leaf margins and base, transitioning to olive green in shade or bronze in sun by midsummer; fresh red shoots often emerge in late summer before the tree assumes orange to red fall color. The plant reaches 8-10 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide at maturity, developing a spreading habit best suited to well-drained, elevated planting sites in full sun.