Butterfly

Character & interest

‘Butterfly’ brings light without looking busy: the variegation is crisp, often along the leaf margin, with natural variations (some leaves can be very pale). The silhouette is compact and vertical, making it easy to place even in a limited space, or to showcase in a container.

Colours

• Spring : cream/white variegation, often with a pink nuance along the edges of young leaves.

• Summer : grey-green / blue-green foliage with a cream margin (stable, bright look).

• Autumn : red to orange tones, often with the pale margins turning deep pink / magenta.

Habit & vigour

Upright habit; a dense shrub or small tree. Moderate vigour (steady, without excess).

Indicative size

Order of magnitude: about 2 to 3 m eventually depending on conditions, with a generally more restrained spread.

Exposure

Gentle sun / bright partial shade. Variegation is crisper with good light, but protection from scorching sun and dry wind improves foliage hold (especially in a pot).

Origin & history

Japanese cultivar, often given as a synonym of ‘Kochō-no-mai’. It is generally indicated as distributed by Koichiro Wada nursery (Japan), with a distribution date mentioned around 1938.