If you are gardening in California, and a zone 9 designation would seem to indicate that you aren't located in coastal southern California, then most all of the red leafed maples will grow well in northern California if well watered and located out of the wind. The dissected leaf cultivars need even more shelter from full sun and hot drying winds to look their best. If the weeping dissected leaf forms are what you want, be sure you can locate it out of wind, give it sufficient water in summer, and probably best with dappled bright shade or morning sun only if you are away from the immediate coast. The red coloration of foliage is always less red in mid summer, brightest when first leafing out, and again when cold hits and they start to color up. I wouldn't bother planting one if you can't give it ideal conditions, as they will look rather beaten up with dried out leaf tips if they aren't happy with the spot. If you have hot sun and want drought tolerant, you could always substitute with the Purple Smoke Bush, Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple', which is probably a better choice for a California garden in any case, because it can survive with much less water in the long term. You might also consider the purple foliaged Willow Leaf Peppermint Tree, Agonis flexuosa 'After Dark', which is evergreen, weeping in form, and has deep purple foliage year round.

Thinking long term development, until I read your list of candidates I was going to suggest 'Shishigashira'. You still might want to check that one out. 'Oridono nishiki' ("the rich-colored fabric of the master") and 'Versicolor' are not the same. 'Oridono nishiki' "is more reliable and has far less non-variegated foliage than some other cultivars such as 'Versicolor'"(Vertrees/Gregory, JAPANESE MAPLES).

yeah yeah i know... but couldn't resist. (Yellow) 1)Aureum for graceful leaf shape and color (runner up Jordan/Katsura/Summer Gold) (dissectum) 2) Seiryu for its soft light green elegant leaves and vase growth habit (Laceleaf) 3) koto no ito for beautiful weeping habit (followed closely by villa taranto and Aekans Le's with its great purple bark) (variegated) 4) Peve Multicolor variegation on this one is inconsistent. BUT the bark is spectacular at least mine is - a light blueish silvery color. Underrated. (ukigomo) (pink) 5) Geisha - Terrific pink color. (also GGW. Taylor I like but killed 2 already - too fickle) (bark) 6) Acer Griseum ( runner up snakebark phoenix/joe witt/Murasaki Shikibu PINK STRIPED BARK!!!) HONORABLE MENTION - Amagi Shigure/Olsens Frosted. Must stop....

Good someone else posted ...one problem with this site is you can't ( or I haven't figured out) how to do a direct followup..if I leave something out IT won't let ya wants you to start another thread... Anyway your additional info on protection I think is very apropros...The more screening you have the better I have white pines ...Big "ums" on the north and west of my 1&1/2 acre back yard and my large two story brick on the south...the only semi exposed side is the east and as we all know it is not often storms and wind come from that direction (here)...( Boston YES)... I do NOT plant Jm's in my front yard cause of strong south winds winter and summer and the farmers field just accross the road who sprays herbicides whenever the jerk pleases...and even in non windy conditions roundup and other stuff can jump from field to field. The idea of burlap wrap seems logical ... I enclose all my jms ( younger ones ) in 4 ft 3/8" rebar sorounded by 2 ft chicken wire to keep the rabbits/ mice out and my jerk young dog who will eat anything it also provides a good enclosure for a heavey the mulching ( I use cedar mulch ...less bug problems )...it would be a very easy step to attach burlap to that...( you might want to use 3 or 4 ft chicken wire if they are bigger trees and keep the burlap higher)...you'd be killing two problems with one stone that way. Once you get the hang of it ( buy a cheap pair of tin snips for cutting the chicken wire)it takes about 2-3 minites a tree and requires NO tying of the wire...just wrapping ( you would have to tie the burlap on some how)... I also agree on ebay and tree diseases ...although many sellers like herter, lace leaf, cal maple,nishiman are also nurseries and buying from them pretty much insures at least occasional inspections ...My complaint is size and often down right mis-representation...most one year grafts are actually only "first year grafts not more than 4-6 months old at most!!! and many one gals are not two years old but actually just ONE!!! david