Red Cloud is a distinctive upright Japanese maple admired for its exceptionally narrow, ribbon-like foliage that creates a delicate, airy appearance. In spring, its finely divided, bamboo-like leaves emerge a brilliant bright red, giving the tree a striking burst of color. As summer progresses, the foliage develops rich reddish-purple and bronze tones, maintaining an elegant contrast against surrounding greenery. Autumn brings another beautiful transformation as the slender leaves turn vibrant red. With its relatively compact, upright growth habit and graceful, finely textured canopy, Red Cloud makes an outstanding specimen for smaller gardens, Japanese-inspired landscapes, or decorative container displays. Its unusual foliage and changing seasonal colors make it a wonderful collector's maple.
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10-Yr Height8.0
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10-Yr Width5.0
Seasonal Foliage Spectrum
Spring: Cherry Red
Summer: Purple Red
Fall: Orange Red
Sun Tolerance Ratings
Morning Sun9 / 10
Afternoon Sun7 / 10
โ๏ธ Morning Sun Guidance:
Brilliant purple-red tones glow vibrantly in morning light, showing off excellent early-day color retention.
โ๏ธ Afternoon Sun Guidance:
Needs dappled or afternoon shade in Zone 8a to prevent leaf scorch and heavy bronzing during the intense heat of mid-summer.
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
Moderate
Relative growth under suitable conditions; site and care affect growth.
Growth Habit & Size
Upright ยท Spreading ยท Rounded
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.