mostly a dark tan.. as in DEAD!!!!

go back to the hosta forum ... lol ...

VERY FEW JM's are hardy in my z5 .... so you are really pushing the envelope ...

also.. in the TREE FORUM .... there is almost the exact ??? from someone in z4 maine ...

it aint gunna work.. short of spending hundreds of bucks.. to find the one that might live...

if you are intent.. look for bloodgood .. the dark red one ...

also .. i tried growing hosta under a J-MAPLE .... it eventually doesnt work ... the JM's have a very thick fibrous root mat.. once they do get going... like you cant even put a shovel thru it ... let alone have something that will grow in that mat ....

so a new post would be.. what shrubs grow in shade in z4 .... or with limited sunlight.. and still flower ....

keep on singing...

ken

ps: we have a prior friendship in the hosta forum.. so dont get upset with the remarks.. i am kidding her ...

Ken, are you stalking me again? :)

My main deal is shrub-size color for my zone. Closest care-free solutions I'm finding are:

Sumac (yeah, I know, suckers! But I'm thinking I can do my 50-gallon garbage can with the bottom cut out & plant in there)
Lilac - same issues as above, and they need more sun.
Hydrangea - I like this one
Japanese Yew - good evergreen & does ok in shade
Azalea & Rhododendron - some of these work in my zone

Guess I'm back to tall flowers & more big trees! lol

Physocarpus opulifolius - ninebark - is probably the only shrub hardy enough for your zone that will resemble the coloring and size of a Japanese maple. But it would prefer full sun. Cultivars are available with various foliage colors - gold, maroon/burgundy and copper. And the leaves look alot like a maple leaf :-)

Here is a link that might be useful: Physocarpus 'Coppertina'

you left out a bunch of shade tolerant conifers ...

and fallopia...

it might also be a post for the hosta forum ...

ken