Acer palmatum 'Starry Skies' Variegated Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum 'Starry Skies' is a variegated cultivar with small, deeply lobed foliage displaying white and pale green reticulation accented by soft pink tones in spring, with variegation becoming more complex and green-tinted as summer progresses. It develops a narrow, upright habit reaching approximately 6 feet tall and proportionally narrow in 10 years. A seedling from 'Alpenweiss' discovered by Buck Holtz, according to the growers at Mr Maple, this cultivar is notable for its inconsistent, individualistic variegation, no two leaves appear identical, and its green-tipped, pink-eyed foliage pattern that stands apart from other Higosyama-type selections. It offers bold red fall color and is hardy to zone 5; best sited in a shaded container or near a walkway where its intricate variegation can be appreciated up close, and benefits from light afternoon shade in hotter climates.