The Red Dragon Japanese Maple is a highly hardy, weeping tree prized for keeping its deep burgundy-maroon leaf color even through intense summer heat. Its beautifully dissected lace-leaves feature unique, prominent bottom lobes that creatively mimic the look of sharp dragon horns. This slow-growing cultivar maintains a compact shape, reaching a modest height of only four to five feet after ten years of growth. It thrives equally well in sun or shade, making it a perfect, vibrant accent choice for either a yard or a patio container.
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10-Yr Height5
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10-Yr Width6
Seasonal Foliage Spectrum
Spring: Scarlet
Summer: Burgundy
Fall: Crimson
Sun Tolerance Ratings
Morning Sun9 / 10
Afternoon Sun4 / 10
โ๏ธ Morning Sun Guidance:
Morning sun is gentle, helps dry off dew to prevent fungal issues, and provides the necessary light to keep its burgundy and red foliage vibrant without stressing the plant.
โ๏ธ Afternoon Sun Guidance:
Intense afternoon sun can cause leaf scorch and dry out the delicate laceleaf foliage. While it handles sun better than many other weeping varieties, it generally needs protection or afternoon shade.
Image highlights cultivar traits and is not exact photo of available stock. Image is property of Pungo Maples, unauthorized use prohibited.
Get to know your maple
Growth Rate
Slow
Moderate
Fast
Slow
Maple Ridge reports very slow growth in the South, although moderate growth is reported in some climates.
Growth Habit & Size
Spreading ยท Weeping ยท Dwarf
Dwarf, low-spreading weeping form; sometimes nearly prostrate and less strongly pendulous than some laceleaf cultivars.
What do these growth habit terms mean?
More than one term can apply. Branch direction, crown shape and size describe different characteristics, and the outline can change as a tree matures.
Upright
Main stems and branches emphasize upward growth. An upright tree can still develop a broad canopy.
Spreading
Branches extend outward to form a broad canopy. The tree does not have to be wider than it is tall.
Weeping
Branches or branchlets arch or hang downward. The tree can still have an upright trunk.
Rounded
The crown has a rounded outline. This describes the overall shape rather than the direction of each branch.
Dwarf
A cultivar with a smaller natural stature than typical forms of its species. Dwarf describes size, not branch direction or a fixed height limit; it does not automatically mean slow growth.
For example: Bloodgood can grow upright while developing a broad, rounded canopy with spreading branches.