You'll probably have much better luck posting a request for IDs along with pictures (embedding the pictures in the post would help) in the Name That Plant Forum. Here's a link to that forum... Here is a link that might be useful: Name That Plant Forum

Acer palmatum something. Hard to tell which cultivar specifically if any at all. Most named cultivars are grafted to prevent dilution of the parent plant traits so look for grafting scars near the trunk. Otherwise, you will have to call it a Japanese maple seedling and leave it at that. Some cultivars are propogated by rooted cuttings but most are not very vigorous or hardy when this is done (with some exceptions). It looks healthy and I would stake it up to encourage upright growth and prevent damage and also trim it to whatever shape you want. Justin

David-- You want me to tell you all my secrets:) I watch almost everything I can find online regarding maples, ebay included. Laceleaf is the only seller of Pink Lace that I have seen. A supposed seedling of Viridis that is more vigorous and has pink in its spring and new growth color. The sale of that plant has always tweaked me as I think it is illegitimate as a variety name--heck most of the seedlings of Virids exhibit those qualities. Anyway, not to detract from your purchase. Your Beni otake photos also looks like their plant. I also think Rob at nishiki is getting a bit much for his plants. They used to be quite large and worth the money, now with his increase in sales, the plants are going out before they have adequate size on them. Instead of separating himself from everyone else, he is selling small plants for acution prices to keep up with the demand. Truth be told, all of the auction trees have gotten pretty small. If I buy and auction tree, I try to stay below $15 and below $20 if I really want it---they are just to small to pay big money and buy sight unseen. MJH

Not disagreeing with you, but this small-stature tree is less apt to tumble in the wind than a giant maple or oak. I don't have the numeric answer as to which of the two root system anomalies the two of us cite here are the most prevalent. They're both terrible. Around these parts, private landscapers all too often seem utterly oblivious to the "new" tree care. You know-the stuff that has come out since 1980! Too-deep planting, not unraveling the junk tied around root balls, not finding the root flare, using the top of the ball as a depth guide, using soil amendments in the backfill, not even attempting to make corrections to containerized root systems....it is almost as if these folks are willfully ignorant. There's a lot of "we've always done it this way" going on. Then there's the profit motive as excuse folks. "We can't make a profit if we plant that way".....Well, my answer to that, always at the ready, is that tree planting is a long-term project. The life of the tree should, if at all successful, be measured in decades, if not longer. Hence, another couple minutes taken to plant it correctly vanishes into insignificance over this timespan. Yes, preaching to the choir here this morning! +oM