Mukdenia rossii 'Karasuba' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
Crimson fans

Mukdenia rossii 'Karasuba'

£21.99
Hardy in the UKShade-tolerant
Pot size
17cm / 2L £21.99

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Description

Mukdenia rossii 'Karasuba', sold as crimson fans, is a shade perennial with maple-like, deeply lobed leaves that open bronze, settle to green with bronze edges through summer and turn crimson in autumn. Sprays of small, starry, creamy-white flowers appear in April and May.

It is fully hardy, rated RHS H5 and taking about -15°C. It dies back below ground in autumn and reshoots in spring, so winter cold is rarely a concern; slugs and snails on the young spring leaves are the thing to watch.

Plant it in partial shade, in humus-rich soil that stays moist but drains freely. It slowly spreads by rhizomes into a clump about 40cm tall and wide, making a colourful groundcover for shady corners and the front of a border. Pair it with other hardy perennials for foliage that changes through the season.

What you receive: a young plant in a 17cm / 2L pot.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

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What to Expect

Seasonal by nature: what to expect

  • Grown outdoors, the way nature intended. Weather-tested and hardened in real UK conditions, so they thrive in your garden. A few marks on the older leaves are normal, the sign of a tough, real plant rather than a flaw.
  • It follows the seasons. Depending on when you order, your plant may arrive cut back, dormant or leafless. That's healthy: dormancy is the ideal time to plant.
  • Posted, not posed. Big leafy plants like bananas and gingers may be trimmed or gently folded to travel safely. It does the plant no harm, and it powers away again in spring.

Not sure what to expect from yours? Dormant, cut-back or weather-marked plants are all perfectly healthy and normal. Read what to expect through the seasons

Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

Changed your mind? See our Return Policy.

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How to care for Crimson fans

Give me sun with a little shade and I will stand a UK winter outdoors.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.
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About Crimson fans

Mukdenia rossii 'Karasuba' needs partial shade and moist but well-drained soil. It is hardy to around −15°C and stands a UK winter outdoors.

Good for

Exotic Borders Shade

Hardiness

TenderVery hardy

RHS H5 · Hardy Exotic · down to around −15°C

Rated RHS H5, hardy to about -15°C. It dies back below ground for winter and reshoots in spring. The young spring leaves are prone to slug and snail damage, so protect them as they emerge.

Position

Partial shade

Partial shade suits it best. Strong sun can scorch the leaves, though a little more light deepens the autumn colour. It sits well beside Asarum and other plants for shade.

Soil

Moist but well-drained

Give it humus-rich, fertile soil that stays moist but drains freely; dry soil is what to avoid. With some shade it also works at the front of an exotic border.

Watering

Keep the soil moist, especially through the first summer and in dry spells. Protect the young spring leaves from slugs and snails. No pruning: clear the old leaves as new shoots appear. Read moreShow less

Keep the soil moist, especially through the first summer and in dry spells. Protect the young spring leaves from slugs and snails. No pruning: clear the old leaves as new shoots appear.

Mature size

Height0.4 m
Spread0.4 m

Growth habit

Clump-forming

Flowering

Spring · White, Cream

Seasonal colour

Foliage

Deciduous

Pruning

No pruning needed. Let the autumn foliage fade, then clear the old leaves as new shoots appear in spring.

Native range

Korea and north-east China

Family

Saxifragaceae

Also known as

Mukdenia rossii 'Karasuba'

Genus

Mukdenia
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should I plant Mukdenia?

In partial shade, in humus-rich soil that stays moist but drains freely. Strong sun can scorch the leaves, so it is happiest out of the brightest light. Browse more plants for shade.

Is Mukdenia an evergreen?

No. It is a herbaceous perennial that dies back below ground in autumn, after its crimson autumn colour, and reshoots in spring.

How do I care for a red-leafed Mukdenia?

Keep the soil moist and give it partial shade. Watch for slugs and snails on the young spring leaves, and clear the old foliage as the new shoots appear. It needs no pruning.

When does Mukdenia rossii 'Karasuba' flower?

In spring, around April and May, with sprays of small, starry, creamy-white flowers alongside the young bronze leaves.

Is 'Karasuba' the same as 'Crimson Fans'?

The RHS treats them as one plant and lists 'Crimson Fans' as a synonym of 'Karasuba', although some growers regard 'Crimson Fans' as a separate, smaller-leaved clone. The species was once called Aceriphyllum rossii.

How big does Mukdenia grow?

About 40cm tall and wide, slowly spreading by rhizomes into a clump. That makes it a good groundcover among other hardy perennials and at the front of an exotic border.

Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 7 days with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
Why Grow Tropicals

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Packaged with Care

Packaged with Care

Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Perfect for Gifting

Perfect for Gifting

From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.

Sustainability at Heart

Sustainability at Heart

All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

Good for your home - and the planet.

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Mukdenia rossii 'Karasuba'
£21.99