An absolutely spectacular spring display when the new pink leaves emerge. As the season moves towards summer, they progressively turn cream and finally mature to rich dark green. Autumn sees the leaves turn clear, butter yellow.
A narrowly upright tree to around 5m tall and 2m wide, multi-stemmed from the base.
Hardy to sun, heat, frost, dry conditions and average soil - still needs reasonable drainage.
The leaves are edible and in China are made into a paste and added to soups, rice porridge and fried rice.
Take great care transplanting new season trees as the root system is very delicate. It will not be fully established until late November. Alternatively, you can leave the tree in its pot until then.