Fern-leaf full moon maple

* Common name: Fern-leaf full moon maple

* Botanical name: Acer japonicum ‘Aconitifolium’

* What it is: Full moon maple is a small, 20-foot, slow-growing under-used maple tree with gorgeous deep-red fall foliage, and this one is an even smaller version whose leaves turn a rich crimson in fall. Fern-leaf full moon maple gets its name from the leaves, which are rounded and deeply toothed, almost resembling wide fern foliage. Gets dainty red flowers before the leaves emerge in spring and “helicopter” seed pods in late summer.

* Size: Grows slowly to 10 or 12 feet tall and slightly wider in 20-25 years.

* Where to use: Siting is important because leaves can scorch around the edges in a hot, full-sun location. A site that gets dappled sunlight all day or is at least out of direct afternoon is ideal. A wind-protected site also helps prevent any windburn around the leaf edges from late cold snaps after the young leaves emerge. This is an excellent stand-alone specimen. A good placement is straight out from a key house window. Or use as an under-story tree along a woods’ edge.

* Care: Keep the roots consistently damp the first 2 to 3 seasons, then soak deeply every few weeks in a hot, dry spell. Remove any dead or broken wood and crossing branches when the tree is bare in winter. Excess or overly long branches also can be pruned at the same time. Fertilizer usually not needed, especially if you’re fertilizing a lawn nearby.

* Great partner: Dwarf nandina or Russian cypress are good evergreen underplantings. Barrenwort and hosta are good perennials to plant underneath.