7 maples with variegated foliage

Acer negundo 'Flamingo' - ash-leaved maple

Acer negundo ‘Flamingo’ is a boxelder maple cultivar, renowned for its bright foliage, leaves edged with white and pink, turning golden in autumn. The leaves can even be completely white at times. This cultivar reaches a maximum height and width of 7 m, and can be kept to 3 m with pruning. Its grey-brown bark cracks with age, and its variegated leaves turn yellow before shedding. The discreet flowering in April–May is followed by the appearance of winged fruits. Suitable for informal hedges or grown as a specimen in small gardens, it responds well to pruning, encouraging the appearance of colourful new shoots. This hardy, easy-care maple tolerates temperatures down to -34°C and adapts to most soils and climates, preferring partial shade to avoid sun scorch and calcareous clay soils that are not too dry or too damp. Plant it in a position sheltered from strong winds.

Ideal for creating a leafy screen or brightening a corner of the garden, it pairs well with dark-leaved plants, such as purple hazel or Black Lace elder, highlighting its bright foliage. When grown as a specimen, it also enhances a small garden. It is advisable to remove entirely green branches to maintain the variegation of its colours.

Japanese Maple - Acer palmatum 'Butterfly'

The Acer palmatum ‘Butterfly’ is a Japanese maple, 2.5 m tall at maturity, bearing delicate, finely cut foliage. In spring, its leaves are pale green edged with pink, evolving to a cream margin in summer. Originating from eastern China, Korea and Japan, this hardy maple, hardy to -23°C, forms a spreading, rounded crown, with young trailing shoots bearing reddish-brown bark. Its small deciduous leaves, 3–5 cm long, are palmately lobed. Although its reddish flowers in April are inconspicuous, its red, curved fruits appearing in September are highly decorative. For optimal growth, Acer palmatum ‘Butterfly’ prefers acidic, cool, fertile, loose and well-drained soil, in a partially shaded position, protected from cold, dry winds. It does not tolerate lime, heavy soils or waterlogged soils in winter. Extreme heat can scorch its foliage. Mulching the base, watering and misting the foliage on hot evenings is recommended. Winter pruning is limited to balancing the branches. This maple is perfect as a specimen on a shaded lawn or in a bed of heather soil, accompanied by azaleas and rhododendrons. It can also be grown as a stunning flat-top bonsai.

Norway maple - Acer platanoides 'Drummondii'

Acer platanoides ‘Drummondii’ is a cultivar of the Norway maple and a large, remarkable tree for its variegated green and cream-white foliage. With its bright pyramidal crown, it stands out in a clump or along a garden boundary and can reach up to 15 metres tall at maturity with a spread of 8 metres. Its deciduous, palmately lobed and pointed leaves are tinged pink at bud burst, then become bright green margined with cream-white, taking on a yellow to copper hue in autumn. The discreet flowering in March gives way to winged fruits in June. Not particularly fussy about soil, provided it is deep enough for its powerful root system, this maple is often grown as a specimen tree or to edge avenues. A sunny position enhances its variegation of leaves.

Easy to grow, Acer platanoides ‘Drummondii’ is stunning as a specimen or when planted in a row along broad avenues. It pairs well with the Norway Maple ‘Crimson Sentry’ with purple foliage or with purple beech, creating a colour contrast in a clump.

Acer negundo 'Aureomarginatum' - ash-leaved maple

Acer negundo ‘Aureomarginatum’ is a variety of ash-leaved maple, distinguished by its green leaves margined with yellow. Suitable for informal hedges or as a solitary specimen in the garden, this maple responds well to pruning, encouraging the appearance of colourful new shoots. It is hardy, fast-growing and easy to grow, adapting to most soils and climates, and preferring a site in partial shade. Native to the western United States and Virginia, this maple prefers damp areas and calcareous clay soils, but is adaptable to a wide range of soils. It rarely grows to more than 8 metres in height and width, and can be kept to a height of 3 metres if pruned. Its habit is naturally spreading and irregular, with a grey-ash bark that cracks with age. Leaves with yellow margins turn yellow before dropping in autumn. Easy to grow, the Acer negundo ‘Aureomarginatum’ requires a sheltered site away from strong winds. It can form a bright, leafy screen in the garden. For colour contrast, pair it with plants with dark foliage such as purple-leaved hazel or the ‘Black Lace’ elder. It is also suitable for a modest-sized garden.

Acer cappadocicum 'Rubrum' – Red Colchis Maple

Acer cappadocicum ‘Rubrum’ is a Red Colchian Maple cultivar, distinguished by its colour-changing foliage. In spring, its leaves are a vivid purplish-red, then take on a bronze-green hue in summer, becoming golden-yellow in autumn. This slow-growing tree reaches about 15 metres in height and 10 metres in spread at maturity, with a rounded, dense habit. Its large deciduous leaves, 10–15 cm long, are 5–7 lobed. Spring flowering is discreet and followed by reddish, winged fruits. The grey-brown, striate bark of the tree is also decorative. The Red Colchian Maple prefers ordinary, deep, rich, cool and well-drained soil, and partial shade to prevent scorching of young leaves.

This maple is ideal for medium to large gardens, planted as a solitary specimen or integrating into a shaded clump. It can also be used in a row to enhance walkways.

Field maple - Acer campestre 'Carnival'

The Acer campestre‘Carnival’ is a small field maple variety with a rounded, compact habit. It reaches about 5 metres in all directions at maturity and is distinguished by its white and pink variegated foliage. It bears lobed leaves, light green with cream margins, as well as reddish shoots. The lower leaves display salmon-pink and very pale tones, which give it greater visual depth. In autumn, its foliage turns yellow-orange. The spring flowering is discreet and followed by reddish-winged fruits. Its slow growth and small size make it ideal to integrate into a light-filled hedge or to ornament a small garden or a narrow space. It prefers a semi-shaded position, enjoying morning sun, and adapts to any well-drained soil.