Acer palmatum Smooth Japanese-maple

A small tree with spreading branches and elegant palmate leaves with the lobes cut almost to the base. It produces clusters of purple flowers in Spring. It is one of the most widely planted acers and there are lots of cultivars. It is famed for its spectacular autumn leaf colours which in some cultivars is bright scarlet. It is a common tree of parks and large gardens in West Glamorgan but it does not ocur naturalised in the county.