Acer palmatum ‘Red Dragon’ Japanese Maple

Red Dragon Japanese Maple is a striking dwarf tree with a mounded, weeping habit that holds its excellent red color from spring to fall. Its compact shape, deep color, and lacy, dissected leaves make it perfect for a container or small garden.
Trees in the dissectum group of Japanese maples are typically small, slow-growing, and often have a weeping habit. They are known as laceleaf Japanese maples because their leaves are deeply dissected and feathery, with 7 to 11 slender lobes.
The Red Dragon cultivar was developed in New Zealand and is one of the most popular trees in the dissectum group. Its branches hang gracefully down, with slender, seven-lobed, lacy leaves fluttering at the ends. It is called Red Dragon because the sharp, serrated leaf lobes are thought to resemble dragon claws. The leaves emerge bright cherry-red on purple petioles in spring, darken to burgundy through the summer, and turn scarlet in the fall. Its red flowers turn into red winged seeds, or samaras, early in the season and add to Red Dragon’s charm.
Red Dragon is a very slow-growing tree with a height of 3′ to 5′ and a width of 6′ to 8′ in 10 years. Its bright-colored leaves, black bark, and graceful, weeping form make it a show-stopper as an accent tree in the garden, standing out against dark evergreens, in a perennial bed, rock garden, or near a pond or running water. Because of its small size and slow growth, it is also excellent in a container on a porch or patio or as a bonsai grown outside.
Red Dragon is more tolerant of direct afternoon sun than other dwarf red Japanese maples and grows well in full sun to light shade. Plant the tree in moist, well-draining, slightly acidic soil rich in organic matter, and water it the first one or two seasons while it is establishing to keep its soil moist but not soaking. Mulching around the tree will help retain water and keep the roots cool. Remember to water trees in containers, including bonsai, more frequently since they dry out quicker than trees planted in the ground.
Though Red Dragon is beautiful in its own right, companion plants growing nearby with similar cultural needs can enhance its beauty. Rhododendrons, azaleas, mountain laurels, hollies, hemlocks, and junipers provide a dark green contrasting backdrop that shows off its color, weeping form, and lacy leaves. Hellebores, hostas, columbines, ferns, and coral bells, as well as spring bulbs such as crocus, anemone, glory-of-the-snow, and dwarf iris, provide color and interest around the tree.
Red Dragons are pollinated mainly by wind but are also attractive to bees that buzz around the flowers in spring. Various species of wildlife eat the buds and flowers, and chipmunks and squirrels hoard and eat the seeds.
Red Dragon Japanese maple is a colorful dwarf tree that is sure to please. Its stunning red color from spring to fall, weeping habit, and delicate lacy leaves make it a tree you can be proud of.