Beni fushigi (Acer palmatum 'Beni fushigi')

As a member of the Corallinum group, this palmatum is most stunning in the spring when the leaves come out the color of fire. They stay multicolored as they appear in this photo becoming darker as the summer progresses. The plant is shrubby rather than tree like. zone 5

Asahi zuru (Acer palmatum 'Asahi zuru')

Asahi zuru is one of the boldest variegates with pink, green and white leaves. It grows well as a young tree and later slows down and becomes denser and maintains variegation well.

Ariadne (Acer palmatum 'Ariadne')

Ariadne is one of those spring reticulations that make you gasp in awe at the beauty. Unfortunately, by mid summer, it is pretty much gone. Fall sees something of a comeback, but the question is: will a picture of the spring color make you want the plant. It did me.

Arakawa (Acer Palmatum 'Arakawa')

Arakawa is grown for the bark rather than the foliage; after two or three years, it starts to get thick and corky. The summer leaf color is green; fall color is gold.

Aoyagi (Acer palmatum 'Aoyagi')

The fresh green leaves and the green stems of this cultivar make this a good companion tree to the bright red barked trees like Sango kaku or Beni Kawa. The small leaves turn yellow in the fall. To 25′. zone 6

Aoba jo (Acer palmatum 'Aoba jo')

Aoba jo is a tight dwarf of medium size. Does that make sense? Mine is about 6′ x 6′; the leaves are a good green in summer and surprizingly large for a dwarf. Fall color is yellowish. Bonsai people like this plant.

Ao shimi no uchi (Acer palmatum 'Ao shimi no uchi')

One of the linearlobum group, this cultivar has green leaves until fall when it is yellow, orange. The deeply incised leaves are not so hairlike as some in the group, but it is a better grower. A vase shape to 10′.zone 6

Ao kanzachi (Acer palmatum 'Aokanzachi')

The deeply incised leaves of this cultivar have a slight white variegation around the edges. The growth habit is dense and vaseshaped. The fall color is pinkish yellow. zone 6

Amber Ghost (Acer palmatum 'Amber Ghost')

As with all the ghosts, the operative word is reticulation. They are all charming in the spring, and this one being, well, amber, has a long shelf life.

Alpenweiss (Acer palmatum 'Alpenweiss')

Alpenweiss has a delicate narrow reticulated leaf colored with green and pink on the edges. Stunning but slooooow growing and quick to lose spring coloration.