Hubbs Red Willow (Acer palmatum 'Hubbs Red Willow' )

In my opinion, the best of thel red linearlobum cultivars, this small tree (to 7′) is vase-shaped and keeps its color well. zone 6

Hog Yoku (Acer palmatum 'Hog yoku' )

I wish I had taken a picture of a mature tree because this is an ideal tree, in the Platonic sense. It has shiny clean green medium-sized leaves in the summer and bright orange fall color. The tree itself will get maybe 15′ and is round headed and regular–just a great looking tree. zone 5.

Higaseyama (Acer palmatum 'Higaseyama' )

People get really excited about this cultivar because of the leaf coloration, but it is a major pain to get the tree to exhibit it. If the tree is growing hard, none of the new leaves will show this leaf so if you want to see it, give your tree no fertilizer and hardly any water. zone 5

Hagoromo (Acer palmatum 'Hagoromo' )

Hagoromo (and I apologize for the photo because it is hard to see this) is unique because the leaves have no petiole so they are in whorls around the stem each coming off on a different plane. I have never seen a large plant, but I imagine that it would be beautiful, at least in the fall.

Groundcover (Acer palmatum 'Groundcover' )

Think Kamagata lying on the ground. It’s not exactly right but gives the idea. Groundcover’s leaves are small, green and deeply divided with longish lobes. If you show the plant who’s boss right at the beginning and put it on a stake, you get to decide how tall it will be and what the general shape will be, but if you let it lie about, it gets very brittle and every limb you try to lift up, breaks off. Bummer. Frankly I don’t think trees should be ground covers, but I was a little too late with my plants.

Grandma Ghost (Acer palmatum 'Grandma Ghost' )

As with all the Ghosts, it is the spring show that grabs you; this medium upright spreader is fairly nondescript throughout the summer

Goshiki kotohime (Acer palmatum 'Goshiki kotohime' )

A dwarf with thick short branches, it can get to be 6′ tall. The new leaves come out pinkish. Fall color is orange. zone 6