Beautiful five-to-nine-lobed leaves emerge early. The plant grows 5 feet in 10 years. Use this Japanese maple as a specimen plant or train it as a bonsai. May and June bring small reddish-purple flowers. The samaras, or winged fruits, mature in fall and turn a rich red. Fall color is outstanding, ranging from yellow to red to purple. This lovely small tree, native to the Far East, can be grown only in very protected areas if you live in Zone 5. It is an exceptional small ornamental maple.

The foliage is deeply lobed and elongated, forming overlapping tufts, creating little "canopies" on each branch. The foliage emerges yellow-tinted green and darkens to a rich mid-green. In autumn, it becomes bright orange to scarlet.