There is a tree at my work that catches my eye every time I pass it, in all seasons. Though it is a beautiful tree, I had mixed feelings about it at first. It seems the leaves on this tree reminded some people of cannabis leaves. It made my job as a counselor at the facility harder, as kids tried to sneak leaves that reminded them of their favorite thing. They drew cannabis leaf designs claiming it was Japanese maple leaves. Despite problems with people associating this tree with a totally different plant, I honestly do not know of a more attractive tree specimen. The Japanese maple tree’s variety of sizes, forms, leaf shapes, and colors has something to beautifully complement any landscape.
Japanese maple, scientific name Acer palmatum, is a deciduous shrub or small tree native to Japan, China, Korea, eastern Mongolia, and southeast Russia. In the scientific name, Acer is Latin for the word “sharp”, referring to its jagged leaf edges. Palmatum is Latin for “like the palm of a hand” referring to the shape of the leaves. The first specimen of the tree reached England in 1820.
Over 1,000 cultivars have been developed over centuries of development. Cultivars range in height from dwarf or shrub to 20 or 30 feet, and may be found as large as 50 
feet. Making Japanese maples into bonsai plants is an art form going back many centuries, and there are bonsai trees over 100 years old that stand little more than two feet tall. Overall form can vary from upright to weeping.
With so many Japanese maple cultivars available, it is difficult to give a general definition of this tree. Trees with which I am familiar are the varieties atropurpureum, known as “Bloodgood”, and dissectum, known as “Crimson Queen”. Leaves of these trees have leaf color as indicated by their names, have five or seven sharply pointed leaf lobes, and have serrations on the edges of the lobes. The 
Crimson Queen variety has finely dissected leaves of lacey texture, and often the lobes are cut all the way to the center. Bloodgood lobes are deeply cut, but they are not cut deeply enough to be totally separated.
Flowers on Japanese maples are small and borne on stalks in clusters. These flowers are insect pollinated and form winged seeds called samaras. Samaras are 1/2 to 3/4 inches long, and green or red in color. When they mature in early fall they are scattered by the wind. It is amusing to see how they auto- rotate like helicopters as they fall. Samaras are shown in the following small picture.
Bark on Japanese maples is smooth and green, turning light grey or grayish brown with age. 
Trees grow best in dappled shade and moist but well- drained soil. The sun intensifies the red pigments so if a tree does not turn red as expected it may have too much shade. In the picture of the Crimson Queen by the window, the back side and inner layers of the plant are green. Of note also is that those plants propagated by seed are said to lose their red leaf color in the summer.
Japanese maple colors, textures, sizes, and forms can be as interesting and beautiful as trees and plants in 
full bloom. Incredible gardens can be made of only Japanese maples or as ornaments among other plants. A well placed Japanese maple in a landscape is sure to draw attention, and be enjoyed.
