I would use some type of ground cover like Scotch Moss, or whatever grows well in your area, to replace the grass under the maple. For such a small area I think bulbs and perennials under the tree are going to distract from the tree, plus I wouldn't want to be digging around the shallow roots of the maple.

I'd put the bulbs in a pot so they can be moved when they start dying back, or plant them in the area where the hostas are.

Whoa! Forget this idea! Maple trees, especially Japanese maples, die quickly from a soil born disease (verticillium wilt) which is present in the soil naturally. If you dig around your maple to the extent necessary for bulb planting you will nick the roots allowing this dreaded disease to enter the tree through the cut roots. My strong suggestion is to never dig under this tree if you want it to survive. Pull the grass beneath it, collect clumps of moss from wherever and lay them on the soil surface, creating a little moss garden beneath.

Lamium might not be a bad idea -- if it's even tall enough to cover the leaves of the bulbs. Repeating a plant throughout a garden is a good way to connect everything and give it continuity.

I'm zone 4 -- North of you and I envy your Japanese Maple. Lovely.

I'm going to cancel my order for the daffodils and muscari - I have no where to plant them and I'm back at square one. It makes my life easier in the long run.

I don't want to risk damaging the roots - we just planted this tree earlier this season. Thank you thank you thank you for the feedback, I can't say it enough.

I think Lamium is the way to go. I agree about continuity, but I also read recently that it is better to limit the number of variegated plants in your garden. I also have Brunnera Jack Frost and some variegated euonymous (and my yard is small scale), so I think this will be the last of variegated varieties in my landscape.

I'm considering Beacon Silver for this area. I think it would be a nice contrast...and a lot less labor than what I initially set out to do.

Blue-leaved hostas are a classic beneath purple-leaved Japanese maples.

How about ajuga? Maybe you could seed it in. Another option is creeping thyme, which I think you can also grow from seed.

I thought of hostas, but this is full sun so I don't think they'd do well here. Any blue varieties that can handle full sun?

I'd LOVE to put European Ginger there - soooo pretty, but again, full sun.

I have Ajuga just around the corner, and I don't think it will have the effect that I'm looking for (too low of a ground cover).

How about Dragon's Blood sedum? Here in zone 4, most varieties of hostas can take full sun, but the blues will suffer for it. No hosta expert but it seems the "blue" is a waxy coating which gives the green leaves a blue tint. The coating will melt away in the sun.

Here the blue ones appear more tolerant than the others. Eventually the maple will have a bigger shadow, too.

I hate to be the one to say this, as I am likely the least experienced person here, gardening-wise--but how close is that maple to the wall of your house?

How big is that tree going to get, eventually?

And won't the roots eventually heave the paving? Not sure about that, though. Maybe someone else will address it.

Yes, it seems I have to keep addressing this issue about the location of the tree.

You are looking at a Japanese Maple, and in 20 years it will probably only double in size. The roots behave and this tree will never reach 40' in height, or even close to that.

My uncle has probably six of them planted NEXT TO his foundation for the past 20 years, and they're small in stature, well behaved, and no threat to the foundation, driveway, sidewalk, passerby, dog, cat, mouse or otherwise. LOL

A little pruning of the side branches every now and then, and mother nature will figure out which way she can grow - it will not be into my house.

I would not have planted a tree next to my house that will overtake my driveway, sidewalk and house. I've made many "gardening" mistakes in my time, but this isn't one of them.

I have yarrow and lemon thyme and columbine and lily of the valley growing under my japanese maple. The columbine seeded themselves, the lily of the valley spread in from nearby areas. I figure yarrow and thyme are friendly companions.

Actually, I have a sweetfern planted right next to my japanese maple. They are the best, best of friends. But I planted them together at the same time. Sweetfern is hard to come by, but it can take sun. Here's a picture of them together, two years ago. The sweetfern is on the right. Both are doing well, they seem to like each other. The maple is now three times that size, it's growing like gangbusters. The dwarf mountain laurel on the left, on the other hand, is on it's way out even though it is well shaded now by three trees.

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