Growth Habit & Size
Upright ยท Spreading ยท Weeping
Upright framework with spreading, slightly contorted and semi-pendulous branches; not a fully cascading form.
Virginia Beach Japanese Maple Nursery
Upright ยท Spreading ยท Weeping
Upright framework with spreading, slightly contorted and semi-pendulous branches; not a fully cascading form.
More than one term can apply. Branch direction, crown shape and size describe different characteristics, and the outline can change as a tree matures.
For example: Bloodgood can grow upright while developing a broad, rounded canopy with spreading branches.
Learn more: NC State plant forms ยท Bloodgood profile ยท RHS trees for smaller gardens
Roots & heritage
Acer palmatum 'Dragon Tears' is marketed under that name but was patented under the cultivar denomination 'JN4'. Ray and Cindy Jackson discovered the distinctive weeping maple in a production seedling bed at their nursery in Belvidere, Tennessee, during spring 2006. According to US plant patent PP22,249, the seedlings originated from collected seeds planted in 2005; their specific parents were not identified. The Jacksons first propagated the selection by chip budding in summer 2007, confirming that its characteristics remained stable. The patent was granted November 15, 2011, but that date does not establish its first commercial introduction. Distinguished by persistent red-purple foliage and unusually early pendulous branching, the cultivar was subsequently marketed as Dragon Tears through nursery distribution channels. A United States plant patent exists, while a cultivar-related federal trademark registration has not been independently verified.
Cultivar information
| Size | Price | Status |
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| โ | โ | AVAILABLE |