Buy Acer palmatum 'Beni hoshi'

This dwarf upright Japanese maple is highly prized for its incredibly cute, star-shaped foliage. Bright red in spring, the leaves turn green during summer. Then, a second flush of new bright red growth creates a striking contrast against the mature green

A bright new star in the palmatum line-up, this dwarf star-shaped foliage that opens a rich ruby-red against the green of older leaves, a contrast showy all season until its gold and crimson of fall. PSh/M

Ruby Stars, another of my favorites, [Sam, I am] is considered a dwarf Japanese maple only reaching about 6′ at maturity and please remember this is a slow growing dwarf. It may take 10 years to reach 5′. This small variegated red leaf cultivar has the new growth that is truly ruby red and actually looks like a star. As the leaves age in the summer the color fades to a dusty green which provides a great background for the secondary flush of new ruby star leaves [late summer] that catches everyone’s eye. The Japanese named equivalent is ‘Beni hoshi’ which means red star. They are interchangeable. Ruby Stars should be pruned for shape and develops into more of a shrub than a tree. Ruby Stars can handle the full hot sun and is perfect for a patio container. Sun is preferred to keep the leaves ruby red. Too much shade and the leaves stay green. The small leaves make Ruby Stars attractive to bonsai enthusiasts. Once established this cultivar is hardy to -10 degrees, USDA Zone 6.

'Beni hoshi' has small leaves which emerge bright red in spring changing to green in summer. Fall colors are yellow and orange. Its name means "red star". This fairly new cultivar was introduced in 1992 by Del's Japanese Maple Nursery. 'Beni hoshi' makes a statement in any small garden. It is also suitable for container and bonsai. This cultivar only reaches 6 feet in ten years.

Dwarf, upright tree. Small star-shaped foliage emerges in hues of pinkish-red turning to ruby-red by summer. Fall color: brilliant yellows and reds.

Ruby Stars Japanese Maple is an intriguing, dwarf, upright maple with small star-shaped foliage that emerges in tones of pinkish-red turning to ruby-red by summer. The petite new growth is bright red against the mature green foliage. Ruby Stars Japanese Maple has fall color of brilliant yellows, oranges and reds. Also called Beni Hoshi which means Ruby Stars.

Zones 5-9. The Japanese name Beni Hoshi translates as Ruby Stars or Red Stars. The leaves are very small forming red stars in spring then turn to shades of yellow-gold and orange in the fall. Compact growth, slow growing to 5 feet at 10 years (or trim smaller). This little maple is perfect for troughs, Garden Railroads, Fairy Gardens and all small scale scenes. It can be used in the general landscape or as patio container plant. Prefers filtered shade but will take full sun in the cooler summer climates. Soil should be kept most but well drained. LiveScale©Choice-Small Dwarf, upright type.

I loved this palmatum the first time I saw it. Beni hoshi means Red star and that is what it looked like: my favorite shape leaf--small, very palmate and widely lobed with stiff petioles so it reaches up--and the most awesome red color in spring; unfortunately it barely grows. I have heard that Ruby Stars is the same plant and I have propagated both so I will do a real comparison this year.

This dwarf Japanese maple gets 3-4’ tall by 18” wide in 10 years. The small foliage is deep purple all summer, followed by red fall color. Very hardy and adaptable.

A beautiful dwarf Japanese Maple with small star-shaped foliage that emerges in hues of pinkish-red. Leaves turn bronze green in summer with new summer growth emerging ruby-red colored giving a beautiful effect. Fall color in brilliant yellows and reds.

New growth pink-red, turns ruby-red with green tones, fall colors yellow & red. Good in containers. Zones 5-9.