Plant types

Plant styles

Planting conditions

Seasonal interest

Nurseries & Gardens

Photo by Eastfork Nursery

Show all photos

Buy Acer palmatum 'Red Dragon'

Also Known As

Acer palmatum dissectum 'Red Dragon'
Japanese Maple
Lace Leaf Maple
Red Dragon Weeping Laceleaf Japanese Maple

Plant type

tree, shrub

size

H: 8'-10'
W: 10'-12'

planting zones

5a-9b

2 gallon | $42.8

Avail in US except West Coast, HI/AK

Fewer than 9 at Maples N More Nursery

2 inch wide, 4-6 inch deep tube | $34.95

Buy button links to nursery site for checkout

Fewer than 8 at Forestfarm

#1 Container | $44.99

Buy button links to nursery site for checkout

Fewer than 20 at Conifer Kingdom

#1 Container on Standard | $44.99

Buy button links to nursery site for checkout

Fewer than 20 at Conifer Kingdom

#3 Container on Standard | $99.99

Buy button links to nursery site for checkout

Fewer than 20 at Conifer Kingdom

More Options

Acer palmatum 'Red Dragon' plant details

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

CHARACTERISTICS OF Acer palmatum 'Red Dragon'

Plant type: shrub or tree
Plant family: sapindaceae
Foliage: deciduous purple and red
Mature size: 10 FT - 12 FT - wide, 8 FT - 10 FT - tall
Uses: container plant, easy-to-grow, fall color, small tree, woodland garden

GROWING CONDITIONS for Acer palmatum 'Red Dragon'

USDA Zones: 5a - 9b
Sun exposure: sun - mostly shade
Watering frequency: even moisture - regular
Resistant to: humidity
Soil needs: acidic, average, rich and well-drained

We independently publish plant data to search multiple nurseries at once. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases when you buy through our links.

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Reputed (we agree) to keep its deep purple-red color better than any other laceleaf, this Japanese maple starts the season with bright burgundy new foliage. Leaf color softens to purple-red, which holds throughout the season, even in shade. Compact and we

By: Conifer Kingdom

Selected in NZ, this mounding weeper is more vigorous than Crimson Queen and Everred and is said to keep its excellent deep purple-red color right through to autumn. PSh/M

By: Forestfarm

Red Dragon Japanese Maple is a fabulous deep purple-red dissectum. Its foliage emerges bright scarlet, becoming a warm burgundy shade. Fall color is flaming scarlet. Red Dragon Japanese Maple maintains a well branched, cascading mound and holds its color well when others are fading. It needs some protection from cold winter winds and summer drought. Red Dragon makes an ideal choice for the rock garden, small garden or container.

By: Maples N More Nursery

Has deep purple red foliage that holds its color better than any of the A. palmatum dissectum varieties. In fall, the foliage turns amazing red. Will grow 4’-6’ tall in time.

By: Gossler Farms

Red Dragon has to be one of our favorite red lace leaf weeping maples. The 3rd addition of Japanese Maples by J.D. Vertrees states that Red Dragon is the best maple for holding its red color through the summer and “may well prove to be the standard in the future.” (P. 196) New growth is bright red changing to burgundy-red in the summer. Fall color is flaming scarlet. The growth habit is compact and shows a well-branched cascading mound. Great for a Japanese garden design, to accent a water feature or for a patio container. Once established hardy to USDA zone 5.

By: Eastfork Nursery

Bright scarlet spring growth fades to rich burgundy-red in summer. Holds color better in both sun and shade than any other red dissectum. Excellent in small garden, container or as bonsai plant.

By: Bloom River Gardens

A small rounded tree with gracefully cascading branches. The leaves are a purple-red color in the spring, which holds very well through the summer. In fall they turn to a brilliant crimson. Height depends on how high tree is staked. Introduced from New Zealand. Growth Rate slow

By: Garden World

'Red Dragon' is an excellent dissectum with deep purple-red leaves that holds well through summer. Leaves emerge scarlet in spring, changing to dark burgundy for summer, and back to scarlet for fall. This dwarf maple forms a well-branched mound reaching 5 feet in height. Introduced in 1991 by Graham Roberts of Duncan & Davies Nursery in New Zealand, 'Red Dragon' makes a wonderful addition to any small garden.

By: jensfarm maples

Zones: 5-9. Red Dragon is a classic weeping type has delicate deeply cut 3" lace leaves of red-maroon. Leaves stay deep red all season. Award winning new standard for red color. Perfect for the regular landscape, Japanese garden or Bonsai. Very showy. Let grow to 6' at ten years or trim lower.

By: Mini Forest By Sky

This is a wonderful weeping red lace-leaf Japanese Maple! Spring leaves emerge bright scarlet, becoming dark burgundy for the summer then changing to an outstanding flaming scarlet for the fall. Dwarf in form, with more compact branching compared to other red dissectum varieties.

By: Maplestone Ornamentals

More of a true red than purple, and its color remains vibrant throughout the summer. Smaller than most dissectums, with black bark and a slower growth habit, this maple is a good choice for bonsai or a container.

By: Heritage Seedlings

Dissectum Group -red ? A new superior maple from New Zealand. Deeply cut purple-red leaves have a distinctly different texture from the other dissectum types, and you might easily envision hundreds of red dragon?s claws hanging from this vigorous maple. Has held excellent red color in the summer, and is always a darker, more purplish red color than Crimson Queen. There are those who feel this cultivar could become the standard red dissectum sold in America. Grows 4-5? in ten years.

By: Fantastic Plants

New growth scarlet, turns purple-red for summer then flaming scarlet in fall. USDA zones 5-9.

By: Lael's Moon Garden

Red Dragon, a weeping dissectum, is similar to Crimson Queen but smaller and more compact; it hold the red color in the summer extremely well; the leaves are scarlet in the fall.

By: Whitman Farms

DISSECTUM, red. This introduction from Duncan and Davies in New Zealand by Graham Roberts is vigorous and has the weeping habit typical of dissectum varieties. Eventual height depends on how high you stake this beautiful weeper. The leaves are deeper purple-red than 'Crimson Queen' or 'Everred', and hold their color well, turning crimson in the fall. More dwarf than 'Crimson Queen'.