Japanese Maples (Acer palmatum) have been cultivated for over 300 years. They offer gardens exceptional versatility giving continuous interest with their varied leaf colours and textures and breathtaking autumn colour. Their leaves vary from bold shapes to delicate feathery forms and colours range through greens, yellows, purples, reds and pinks. As a whole Japanese Maples do not attain great height averaging 5-6 metres for the upright cultivars and 1-2 metres for most of the dissectum group. They are relatively slow growing and the bare branches in winter provide a contrast in form and shape with interesting bark colours.

Japanese Maples prefer a position in partial shade. Despite their reputation, few require an acid soil, more important is the soil structure, as it should provide constant moisture. When planting incorporation of some peat will benefit the plant but generally fertiliser is not necessary. As a rule choose the larger, less delicate leaf shapes for more exposed situations. Maples grow particularly well in containers as patio specimens provided they are not allowed to dry out.

	Acer conspicuum 'Phoenix' Makes a multi - stemmed shrub of up to 6m if un-pruned. Brilliant crimson-red branches have white stripes and become yellow in summer. Rounded, three lobed leaves are 15cm long and have good yellow autumn colour. Pruning or "stooling" will encourage best colour from the stems.
	Acer conspicuum 'Silver Cardinal' A multi - stemmed shrub of up to 4-5m if un-pruned. Brilliant crimson-red branches have white stripes & become yellow in summer. Heavily white and pink variegated  unlobed leaves are 10cm long and have pink-yellow autumn colour. Periodic pruning or "stooling" will encourage best colour from leaves & stems. One of the best striped bark maples for smaller gardens
	Acer davidii 'Purple Bark' Shrub up to 6m with attractively white striated purple  bark in winter.  The shining, dark green, ovate leaves colour richly in the autumn.  Green fruits are often attractively suffused red and hang all along the branches in autumn.
	Acer griseum - Paper Bark Maple A broadly upright small tree with attractive papery orange peeling bark revealing rich cinnamon underbark. . Dark green leaves have 3 leaflets and turn glorious fiery autumn tints.
	Acer japonicum 'Fairy Lights' A small upright shrub with leaves similar to A. j 'Green Cascade' in colour but somewhat more dissected. Slow growing, forming a small dome shaped shrub, ideal for rock gardens, patio containers or as a small feature specimen. Autumn tones of brilliant fiery gold, orange and scarlet shades. 1.5m.
	Acer japonicum 'Green Cascade'  New U.S. cultivar with a weeping habit and dissected green leaflets. Autumn colour is a  brilliant orange – yellow - crimson display.  Makes a round headed small tree with pendulous branches.
	Acer japonicum 'Vitifolium'  Leaves are divided giving a "vine-like" appearance. Foliage is deep green in summer turning brilliant scarlet tones in autumn. upright round headed small tree.
	Acer mandshurica Small sl
	Acer negundo 'Flamingo'  Small deciduous tree to 5m, with new spring leaves of bright carmine-pink with white, gradually turning to white and green tinged soft pink. Spectacular in spring.
	Acer palmatum 'Aka Shigatatsu Sawa' Small, slow growing, open deciduous tree,eventually 2-3m. Pale yellow green leaves have a prominent reticulated network of deep green veins giving subtle charm to leaf. Lovely cultivar specially good for the smaller garden, or as a bonsai or patio tub subject.
	Acer palmatum 'Aratama' This acer is a slow growing, medium sized shrub.  The leaves are 5 lobed, dark purple in spring, turning  lighter red in late summer. It is a true dwarf.
	Acer palmatum 'Ariadne'  Bushy headed shrub or small tree with deeply divided, serrated leaves which are reddish purple with  a red variegation which remains into the autumn. Height 3m, Spread 3m.
	Acer palmatum 'Asahi Zuru' - Rising Sun Maple Makes a small, shrubby round-headed tree with distinctive foliage. The spring leaves unfurl vividly pink and white, later the green shows and the three-tonal pattern persists until autumn leaf fall. Partial shade is advised to avoid summer leaf burn.
	Acer palmatum dissectum 'Baldsmith' This New Introduction has bright orange-red foliage in the spring which becomes paler with a green centre later in the summer. The leaves turn bright yellow in the Autumn. The leaves are finely dissected and about 10cm long. The growth habit is mounded with pendulous foliage.
	Acer palmatum 'Beni Komachi' - The Red Beautiful Little Girl A dwarf bushy tree to 2 metres in height with fine deeply cut leaves. Bright crimson in spring turning greenish red in summer with crimson margins, returning to scarlet in autumn. Ideal in small borders and for the patio.
	Acer palmatum 'Beni Otake' Deeply dissected foliage with long narrow lobes of deep purple red. Crimson autumn foliage display. 2.5m
	Acer palmatum 'Beni Schichihenge' Similar to the rose pink margined ‘Butterfly’ this cultivar has outstanding salmon pink to almost orange toned edges to the fresh green leaves. Upright bushy twiggy habit. 2m
	Acer palmatum 'Burgundy Lace' Small deciduous tree to 4m. Foliage deeply divided and fringed at the margins in deep burgundy red. Lovely scarlet autumn foliage. Picture Showing Autumn Colour.
	Acer palmatum 'Butterfly' Small, open growing deciduous tree to 3m/lDft. Smallish deeply lobed leaves are attractive deep bluish-green with creamy-white margins in spring. Summer sees the pink tones reduce in intensity, but the creamy-white margins stay prominent and showy. The rosy pink colouring returns in autumn intensified to brilliant crimson as the season progresses to leaf fall. A delightful little tree that holds itself neatly erect and displaying its elegant finery through the season from early spring to autumn. Perfect for the small garden.
	Acer palmatum 'Chitoseyama' This acer grows into a mound forming shrub or small tree with lobed, mid green foliage that gradually turns brilliant red in late summer to autumn.  It produces small, reddish purple flowers in mik spring. Height and spread 1.5m.
	Acer palmatum 'Cripsii' Small dainty deep green foliage. Leaflets finely serrated and margins curled giving a star-shaped leaf. Upright compact habit. Small deciduous shrub to 2m.
	Acer palmatum 'Ellen' This Japanese Maple has a very compact mushroom shape not exceeding 1 m in height. Large, very lacy, dissected green leaves turning yellow in autumn.
	Acer palmatum 'Enkan' This makes a vase shaped specimen. It,s wine red, deeply lobed leaves have a very good autumn colour. Fairly slow growing, eventually making 2-3 metres.
	Acer palmatum 'Filigree' This delicate Japanese Maple has outstanding pale green, lace-like dissected foliage. It has a pendulous and wide habit, a mature specimen is a rounded and drooping mound up to 2m tall and 3m wide.
	Acer palmatum 'Goshiki Kotohime' Dwarf stiffly upright when young becoming self layered like "Shishi Gashira" when mature. Dainty rich green leaves speckled with pink and white.
	Acer palmatum 'Kamagata' A dwarf variety with branches clothed with fine green palmate foliage, spreading out and upward. Autumn brings a change to fiery orange foliage which glows from within the bush and spreads out to the tips. 1m.
	Acer palmatum 'Kandy Kitchen'  A dwarf red form which makes a compact rounded shrub with a layered appearance. The new leaves form a pink and red bunch at the end of the shoots, turning to a purple red in summer. Autumn colour is a bright scarlet red. Height and spread is 2m.
	Acer palmatum 'Katsura' - The Wig Maple Small deciduous tree to 2.4m. Spring foliage is pale yellow, orange and red tones slowly turning to green in summer then back to yellow-orange in autumn. However, new yellow foliage appears all through the summer period maintaining the spectacular effect throughout the seasons. A super small garden tree.
	Acer palmatum 'Mikawa Yatsabusa' The light green leaves of this maple overlap each other on short stubby shoots, the younger leaves being paler as they unfold and the outer leaves are red at the tips of the finely serrated leaf margins. Leaves are 4-6 cm long by 5-6 cm wide and seven lobed. Grows to form a dwarf and compact densely branched and foliaged specimen.
	Acer palmatum 'Nishiki Gazane' Forms an upright tree of 2-3 metres. The foliage has atotally different variegation pattern to that found in other cultivars. The deep green leaf is speckled and flecked with gold and in some cases spots occur in varying ammounts and are concentrated around the leaf margins. The heavily variegated new leaves are an apricot colour, this soon fades into the clear gold of the mature leaf. Needs protection from the afternoon sun
	Acer palmatum 'Orange Dream' This cultivar is unequalled for its brilliant spring foliage colour which is orange at first, later becoming straw yellow and eventually light green as the season progresses. Leaves are similar in size and shape to Acer palmatum, growth is less vigorous.
	Acer palmatum 'Osakazuki' Large leaved variety,bronze green summer leaves turning intense  crimson in autumn. Considered among the best for autumn display.3m
	Acer palmatum dissectum 'Palmatifidium'- Weeping Eagles Claw Maple Leaves sturdier and wider than for most weeping forms. Brilliant emerald green leaves throughout spring and summer, with an autumn tonal blending of yellow, gold and crimson. A strong and vigorous growing small weeping tree, eventually 2m tall & 3m wide.
	Acer palmatum dissectum 'Pink Filigree'- Filigree Lace Maple Pink foliage. Colouring deepens in summer and takes on deep golden tones in autumn. Leaves have a finely serrated margin giving it a unique lace-like appearance. A truly marvellous garden plant ideal for container culture. Requires semi-shade and protection from wind. A rare and very choice small weeping  tree.
	Acer palmatum dissectum 'Red Dragon' A new form with a vigorous weeping mounding habit typical of Acer palmatum dissectum varieties. A more vigorous habit and deeper purple-red foliage than "Crimson Queen".  Unlike this cultivar it retains excellent foliage colour right through to the autumn. 1.5m.
	Acer palmatum 'Red Pygmy'  Spectacular ribbon-like long spidery 7 lobed leaves of bright maroon red. A low broad dense shaped bush at maturity, of delicate lacy appearance but quite sturdy. 1 .2metres in height.
	Acer palmatum dissectum 'Red Select' This plant grows into a mushroom shape, up to 2m high and 3-4m wide. The leaves are finely dissected and are dark purple/green turning to purple later. Pictured showing Autumn Colour.
	Acer palmatum 'Roseomarginatum' or 'Kagiri Nishiki' This Acer has pale green leaves which are irregularly edged with cream and coral pink. A strong growing shrub up to 8m tall.
	Acer palmatum 'Scolopendrifolium' This is a bright green maple with leaves that have 5 narrow lobes.  The leaves turn yellow in the autumn. Can grow up to 5m tall.
	Acer palmatum 'Senkaki' - The Coral Bark Maple Small deciduous tree to 4m. Spring foliage of soft lime green margined red becomes mid-green in summer and turns to golden yellow tinted apricot in autumn. A striking feature is the vivid coral red bark in winter. Outstanding. Synonym - 'Sango Kaku'
	Acer palmatum 'Shaina' A dwarf compact sport of Bloodgood. An upright growing compact plant becoming more dense with maturity Bright red new foliage mature to deep maroon red. 1 .75metres.
	Acer palmatum 'Sharp's Pygmy' Compact and slow growing, reaching not more than 1 metre high and wide. Densely branched, its tiny leaves are five lobed, green and have a bright orange autumn colouring.
	Acer palmatum 'Shigatatsu Sawa' Small, slow growing, open deciduous tree,eventually 2-3m. Pale yellow green leaves have a prominent reticulated network of deep green veins giving subtle charm to leaf. Lovely cultivar specially good for the smaller garden, or as a bonsai or patio tub subject.
	Acer palmatum 'Shindeshojo' - The Spring Ruby Tree A very small growing shrubby deciduous tree to 2.5m. Brilliant spring foliage in glittering scarlet for a long period, eventually becoming shrimp pink and bronzy green. Autumn foliage is orange-pink and red tones.
	Acer palmatum 'Shishigashira' - The Lion Mane Maple Closely packed wrinkly leaves with their edges curled upwards, remain rich green all summer, then turn to produce extraordinary shades of gold, crimson and pink in Autumn. Slow growing, short upright branches and compact stubby habit make 2m in 10 years.
	Acer palmatum 'Sieryu' - Upright Lace Leaf Maple An unusual upright growing form of the weeping dissectum maple making a small round headed deciduous tree to 3m. Gracefully held finely cut foliage is enhanced by the upright arching branching habit. Foliage is bright green throughout spring and summer with autumn colours spectacular in golden yellow suffused with orange and red tones.
	Acer palmatum 'Skeeters Broom' This is an upright growing plant that may grow to 1.75m tall but is compact. The new foliage is bright red and matures to a deep maroon red.
	Acer palmatum 'Trompenburg' Unusual glossy 7-9 lobed rich deep purple leaves with rolled margins giving a distinctive finger-like appearance and enhanced by bright red petioles. Crimson autumn toned foliage making an upright round headed small tree to 4 metres when mature. Picture Right Showing Autumn Colour
	Acer palmatum 'Ukigumo' - Floating Cloud Maple Small growing deciduous tree to only 2.5m. Outstanding variegated foliage of light green freckled and blended with pink and white giving subtle pastel toning. Fabulous bonsai or patio tub subject
	Acer palmatum dissectum 'Villa Tarranto' A neat small rounded tree with delicate lacy leaves. The leaf colour is quite unique - bright lightish green with light reddish overtone becoming soft golden yellow in autumn. 2-3m
	Acer palmatum dissectum viridis Delicate soft spring green foliage with deeply lobed and finely serrated margined leaves becoming richly summer green. Autumn colour tones of yellow and orange. A smaller growing and very graceful weeping deciduous tree. Ideal for a tub or pool side planting.
	Acer palmatum 'Wabito'  Small shrubby plant which reaches only 1 to 1.5 metres in maturity. Basic colour is green and the leaf margins are strongly margined  with rose or rusty edge especially on new foliage. Summer colour remains green, changing to a rich scarlet in the autumn.
	Acer shirawasanum Aureum - Japanese Full Moon Maple Small slow growing deciduous tree with soft golden yellow fan like leaves. Synonym Acer japonicum 'Aureum'.
	Acer shirawasanum 'Autumn Moon' Small slow growing deciduous tree with soft golden yellow fan like leaves. Picture right showing Autumn Colour.
	Acer shirawasanum 'Gloria'  This is almost certainly a hybrid maple between A. japonicum and a purple leaved A. palmatum. ****************************************************************
	Acer shirawasanum 'Suzanne' Deciduous slow growing, bushy tree or large shrub. Has rounded, many lobed pale yellow-green fan like leaves. Height to 7m and similar spread.