Best Acer Outdoor Trees of 2026

Toby Butcher Avatar
Toby Butcher
Last Updated: 5 Feb 2026

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Acer Outdoor Trees are a popular choice for those looking to add a touch of natural beauty to their outdoor space. These trees are known for their spectacular foliage, which changes colour throughout the year, providing a stunning display during every season. They are easy to grow and maintain, making them a great option for both novice and experienced gardeners. Acer Outdoor Trees come in a variety of sizes and shapes, so you can choose the perfect one to suit your needs. Whether you want to create a focal point in your garden or add some extra interest to a patio or balcony, Acer Outdoor Trees are an excellent choice.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

3 x Acer Trees - Japanese Maple Shrubs Cover #TOP 1
3 x Acer Trees - Japanese Maple Shrubs
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Acer palmatum Taylor - Japanese Maple Tree Plant Cover #TOP 2
Acer palmatum Taylor - Japanese Maple Tree Plant
ftb score rating icon 9.7
YouGarden Japanese Maple Acer Shirasawanum 'Jordan' Cover #TOP 3
YouGarden Japanese Maple Acer Shirasawanum 'Jordan'
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 10 Acer Outdoor Trees

3 x Acer Trees - Japanese Maple Shrubs

PLANTS-ACERMIX-9CM-3
Orange
3 x Acer Trees - Japanese Maple Shrubs Cover
3 x Acer Trees | Japanese Maple Tree | Potted Outdoor Hardy Garden Ready Shrubs (20-30cm Incl. Pot)

The Acer Trees by GardenersDream offer an impressive selection of Japanese Maple varieties. These trees provide stunning colour from spring to autumn, enhancing the beauty of your garden throughout the seasons. You can easily spruce up your outdoor space by placing these delightful trees in strategic locations to create a captivating display. They thrive in sun or partial shade, requiring minimal care while needing well-drained, moist soil. This makes them a convenient choice for both novice and experienced gardeners.

What We Like
Impressive variety of trees
Vibrant colours year-round
Easy to care for
Perfect for garden enhancement

Acer palmatum Taylor - Japanese Maple Tree Plant

ACETAY-9C
Green,Pink
20-30cm (Incl. Pot)
Acer palmatum Taylor - Japanese Maple Tree Plant Cover
Acer palmatum Taylor - Japanese Maple Tree | Large Outdoor Garden Ready Plant in Pot (20-30cm Incl. Pot)

The Acer palmatum Taylor is a beautiful slow-growing shrub that can be cultivated as a small tree. Its five-lobed leaves start off a delicate pale pink in spring, providing a stunning visual for your garden. As summer arrives, the foliage transitions to a delightful green with a cream border. Come autumn, expect a vibrant lime green shade. This tree thrives in partial shade, making it perfect for areas with less sunlight, and it adapts well to a variety of well-drained soils, ensuring ease of care for you.

What We Like
Attractive seasonal foliage
Easy to maintain
Grows in partial shade
Adapts to various soils

YouGarden Japanese Maple Acer Shirasawanum 'Jordan'

Jordan
YouGarden Japanese Maple Acer Shirasawanum 'Jordan' Cover
YouGarden Japanese Maple Tree, Acer Shirasawanum 'Jordan' in 3L Pot, 40-50cm Tall Established Garden Plant, Ready to Plant in Garden or Patio Pot

The YouGarden Japanese Maple offers a stunning addition to your garden with its unique fan-shaped foliage that changes colour throughout the seasons. You will enjoy watching the leaves transition from pale orange to lime green and finally to orange-red, providing vibrant scenery year-round. This slow-growing tree is also winter hardy, making it an ideal choice for gardens in colder parts of the UK. The small crimson flowers that appear in summer add extra charm as the tree matures, enhancing your outdoor space beautifully.

What We Like
Beautiful seasonal foliage changes
Slow-growing, easy to maintain
Winter hardy for UK gardens
Attractive small summer flowers

You Garden Japanese Maple Acer palmatum 'Orange Dream'

Green,Orange,Pink
3L Pot
You Garden Japanese Maple Acer palmatum 'Orange Dream' Cover
You Garden - Japanese Maple Acer palmatum 'Orange Dream' in a 3L Pot - Outdoor Garden Ready Trees for Oriental Style Gardens - Oriental Maple Tree for UK Gardens in Pots

The You Garden Orange Dream Maple is a stunning acer that transforms your garden with its vibrant colours throughout the year. You will appreciate its fully hardy nature, ensuring it thrives even in the coldest winters. In spring, you can enjoy bright orange new growth that adds a delightful touch to your outdoor space. This Japanese maple features slow-growing, easy-to-maintain foliage that makes it perfect for small gardens or large pots, allowing you to create a beautiful focal point in any setting.

What We Like
Stunning colour year-round
Fully hardy in cold winters
Slow-growing and easy to maintain
Ideal for small gardens
RHS Award of Garden Merit
#TOP 5

Acer palmatum Katsura Japanese Maple Tree

ACEKAT-9C
Yellow
20-30cm (Incl. Pot)
Acer palmatum Katsura Japanese Maple Tree Cover
Acer palmatum Katsura - Japanese Maple Tree | Large Outdoor Garden Ready Plant in Pot (20-30cm Incl. Pot)

The Acer palmatum Katsura is a beautiful slow-growing shrub that can also be shaped into a small tree, perfect for adding character to your garden. Its leaves transition from a pale green in Spring to a stunning red in Autumn, offering visual interest throughout the year. With an expected height of 2.5 - 4 metres over 10-20 years, it makes a lovely addition without overpowering your space. This tree thrives in partial shade and adapts well to various soil types, ensuring you can cultivate it with ease.

What We Like
Stunning seasonal foliage
Slow-growing, manageable size
Adaptable to various soils
Partial shade preference
#TOP 6

GardenersDream Beni-Maiko Acer Tree for Gardens

PL-V-ACEBMK-3L
50-70cm (Incl. Pot)
GardenersDream Beni-Maiko Acer Tree for Gardens Cover
GardenersDream Beni-Maiko Acer palmatum Tree - Colourful Deciduous Japanese Maple Garden Plant - Outdoor Garden Ready Acer Plant - All Year Round Outdoor Plants for Gardens

The GardenersDream Beni-Maiko Acer is a stunning addition to your garden, showcasing bright pink to red foliage in spring that instantly brings vibrancy to your outdoor space. As a deciduous tree, it offers seasonal beauty by shedding leaves in winter, allowing for a changing landscape throughout the year. With a manageable height for easy planting, this hardy shrub can thrive in various soil types and tolerates full sun while preferring some shade. Its compact size makes it ideal for small gardens, serving as a striking focal point or complementing other plants.

What We Like
Bright spring foliage
Deciduous for seasonal changes
Hardy and versatile
Ideal for small spaces

Acer Little Princess Japanese Maple Tree

PLANTS-ACELIP-9C
20-30cm (Incl. Pot)
Acer Little Princess Japanese Maple Tree Cover
Acer Little Princess Plant - Japanese Maple Tree | Hardy Deciduous Outdoor Garden Shrubs Potted | 9cm Pot, 20-30cm Incl. Pot

The Acer Little Princess is a charming dwarf shrub that brings distinctive colour-changing foliage to your garden. Its compact habit makes it ideal for small spaces, allowing you to enjoy its beauty even in limited areas. You will appreciate the stunning transformation of its leaves from vibrant green to rich shades of orange, red, and yellow throughout the seasons. This hardy tree thrives in various soil types, ensuring you can plant it with ease and confidence, knowing it will flourish in moist but well-drained conditions.

What We Like
Compact size for small gardens
Beautiful colour-changing foliage
Thrives in various soil types
Hardy and easy to maintain

Acer Red Flamingo Japanese Maple Tree

PLANTS-ACEREF-3L
50-70cm (Incl. Pot)
Acer Red Flamingo Japanese Maple Tree Cover
Acer Red Flamingo Plant - Japanese Maple Tree | Garden Trees with Bright Red Stems, Variegated Foliage Green, Pink, White | Hardy Deciduous Outdoor Garden Shrubs Potted | 3L Pot, 40-60cm Incl. Pot

The Acer Red Flamingo is a stunning deciduous shrub that can be trained into a tree, offering you a beautiful addition to your garden. Its slow growth means it won't overwhelm your space, while its vivid red stems and unique white markings will catch the eye year-round. You will appreciate the colourful foliage, which features a delightful mix of green, pink, and white. This plant thrives in moist but well-drained soil and can be positioned in full sun or partial shade, making it versatile for various garden settings.

What We Like
Vivid red stems year-round
Attractive multicoloured foliage
Slow-growing, easy to manage
Thrives in various soil types
Versatile for garden settings
#TOP 9

Acer palmatum Starfish Japanese Maple Tree

ACESTA-3L
50-70cm (Incl. Pot)
Acer palmatum Starfish Japanese Maple Tree Cover
Acer palmatum Starfish - Japanese Maple Tree | Large Outdoor Garden Ready Plant in Pot (50-70cm Incl. Pot)

The Starfish Japanese Maple is a beautiful, slow-growing shrub that brings vibrant colour to your garden. Its star-shaped, purple-red leaves flourish in Spring and Summer, transitioning to a striking bright red in Autumn. You can enjoy tiny red flowers in Spring, adding to its charm. With a height potential of 2m and a spread of 1m over 10-20 years, it’s perfect for enhancing your outdoor space. This maple thrives in partial shade, making it an ideal choice for areas that don't receive full sun.

What We Like
Stunning seasonal colour changes
Attractive tiny red flowers
Ideal for partial shade
Low maintenance care

Acer palmatum Wilson's Pink Dwarf Tree

ACEPDW-3L
50-70cm (Incl. Pot)
Acer palmatum Wilson's Pink Dwarf Tree Cover
Acer palmatum Wilson's Pink Dwarf - Japanese Maple Tree | Large Outdoor Garden Ready Plant in Pot (50-70cm Incl. Pot)

The Wilson's Pink Dwarf Tree is a stunning deciduous shrub, featuring bright pink foliage in spring that transforms to vibrant green in summer, providing a lively display in your garden. In autumn, the leaves turn to a beautiful mix of red, orange, and yellow, creating a captivating seasonal change. This tree can reach a height and spread of up to 1.5m, making it a lovely addition to any outdoor space. It thrives in partial shade and is adaptable to various well-drained soil types, ensuring easy maintenance for you.

What We Like
Beautiful seasonal colour changes
Easy to maintain
Thrives in partial shade
Suitable for various soil types
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can acers stay out in winter?

Acers are extremely susceptible to cold wind. For this reason, where possible, pot grown Acers should be planted in a suitably site. Otherwise, move the pot to a more sheltered location.

2. Do acers like sun or shade?

Purple and red leaved trees require a decent amount of sunlight to develop their rich, dark complexion, whilst green-leaved Acers tolerate full sun but do best with light shade at the hottest part of the day.

3. Where is the best place to plant an acer in the garden?

Plant acers in a sheltered spot where the foliage is protected from the strongest midday sun and cold or drying winds that may damage the leaves. Young foliage can be susceptible to late frosts.

4. Do acers come back every year?

There is nothing to worry about and next spring your Acer will again come into full leaf. If your tree is growing in a container it is important to protect the young leaves from prevailing winds - the leaves can quite easily suffer from burning and wind scorch, and Acers do prefer to grow in slightly dapple shade.

Editor's Notes

During our acer outdoor tree research, we found 89 acer outdoor tree products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 5,814 customer reviews through our big data system to write the acer outdoor trees list. We found that most customers choose acer outdoor trees with an average price of £24.17.

The acer outdoor trees are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of acer outdoor trees, including GardenersDream, YouGarden.

Written by
Toby Butcher Avatar

Toby Butcher is a Horticulturist, and he earned his title as a Master Gardener in 2016. Toby has acquired a 25-year experience as a home gardener planting, designing, grooming vegetables and flowers. He is the leader of a plant group in Durham. Toby owns a blog where he publishes articles on growing and growing your flowers at home, in a vase, or in a garden.