The subtle beauty of maples can only be appreciated by seeing and feeling it in person rather than mere descriptions or photographic images. There are few ornamental plants that have continuous attractive attributes from spring, summer through to autumn. Most plants (like annuals, perennials, rhodos, and flowering trees/shrubs) are more likely to have only a single season interest.
We consider ourselves fortunate that we live in a part of Ontario where these maples survive reasonably well. There are serious challenges to grow these maples in our garden, but they are worth the risk.
The seasonal colours of maples vary greatly depending on the weather patterns of the year and local conditions. Most of the pictures in books and websites are not reliable and can often be deceiving. Be warned!!
Acer palmatum 'Sister Ghost' in May
More of our collection: (Under Construction)