I like the look of dwarf maples that have an open, upright structure (rather than the ball-shaped ones). I love the Caperci's Dwarf I picked up this year. In future years I have my eyes on a Kashima as well as Swat Margaret.

I did a search on the maple app. for cultivars that are 1-3' in 10 years and like partial shade. Here you go:

http://www.davidsansjapanesemaples.com/japanese-maple-tree-selector/?winter_hardiness=zero&summer_hardiness=shade&tree_size=dwarf3&tree_form=&leaf_type=&spring_color=&summer_color=&fall_color=

And here is the same search but for cultivars 3-6' in 10 years:
http://www.davidsansjapanesemaples.com/japanese-maple-tree-selector/?winter_hardiness=zero&summer_hardiness=shade&tree_size=dwarf6&tree_form=&leaf_type=&spring_color=&summer_color=&fall_color=

If you go to the maple app, you can also select for leaf type, color, shape, etc.

Here is a link that might be useful: Japanese maple app

Thank you so much! That app is a great source of information and I am sure I will spend quite a bit of time looking at the different trees.

Linda