I have cared for many different varieties of Japanese maple, Acer palmatum, when managing gardens across the UK and Italy.

The Japanese maple is a common name referring to a species of trees or shrubs under the scientific name Acer palmatum ... most recognizable from their rich red foliage, cultivars like 'Bloodgood ...

These special maples again caught the eyes of enthusiasts. Now there are perhaps 1,000 cultivars in existence, although sloppy recordkeeping and naming practices may have resulted in many duplications ...