Growth Habit & Size
Upright · Spreading · Weeping · Dwarf
Dwarf, initially low and mounding, developing broader and sometimes more upright structure with cascading outer branches. Graft height and training affect the outline.
PUNGO MAPLES
Virginia Beach Japanese Maple Nursery
Baldsmith
Acer palmatum
● Sold Out
🌱 Dwarf
🪴 Great for Containers
🌿 Weeping
Cultivar Description & Characteristics
Baldsmith is a magnificent laceleaf weeping cultivar that produces a cascading dome of finely dissected, multi-colored foliage. Spring growth unfurls in striking shades of apricot, orange, and soft green, creating a multi-tonal masterpiece. Through the summer, the leaves settle into a soft green with creamy margins before exploding into brilliant orange and gold tones in autumn. Its graceful, weeping architecture makes it a premier choice for placing near water features or rock gardens.
10-Yr Height
7.0
10-Yr Width
8.0
Seasonal Foliage Spectrum
Spring: Apricot Orange
Summer: Soft Green
Fall: Gold and Orange
Sun Tolerance Ratings
Morning Sun
8 / 10
Afternoon Sun
4 / 10
☀️ Morning Sun Guidance:
Morning light illuminates its multi-tonal spring growth of apricot, orange, and soft green.
☀️ Afternoon Sun Guidance:
Delicate cascading laceleaf requires afternoon shade protection.
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
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.
Learn more: NC State plant forms · Bloodgood profile · RHS trees for smaller gardens
Roots & heritage
The story behind Baldsmith
Baldsmith's horticultural identity is better documented than its original selection history. Junker's Nursery describes it as a dissectum introduced from America, but does not identify the selector, originating nursery, or introduction year. That account supports an American introduction history without establishing where the original plant arose. The Royal Horticultural Society accepts Baldsmith as an Acer palmatum cultivar in the Dissectum group, distinguished by finely divided foliage that emerges orange-red and develops pink and green tones. Junker's also notes its resemblance to Watnong, while expressing uncertainty about whether they are identical; synonymy should therefore not be assumed. No sufficiently reliable source reviewed establishes Baldsmith's parentage or the explanation behind its name. Selection and introduction dates, patent status, and cultivar-related registered-trademark status remain undocumented.
Explore the sources behind this story
Junker's Nursery: Baldsmith; introduction from America and explicitly uncertain relationship to WatnongRoyal Horticultural Society: Acer palmatum 'Baldsmith'; accepted cultivar name, Dissectum classification, and foliage descriptionUSPTO Patent Public Search; registry accessed, but cultivar-specific patent status not verifiedUSPTO Trademark Search; registry accessed, but cultivar-related registered-trademark status not verified
📊 Inventory and Pricing
● Live Data
Pungo Maples Onsite Inventory
| Size | Price | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Gallon | $50.00 | SOLD |
