Pictured below -- Acer japonicum 'Aconitifolium' in all its fall glory.
I've been growing this beauty in a container in my garden for several years now and it'll likely be happy in my relatively large container for quite some time. This small tree grows quite slowly; according to the Great Plant Picks site, it's expected to reach only 8 to 10 feet tall by 6 to 8 feet wide in ten years.
Its deeply dissected leaves are green in summer and a bit larger and bolder than some of the other maples, lending nice textural contrast in my garden. But in my mind it really shines in fall; its electrifying color shining like a lantern as it illuminates a dark corner in my garden. It buoys my heart as we transition into the increasingly overcast days of autumn.
