Samurai Sword™ maple ( Acer palmatum ) will make you rethink Japanese maples. Of course, it has the lovely foliage and vivid fall color you expect, but its size is more on the scale of a shade tree or small street tree than the typical compact specimen. And best of all, it's fast-growing, so you will enjoy everything it has to offer in a reasonable time frame. Deep red foliage is distinctly palmate and turns dazzling red in autumn; it is accompanied by small red samaras in early summer for additional color and texture. Samurai Sword maple makes an excellent alternative to Crimson King Norway maple, combining its color and shade-giving qualities with airier, more elegant branching that feels far less like a black hole in the landscape. Between its vigorous growth and ability to naturally develop a strong central leader, it's a superior choice in production as well.