You need not wait to enjoy blazing fall colors in your garden. No, with the Japanese maple, you get fiery autumn hues, and the tree has deeply dissected leaves. But there is another maple tree that makes a statement the Red Dragon Japanese maple. The tree has a pink to plum color all season long. When spring arrives, the tree bursts into a bright ruby red to display a vibrant color. Most Japanese maples grow well in a landscape to even containers for Bonsai art.
Today we look at this fantastic maple tree and how you can care for them.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Out of the Japanese Maple trees (Acer palmatum), the Red Dragon Japanese Maple cultivar (Acer palmatum var dissectum Red Dragon) is the most variegated of them. It is a slow-growing tree bred in New Zealand.
Hence, it makes for ideal landscape interest in a small yard near a patio or a rock garden. You can also grow them as Bonsai in containers. The Red Dragon, Japanese Maple foliage, displays fern-like lacy leaves hence the name laceleaf maple.
In early spring, the foliage starts with a cherry color and becomes darker towards summer. Then the foliage turns scarlet in the fall, giving it a pink to-plum tint. The low height of the weeping branches with spreading habit looks more like a shrub than a tree.
After dropping its leaves, it remains an eye-catching specimen with a twisted trunk. Yet, as the tree becomes mature, the trunk becomes gnarlier. Another notable thing about the Red Dragon Japanese Maple is the shallow root system it grows.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
It is best to plant ‘Red Dragon’ Japanese maple where it gets morning sun and afternoon shade. A location where it is protected from the midday sun by a fence or a building is a good option. Another option is to plant it as an understory tree, so it grows in the dappled shade of a large deciduous tree with an open canopy. Its leaves are very thin and delicate; too much hot, direct sun will scorch them.
Temperature and Humidity
‘Red Dragon’ Japanese maple can withstand moderate humidity, but the tree does not do well in hot temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Hot dry wind can damage the tender leaves and scorch them. The tree tends to leaf out early, which can also damage the young leaves in the event of a late frost. Similarly, the tree can suffer winter damage from chilly gusts in windy locations, so pick a spot that offers protection.
Watering
You must water your trees when the top two inches of the soil are dry. You can use one gallon of water when watering your Red Dragon tree. The more mature your tree becomes you can expect to provide up to two gallons or more.
We recommend not letting the soil dry out more than an inch for newly planted trees in the first year. The Red Dragon Japanese Maple takes up to two years to become established. When this happens, you can refrain from watering.
Still, if you want to grow a tree with success having a healthy tree keep checking the soil moisture, nonetheless, it does depend on the weather if it rains or not. Your potted Red Dragon will need water regularly.
Never allow the soil to dry out; provide your tree with drainage holes allowing the water to run out and not stagnate at the bottom.
Soil
The soil needs to be evenly moist, well-drained, and rich in organic matter. Japanese maple does best in loamy, slightly acidic soil (pH 6.2 to 6.5). If your garden soil is alkaline (measure your pH if you are unsure), add chelated iron to the soil once a year to increase its acidity.
Fertilizing
At planting young trees and adding compost, your tree will not need any fertilizer. The best time to fertilize is in spring using a balanced slow-release fertilizer. Also, look for a product containing iron and magnesium.
You only need to fertilize once a year to prevent over-fertilizing. Alternatively, you can use organic compost by mulching the soil. Still, prevent making the layer more than two inches and place it a few inches away from the trunk.
Adding mulch helps retain moisture and protects the roots.
Pruning
For heavy snowfall, we recommend removing it to prevent the branches from breaking. Heavy pruning needs to be done in the dormancy period of winter. If you want to shape your tree, do this in early spring once leaves emerge.
You can prune the dead branches and disinfect your garden tools before using them. Also, do not remove more than one-fourth of the crown to prevent stress; the same applies when pruning branches.
When you climb up your Dragon Japanese maple removing the lower branches, only remove a few limbs.
Propagation
‘Red Dragon’ Japanese maple trees are best propagated from grafting or softwood stem cuttings.
Stem cuttings should be taken in mid-spring, about one month after the start of the new growing season. Here’s how:
- Using sharp shears, cut a 6- to 8-inch new growth of softwood stem. It should have hardened slightly. Get a branch that has leaves on the end. Only keep the end leaves; remove the rest.
- Plant the cut end down in a rooting soil of equal parts peat moss, coarse sand, and perlite. For increased success with rooting, dip the cut end in rooting hormone.
- Moisten with water but don’t oversaturate the soil.
- Place the cutting in a location that gets bright, indirect light. Mist it twice a day. Roots should develop within three to four weeks.
Grafting should be done in the winter. It involves joining the rootstock of a closely related species with the scion or upper stock of the cultivar. Although grafting is most often best left to tree professionals, you can attempt it yourself. Here’s how to do it:
- Start with a two-year seedling that you previously started. The trunk must be at least 1/8-inch diameter.
- You’ll need a sharp grafting knife.
- Pull the base plant out of dormancy for about a month by putting it in a warmer location.
- Cut a splice graft in a long diagonal about an inch long. Take a cutting of the same diameter from the cultivar plant, intending to fit the two together.
- Wrap the union with rubber grafting tape and secure the graft with grafting wax.
- Place the grafted plant in a place that gets sun but is not too direct. Consider giving shade to prevent scorching the graft.
- Recheck the wax in three to five days. You want to maintain a good seal and keep humidity high.
- Prune off any growth coming from the rootstock.
- Watch for new growth coming from the scion; that’s a sign the graft is successful.
- Remove the wrapping once the scion develops leaves, preventing girdling.
- Plant in the ground after a year of successful growth in the container.
How to Grow From Seed
Because ‘Red Dragon’ is a cultivar, the seeds won’t reliably grow a tree that is true to the parent. In view of these unpredictable results, it it not recommended to go through the effort of growing the tree from seed.
Potting and Repotting
The Red Dragon Japanese maple is a compact tree that grows slowly. Hence, you can plant it in a container to train as a Bonsai tree. Still, be aware of too much heat and sun. Your tree will need more watering and well-drained soil.
Ensure that your Red Dragon grows in a container twice the size of the rootball. We recommend using terra cotta pots as it wicks out the extra moisture. Once the roots poke out the side or the bottom, which takes a few years, you can repot your tree.
Overwintering
Your Japanese maple can tolerate temperatures down to -15°F. Still, container plants and your young trees will need protection. Also, do not fertilize past mid-summer; try to do this in early summer instead.
The fertilizer will result in new growth at the end of summer, and it is vulnerable to the cold. Give your tree a lot of water before the first frost arrives, especially with little rain present. Add some mulch, and we recommend wrapping your tree with burlap if you have heavy snowfall.
Do this for the first three winter seasons to protect the roots. Afterward, containers can be taken into an unheated garage or the basement to overwinter. At this time, your tree needs no light, like during growing seasons, as it is dormant.
Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged, as frequent watering is unnecessary.
Pests and Diseases
Common Pests and Plant Diseases
‘Red Dragon’ Japanese maple is susceptible to several fungal diseases, such as stem canker, leaf spots, fusarium wilt, verticillium wilt, botrytis, anthracnose, and root rot. Most of these diseases will resolve if the tree gets proper care. However, if the plant is young or deeply affected, these diseases can kill the plant. To prevent these diseases, prune annually, remove dead or dying leaves and twigs, and replace the mulch annually.
Remove any dead or badly damaged leaves and spray the tree with a multipurpose fungicide to treat these fungal infections. Also, provide good ventilation around the tree and avoid overwatering the tree.
The most common pests are Japanese beetles. These leafeaters can defoliate a Japanese maple in no time. Other common pest include aphids, mealybugs, scale bugs, mites, and borers. A strong spray of water can get rid of aphids and mealybugs. However, try organic methods like insecticidal soap or neem oil to eliminate the other bugs. As a last resort, use chemical pesticides.
Common Problems
‘Red Dragon’ Japanese maple trees are easy to grow, but can encounter some problems early in life when they are most susceptible to insects and disease.
- Leaf Spots or Leaf Drop
If it’s well before fall, and you notice your ‘Red Dragon’ Japanese maple is losing its leaves or you see leaf spots, it can signify fungal infection like anthracnose or Phyllosticta leaf spot, a bacterial tip blight, or a Japanese beetle infestation. You can spray insecticidal soap and horticultural oil to eliminate the beetles, but the diseases are harder to remedy. In most cases, you will need to destroy your plant to prevent spreading the infections to your other plants.
- Leaf Browning or Twigs Dying
The most common cause of leaf browning or twig dying is insufficient water. A water-starved Japanese maple will go downhill quickly. Water heavily to restore its vigor and give water regularly to prevent a recurrence.
- Wilting Leaves
Root illnesses can cause wilting leaves, such as a fungal infection like verticillium, Phytophthora, or root collar cankers or wounds. Soil nematodes also feed on roots, creating openings for fungus to get into the root system. Often, too much water is to blame for root rot and water-based molds infecting the tree.
If the tree has a verticillium infection or Phytophthora, there’s not much to do for it. You withhold water to see if it dries out, and the tree can fight the disease. You can also try to treat the soil with fungicide. If it’s a bad root rot infection, it will need to be dug up and destroyed to prevent the fungus from spreading.
III. Uses and Benefits
Red Dragon Japanese Maple is perfect as a specimen plant in cottage gardens, city gardens, or Japanese gardens and containers.
