Photo of Acer palmatum 'Red Pygmy' foliage by Erica Fray

Photo by Erica Fray

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Buy Acer palmatum 'Red Pygmy'

Also Known As

  • Red Pygmy Japanese Maple

Plant type

tree

size

  • H: 8'-10'
  • W: 6'-10'

planting zones

  • 6a-9b

2 gallon | $90

Shipping based on order size & destination

Fewer than 8 at Bloom River Gardens

5 gallon | $146

Shipping based on order size & destination

Fewer than 9 at Bloom River Gardens

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Acer palmatum 'Red Pygmy' plant details

Acer palmatum 'Red Pygmy' is a moderate-growing, slow-growing broadleaf deciduous tree with red foliage. Attracts beneficial insects and birds. Grows well with sun - mostly shade and even moisture - regular water. Does well in average, rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something humidity tolerant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Acer palmatum 'Red Pygmy'

Plant type: tree
Plant family: sapindaceae
Foliage: deciduous red
Mature size: 6 FT - 10 FT - wide, 8 FT - 10 FT - tall
Uses: bonsai, fall color, small tree, unique

GROWING CONDITIONS for Acer palmatum 'Red Pygmy'

USDA Zones: 6a - 9b
Sun exposure: sun - mostly shade
Watering frequency: even moisture - regular
Resistant to: humidity
Soil needs: average, rich and well-drained

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Nursery contributed plant descriptions

?An excellent cultivar... a delightful contrast in shape and tone when combined with other forms? (Vertrees); the fine strap-like red leaves of this ?linearilobum? maple hold their color well even in summer; 2-4' in height. PSh/M
Red Pygmy Japanese Maple is a strap leaf maple with bamboo like leaves. The leaves start out as a rich red in spring, turning to a reddish green in summer. The fall color is brilliant red. The new foliage of Red Pygmy can be larger and more like palmatum leaves, but don't worry. It is not reverting, so don't prune these leaves off. They will emerge smaller and more strap like the following year.
Red Pygmy isn't a tiny tiny Japanese Maple…but it does grow more slowly than other linearilobum types. Red Pygmy has the narrow 7-lobed strap or bamboo like leaves of which are a rich red in spring, but will turn reddish green in hot weather, returning to brilliant red in autumn. It grows as tall as wide, but like all maples responds to pruning. Expect a 10 year old tree to attain 5-6' in height (can reach 8-10' at maturity) We have a pair of the slightly taller but similar Acer palmatum 'Atrolineare' in our front garden and they get many complements. Plants are too big to ship but available for nursery pickup.
This slow growing tree introduced in Holland will develop a rounded, densely branched habit at maturity. Leaves are very narrow and bamboo-like, turning greenish red in summer and golden in the fall. Growth Rate slow
'Red Pygmy' resembles Atrolineare in shape and color. The delicate lacelike leaves of 'Red Pygmy' are red in spring, greenish red in summer, and purplish red in fall. It holds its color better in sun than Atrolineare. This maple can reach 6 feet and makes a delightful contrast in any landscape.
This is a very nice bamboo leaf variety. It emerges pink-red in spring turning to a darker red in summer. Tree has a very "dainty" appearance. Fall color is orange-red.
Acer palmatum 'Red Pygmy' - Dwarf Japanese Maple Tree a great strap like linearilobum red Japanese Maple Tree. This is a superior cultivar to the variety ' Atrolineare '. New growth on 1 or 2 year old wood comes out looking like the standard palmatums. The older wood produces the fine hair like leave.
From a distance, 'Red Pygmy' is not unlike 'Atrolineare', but this cultivar produces narrow seven-lobed strap-like leaves, giving the trees a zigzag, angular look. Growing as wide as tall, 'Red Pygmy' slowly reaches 8 ft. in 25 years.
Linearlobum Group -red - An excellent dwarf maple from the linearlobum group. Red Pygmy has thin, strap-like leaves with excellent red color. The plant is slow growing and dwarf to 4' in ten years, and will grow as wide as it grows tall. Red Pygmy was discovered in an Italian garden and introduced by a Dutch nursery in 1969, but it is only finding it's way into American gardens recently. Awards: Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. Award of Merit at Boskoop.

By: Fantastic Plants

A lovely accent plant. Leaves on the current year's wood are heavier textured and more "palmatum-like." Don't prune them off! The plant is NOT reverting. The following year they emerge in strap form, giving the illusion of delicate lace. Red fall color.
Red maroon narrow leaves turn purplish, then bronzy fall color tints of yellow & oranges. USDA zones 6-9.
Red Pygmy is one of the many strap leaf cultivars called the red linearlobum group. Maybe it is a little smaller than some of the others, but it is hard to tell a lot of difference.
LINEARILOBUM , red. Introduced in Holland, this cultivar of the linearlobum group won an Award of Merit in 1969. Leaves are composed of very narrow strap like lobes. Old plants broaden in shape on this densely branched cultivar. Summer color is green red, with a wonderful golden color in the fall. Delightful!

By: Greer Gardens Inc.

Gardening facts about Acer palmatum 'Red Pygmy' plant

How to Grow Acer palmatum 'Red Pygmy'

  • Sun Exposure

    • sun - mostly shade
  • Water Needs

    • even moisture - regular
  • Soil Needs

    • average
    • well-drained
    • rich
  • Special Situation

    • humidity tolerant

Features

  • Foliage Color

    • red
  • Wildlife

    • beneficial insects
    • birds
  • Foliage Season

    • deciduous
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