This small deciduous tree has a solitary or multiple trunks with upright spreading branches that form a rounded crown. It has lobed mid green leaves that turn reddish during autumn and the small red saucer-shaped flowers appear in a pendant cluster in spring.

Hardiness zones 5 to 10

Acer palmatum is naturally found from Japan to Korea and China growing in woodlands and long forest margins, commonly associated with water courses from lowland regions to an altitude of 3,000 m (9,842 ft).

It prefers a wind protected semi shaded to sunny position and grows in moist well drained fertile sandy to clay soils that are tending acidic with a pH range from 4.5 to 7.0 and is frost tolerant but dislikes drought and high temperatures. 

The Japanese Maple is grown for spreading crown and its autumn foliage. It is planted in parks and gardens as a lawn specimen or along avenues for shade and autumn colour. It is suitable for low-mountain regions and establishes in 4 to 10 years. It is also used as a bonsai subject or grown in Japanese gardens. There are many cultivars available with varying leaf colour and growth habits. There are many cultivars available. ID 321
 
Note:
Under cultivation the tree normally attains a height of 5m (15ft) but in its natural environment it reaches 8m (27ft). 

Acer (AR-ser) palmatum (pahl-MAH-tum)

'Acer': hard or sharp (ancient Roman spears were of maple wood); 'palmatum': the hand (refers to the five lobes of the leaf - resembling a hand).

Sapindaceae (sap-in-DAY-see-ee) 
Litchi, Maple, Horse Chestnut and Hop Bush Family