Acer palmatum 'Little Princess' (Dwarf green Japanese maple) — H35 cm | Pot Ø12 cm
- Regular price
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€28,95 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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€28,95
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Japanese maple be grown in a planter? A dwarf cultivar such as ‘Little Princess’ can be grown in a planter for several years, provided the substrate is kept moist and the plant is placed in partial shade.
What is another name for the Little Princess maple? ‘Little Princess’ is also sold under its original Japanese name, ‘Mapi-no-machihime’.
SHIPPING & PACKAGING
Shipping within 24/48 hours via DPD
- Delivery in 2 to 5 business days
- Eco-friendly packaging: recyclable boxes and biodegradable materials
- Special protection to ensure the plant arrives in perfect condition
- Parcel tracking sent by email as soon as shipped
- Free delivery on orders over €50
48H QUALITY GUARANTEE
We guarantee that your plants will arrive in perfect condition. If your plant arrives damaged or in poor condition:
- Contact us within 48 hours at hello@verdeia.eu with photos
- Free replacement or full refund
- No return necessary – we trust you
The guarantee covers: damage related to transport, severely weakened plant upon arrival, preparation errors.
CARE TIPS UPON ARRIVAL
To help your plant settle in for the long term:
- Unpack immediately and inspect your plant
- Let it acclimatize 24-48h in a bright spot without direct sunlight
- Check soil moisture before watering (dry surface = light watering)
- Wait 2-3 weeks before repotting
- Avoid heat sources and drafts
- Gently wipe leaves to remove dust
Need help? Contact our team at hello@verdeia.eu or via chat.
🌿 Small green leaves with pink tips • 🪴 Dwarf and bushy, around 1 m mature height • 🍂 Orange in autumn • ⛅ Partial shade to gentle sun • ❄️ Hardy down to -20 °C • 🐾 Non-toxic • 📏 H35 cm | Pot Ø12 cm
Acer palmatum 'Little Princess', also known as 'Mapi-no-machihime', is a dwarf cultivar with small green leaves edged in pink on very fine, dense branches. Native to the forests of Japan and Korea, it is the smallest of the Japanese maples in the catalog.
Where a classic maple grows to 3 or 4 meters, it forms a small, dense bush that tops out at around one meter, rarely more than 1.20 m. Its mature size makes it suitable for growing long-term in a planter or on a narrow balcony, without ever becoming cumbersome.
Which Japanese maple should you choose?
The Japanese maples in the catalog, with different colors, habits and sizes:
- 'Little Princess' (this plant) — green with pink-tipped leaves, dwarf and bushy (H35 cm | Pot Ø12 cm). The smallest.
- 'Shaina' — brick red in a dense ball, dwarf (2 sizes). The red dwarf.
- 'Beni-maiko' — pinkish-red shoots on green foliage, red stems (H35 cm | Pot Ø12 cm). The most contrasting.
- Set of 3 — orange, dissected green and red, 3 pots Ø12 cm. The most affordable way to get started.
- 'Orange Dream' — orange shoots, then soft green (3 sizes). The most changeable.
- 'Emerald Lace' — emerald-green dissected leaves, weeping habit (3 sizes). The most airy.
- 'Bloodgood' — purplish red that holds all summer without turning green (2 sizes). The most stable red.
- 'Atropurpureum' — deep purple turning bronze (3 sizes). The most vigorous.
- 'Sangokaku' — coral-red bark in winter (2 sizes). The only decorative one without leaves.
- 'Garnet' — garnet-red dissected leaves, weeping habit (H40 cm | Pot Ø19 cm). The red dissectum.
- 'Going Green' — bright green with undivided leaves (2 sizes). The most understated.
Exposure & location
Japanese maple grows in woodland in its native habitat: it likes filtered light and is just as sensitive to scorching afternoon sun as it is to dry wind. Its small, dense leaves tolerate light slightly better than the large leaves of classic cultivars.
- Exposure: partial shade or morning sun - a little direct light in the morning enhances the pink of the young shoots.
- Location: planter, windowsill, narrow balcony, small courtyard - sheltered from the wind.
- Hardiness in a pot: down to -20 °C - it stays outside all year and loses its leaves in winter.
- Soil type: moist, well-draining and acidic - ericaceous compost mixed with potting soil, never limey.
Its very slow growth allows it to remain in the same container for several years after repotting.
Watering & care
Its shallow roots must stay cool without sitting in water: the finger test indicates the right time, and a pot that does not drain quickly exposes it to roots suffocated by excess water.
- Watering: regular - the substrate should remain moist from April to September without ever becoming waterlogged; greatly reduced in winter.
- Water: preferably non-limescale - hard water alkalises the substrate and yellows the foliage over the seasons.
- Mulching: a layer of pine bark helps retain moisture and gently acidifies the substrate.
- Pruning: unnecessary - its fine, dense branches form naturally. Remove only dead wood, in winter.
- Fertiliser: fertiliser for ericaceous plants, once at the beginning of spring, at half strength.
A small maple needs little fertiliser: too much makes the shoots grow long and causes it to lose its compact shape.
Decor ideas & plant combinations
Its small size makes it one of the few trees suited to windowsill plants, where a classic maple would quickly become too large.
- For a partial-shade planter, pair it with a Carex 'Ice Dance' - its fine, cream-edged leaves cascade over the rim and enjoy the same soft light.
- For winter flowers, add a Helleborus 'Viv Victoria' - the Christmas rose blooms when the maple is bare and shares its preference for partial shade.
- For an evergreen companion, place a Skimmia 'Finchy' alongside it — its white buds and dark green foliage keep the arrangement looking good all winter, in the same acidic soil.
- To enhance the container, choose the white Elho Greenville planter — the white highlights the soft green and pinkish tips, and its water reservoir keeps the roots cool.
At eye level, on a railing or a windowsill, you can appreciate the delicacy of its small leaves, which is lost when the tree is placed on the ground.
Verdeia tips
- Repot it in a barely larger container: a pot measuring 18 to 20 cm is sufficient for several years. An oversized container retains moisture at the bottom, where the roots of a small tree do not yet reach.
- Plan for your absences in summer: in a small volume, the substrate can dry out in two hot days. A water reservoir or a tray of damp clay pebbles is enough, as with all plants to water during the holidays.
- Watch the color of the leaves: foliage that turns yellow between the veins almost always indicates water that is too calcareous. Switch to rainwater and add a little ericaceous soil, the first of the causes of yellow leaves to rule out.
Technical characteristics
- Botanical name: Acer palmatum 'Little Princess' (syn. 'Mapi-no-machihime')
- Common name: Dwarf green Japanese maple
- Family: Sapindaceae
- Origin: forests of Japan and Korea
- Dimensions on delivery: H35 cm | Pot Ø12 cm
- Growth habit: dwarf, bushy and branched
- Mature height: approximately 1 metre, rarely more than 1.20 m
- Exposure: partial shade or morning sun, sheltered from the wind
- Watering: regular, with the substrate kept moist in season
- Soil type: moist, well-drained and acidic, never calcareous
- Hardiness: down to -20 °C
- Growth: very slow, no pruning needed
- Foliage: deciduous, small green leaves with pinkish tips, orange in autumn
- Care: easy, preferably lime-free water
- Toxicity: 🐾 non-toxic to animals and children
- Decorative style: Japandi / Natural / Small spaces
Each plant is unique: the density of the branches, the proportion of pinkish shoots, and the intensity of the autumn colors naturally vary according to the light it receives.
Your plant, delivered with care
Every plant is hand-packed in a box specially designed for plants — secured, protected, ready to travel. It arrives in perfect condition, roots intact and foliage preserved, ready to take its place in your home.
Our Verdeia commitments
FAQ – Everything to know before adopting your Verdeia plant
How are my plants prepared before shipping?
All our plants are selected from our European partner nurseries. Before shipping, they are watered, cleaned, and protected with breathable, secure packaging. Each package is designed to ensure your plant arrives in perfect health, without any transport-related stress.
Will the plant look exactly like the photo?
The photos accurately represent the variety and the stated size. Since each plant is unique, slight differences in shape, foliage, or color may occur — and that’s part of their charm.
What are the delivery times and conditions?
Shipping is done within 48 business hours, with tracked delivery within 2 to 5 business days. Delivery costs €5.60 — free for orders over €50. You will receive a tracking link as soon as the package is shipped.
What to do upon receiving my plant?
Open your package as soon as you receive it and carefully remove the plant from its packaging. Let it acclimate for 24 hours in its new environment before watering. If it has been slightly stressed during transport, it will recover its shape after one or two days in the light.
What to do if my plant arrives damaged?
Contact us within 48 hours with a photo of the issue. Our team will assess the situation and offer you the best solution: replacement, partial refund, or recovery advice.
Can I return a plant?
Since plants are living beings, standard returns are not possible. However, we guarantee good health upon delivery: if the plant arrives damaged, it will be replaced free of charge. For any other cases (order error, decorative pot, accessory), returns are possible within 14 days.