Beautiful five-to-nine-lobed leaves emerge early. In 8 years, the plant grows 5 feet in height with a 4 foot spread. Use the Japanese maple as a specimen plant. 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.

This tree was discovered as a witches' broom mutation on another Japanese maple cultivar ('Bloodgood'). Its non-dissected leaves are clumped into masses, forming tufts. Its foliage is dark maroon during the summer, changing to a brilliant red in the fall.