Aunt Dee Wisteria

There is also a Minnesota garden forum (here on gardenweb) where you may want to post your question. I grew Japanese maples for a few years, here they definitely need winter protection and never grow very big (more like shrubs), but I do recall reading that there are a few varieties that do well in Minnesota, particularly the central and south regions. Again, your best bet may be to post on the MN forum section.

If not, you might try Korean Maple, acer pseudosieboldianum. It very closely resembles a Japanese type of maple but is hardy to zone 4 and even protected locations in zone 3. Mine has done well, slow growing but attractive well branched shrub (though technically, they can grow to the size of a small tree).

Glen