I can't help you with your question (I'm only a newbie on here), but I just had to say that your tree looks really pretty, whatever it is! What is the fall color like? Wish I had more JMs growing...

I will confirm that it is NOT Higasayama (doesn't look anything like it - wrong leaf shape, leaves are not curled as they should be and coloring is entirely off, not to mention no variegation) but can't say much more beyond that. There are numerous cultivars that have the reddish edging shown in your photo.

I appreciate the help.

Can anyone confirm what type of Japanese maple this is? Would a picture of the whole tree help?

Thanks

It is next to impossible to say. There are nearly a thousand registered cultivars of JM's and many of them have differences that are so subtle it takes an expert to tell apart. And even they are not highly inclined to offer a specific ID unless one of the cultivars that is quite unique in appearance. The second drawback to any accurate ID is that this tree is showing its spring colors....which can be widely different from its summer or full season colors. Most JM authorities would need to see spring, summer and fall leaf colors and even that is no guarantee of coming up with a correct ID.

IMO, since it is impossible to consider any healthy JM as anything other than a desirable and often highly valued landscape plant, even unnamed seedlings, knowing a specific name is more or less inconsequential :-))