Acer palmatum aka Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum, also known as Japanese maple, palmate maple, or smooth Japanese maple, is a species of woody plant native to Japan, Korea, China, eastern Mongolia, and southeast Russia. It is a small, rounded, bushy tree that grows slowly to about 5m. The leaves have seven long, pointed lobes and open as lime green in spring, maturing to bright green, and then turning orange and red in autumn. Inconspicuous hanging clusters of small, green flowers are followed by red-flushed, winged seeds. The tree has green bark that adds winter color. Acer palmatum is a deciduous shrub or small tree, often reaching heights of 6 to 10 m, and rarely 16 meters. It is commonly grown as an understory plant in shady woodlands. The canopy of Acer palmatum often takes on a dome-like form, especially when mature. The tree displays considerable genetic variation, with seedlings from the same parent tree showing differences in leaf size, shape, and color. It can vary in overall form from upright to weeping. Acer palmatum has been cultivated in Japan for centuries and has been grown in temperate areas worldwide since the 1800s.