Acer palmatum 'Butterfly is a Japanese maple which makes a superb small tree. The delicate divided foliage is light green, flecked with cream, but also often has pink tinged edges in spring when it first emerges. In the autumn it displays bright scarlet and orange shades shortly before the leaves fall for the winter. It loves a moist but well drained soil, in dappled or full shade in quite a wide range of soil types, but prefers soils in the acid to neutral range. Excellent grown as a specimen in a large pot, or in a border position, but best in a sheltered spot and protect from cold winds in spring as the leaves are first emerging. Do not allow the roots to dry out, as both of these things will lead to dessication of the leaves and the loss of the plant.