If by chance one of these were to turn into something worthy of propagating as a cultivarâ¦how would I go about getting a patent for it?

You would apply for a patent for it with the US Patent and Trademark Office. Not inexpensive (~$10K) and not a fast process. FWIW, only a handful of Japanese maples are patented - I can think of only 3 - and these because they are particularly unique in appearance. You really need to have something very special in order to make the whole process worthwhile.

What happens after the patent is granted can vary. Sometimes selling the rights outright to a large grower is the most efficient way. If you hold on to the patent rights you do receive a royalty from any grower that chooses to propagate that plant for production. I know a couple of plant geeks who have bred and patented (or applied for patents) plants and I can tell you they are NOT rich. The reward maybe primarily in the achievement :-)

Just be aware that this is a lot of work and a time consuming and costly enterprise.

Seedling variants should be observed for a long time before deciding they amount to anything worthwhile. Variegated forms in particular are often unstable, throwing off most of the coloring not too many years later.

In the meantime the great many existing cultivars can be learned about, to see if what one has really is a dramatic departure from what is already out there.

well... usually.. the originator.. grows them on for a couple decades .. to determine if they actually are unique..

and then thinks about patenting them .. after showing it to a bunch of experts in the field ... for their observations and opinions ....

many trees.. dont even produce mature adult leaves for a number of years..

you are so far ahead of yourself.. i think you just lapped yourself .. lol

i really respect your excitement... dont get me wrong..

ken