Growth Rate
Slow
Moderate
Fast
Moderate
Moderate growth reported by Maple Ridge Nursery; dwarf stature does not by itself indicate slow growth.
PUNGO MAPLES
Virginia Beach Japanese Maple Nursery
Peve Starfish
Acer palmatum
● In Stock
🌱 Dwarf
Cultivar Description & Characteristics
Peve Starfish is an eccentric and fascinating upright cultivar famous for its uniquely curled, star-fish-like leaf lobes. The dark purple-red spring foliage curls inward tightly, exposing the lighter underside of the leaves. Throughout summer, the dark burgundy coloration holds firm on the quirky, stiff branches. Autumn brings a bright flash of crimson before the leaves drop, making it an incredible conversation piece.
10-Yr Height
5.0
10-Yr Width
5.0
Seasonal Foliage Spectrum
Spring: Dark Purple-Red
Summer: Burgundy
Fall: Bright Crimson
Sun Tolerance Ratings
Morning Sun
9 / 10
Afternoon Sun
6 / 10
☀️ Morning Sun Guidance:
Dark purple-red spring foliage curls tightly in morning light.
☀️ Afternoon Sun Guidance:
Stiff, quirky branches maintain dark burgundy color well under standard exposure.
Image highlights cultivar traits and is not exact photo of available stock. Image is property of Pungo Maples, unauthorized use prohibited.
Get to know your maple
Growth Habit & Size
Upright · Dwarf
Upright dwarf; downward-curled leaves are a leaf characteristic, not evidence of weeping branches.
What do these growth habit terms mean?
More than one term can apply. Branch direction, crown shape and size describe different characteristics, and the outline can change as a tree matures.
- Upright
- Main stems and branches emphasize upward growth. An upright tree can still develop a broad canopy.
- Spreading
- Branches extend outward to form a broad canopy. The tree does not have to be wider than it is tall.
- Weeping
- Branches or branchlets arch or hang downward. The tree can still have an upright trunk.
- Rounded
- The crown has a rounded outline. This describes the overall shape rather than the direction of each branch.
- Dwarf
- A cultivar with a smaller natural stature than typical forms of its species. Dwarf describes size, not branch direction or a fixed height limit; it does not automatically mean slow growth.
For example: Bloodgood can grow upright while developing a broad, rounded canopy with spreading branches.
Learn more: NC State plant forms · Bloodgood profile · RHS trees for smaller gardens
Roots & heritage
The story behind Peve Starfish
- Cultivar origin
- Lottum, Netherlands
- Discovered / selected by
- Piet Vergeldt
'Peve Starfish' originated as a seedling selected by Piet Vergeldt at his nursery in Lottum, Netherlands. Its distinctive curled leaf margins attracted attention and inspired its name. Nurseryman Talon Buchholz recalled suggesting 'Starfish' while visiting Vergeldt; naming the plant does not make Buchholz its selector. Specialist nurseries credit Vergeldt with its introduction, while a contemporary report separately records Son & Koot presenting 'Starfish' at Plantarium 2014. That exhibition date does not establish the selection year or earliest commercial availability. No precise selection date or parentage was established. Plantipp identifies 'Starfish' with EU plant breeders' rights number 33203, a protection category distinct from patents and trademarks. Current official registration status could not be verified; no royalty or public-domain conclusion is drawn.
Explore the sources behind this story
Talon Buchholz, Flora Wonder Blog: firsthand seedling and naming account, syndicated copyHavlis Nursery: selection by Piet Vergeldt of LottumMrMaple: Peve Starfish introduction attributed to Piet VergeldtPlantarium Novelties 2014: selector and separate Son & Koot exhibition introductionPlantipp: Acer palmatum Starfish, breeder and PBR EU 33203JC Raulston Arboretum: botanical collection record for Peve StarfishOfficial CPVO Variety Finder; cultivar-specific status unavailable through accessible interfaceOfficial USPTO Patent Public Search; cultivar-specific status unverifiedOfficial USPTO Trademark Search; cultivar-specific registration unverified
Cultivar information
Patent & trademark information
- Patent & Royalty Status
- Patent status unverified. Plantipp lists EU plant breeders' rights 33203 for 'Starfish'; this is not a patent. Current CPVO status unverified.
📊 Inventory and Pricing
● Live Data
Pungo Maples Onsite Inventory
| Size | Price | Status |
|---|---|---|
| — | — | AVAILABLE |
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