I am barely enthused by autumn foliage colors, knowing the next step is that leaves drop for months until spring’s first growth. But, leaf colors do weigh in favoring one Japanese maple over another. Undoubtedly, the fern leaf full moon maple (Acer japonicum ‘Aconitifolium’, below) is the best of the lot. Today, after several frosts and three freezes, is its peak.

Some Japanese maples vary in color year to year, and certainly the fern leaf does, but it is always marvelous and always the best in the garden. If pressed, there are maples I favor more overall, but not for autumn foliage color.

A surprise this autumn is the leaf color of the ‘Atrolineare’ maple (above and below) that hangs over the pond by the deck. This Japanese maple is distinctive for its deeply cut, linearilobum leaves, but this season its color is splendid, more so than I can recall with a red much deeper than through spring and summer.

The brilliant colors of Japanese maples in spring often fade in summer’s heat, and then intensify in autumn’s first cold. Red leafed ‘Bloodgood’ and ‘Crimson Queen’ maples (below) often fade significantly, but October brings back their amazing colors that persist for weeks after neighboring trees have shed their leaves.

Autumn color of ‘Bloodgood’ often deepens in November, but it doesn’t seem like that will happen this year.

While red leafed Japanese maples are expected to turn a deeper shade of red in autumn, the colors of several green leafed maples are exceptional. In the first week of November, ‘Seriyu’ has not reached its peak color. The canopy of two upright, laceleaf ‘Seriyu’ maples extends over the front walk and the driveway. I am occasionally upset when a tall delivery truck knocks out a few branches, but these are usually small and make only a minor dent in the beautiful maple with foliage that peaks in color by the second week of November.

The laceleafed, upright growing ‘Seriyu’ overhangs the front walk with colorful leaves long in autumn.

A green leafed linearilobum Japanese maple (above) turns to yellow in autumn. The color would be better if not for areas of browned leaves.

A partially shaded ‘Burgundy Lace’ maple varies little from summer into autumn without bright sunlight.

A green leafed ‘Viridis’ Japanese maple stands out with its yellow coloring.