CRIMSON QUEEN JAPANESE MAPLE

Crimson Queen Japanese Maple is a strong growing beauty which combines cascading, flowing branch habit and the finest, filigree-textured leaves to create a stunning specimen. The foliage of this weeping tree demands to be touched and possesses a bronzy-red color. New foliage emerges crimson red, holding that tinge until all the foliage turns a stunning, orange-red shade in the fall.

Zone: 5 – 8

Mature Size: 8-10ft. Tall x 10-12ft. Wide

Growing Tips

Sun Exposure: Full Sun, Partial Sun

Description

Crimson Queen Japanese Maple is a popular cultivar noted for its excellent leaf color retention throughout the growing season. Small reddish flowers in spring give way to samaras which ripen in late summer to early fall. As with many maples, the flowers are rather attractive close up, but are not particularly showy from a distance.

The outstanding feature of this cultivar is the persistence of the good, deep red color of the foliage. Most dissectum cultivars with excellent red color during spring and early summer turn green or bronze.  ‘Crimson Queen’, however, carries the deep red color throughout the entire growing season. It has endured periods of 38 degrees Celsius temperatures in full sun with practically no sunburn, but under these condition the deep red became orange red. Fall colors range into the extremely bright scarlet tones. The finely dissected leaves have lobes up to 9 cm long, with the side lobes 5-6 cm long. Each narrow lobe is deeply divided and notched. The scarlet petioles range up to 4 cm long.

This strong-growing cultivar originated in the United States and ages into a beautiful cascading form. Under very vigorous conditions, young plants put out shoots up to 60-65 cm long. As the plants age, the growth shoots become shorter and form a more dense growth. The tree reaches 3 m high and 4 m wide. Among the many known cultivars of red dissectums, this one has become a favorite in the United States in the commercial trade. Every effort should be made to retain its purity, and purchasers of young stock should be assured that it is the true cultivar.

Crimson Queen Japanese Maple is best grown in moist, organically rich, slightly acidic, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Grows well in sandy loams. May be grown in full sun in the northern parts of its growing range, but prefers some part afternoon shade in the southern parts of its growing range. New foliage may scorch in full sun locations in hot summers areas, particularly if soils are not kept consistently moist. Mulch helps retain soil moisture and keep roots cool. Avoid hot and dry sites. Site in locations protected from strong winds. Pruning is best kept to a minimum, but if needed should be done in late fall to mid winter. Spring or summer pruning often results in significant bleeding.

See all our Japanese Maples. For more information on Japanese Maples, we recommend Japanese Maples: The Complete Guide to Selection and Cultivation.

Zone: 5 to 8
Height: 8.00 to 10.00 feet
Spread: 10.00 to 12.00 feet
Bloom Time: April
Bloom Description: Red
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Flower: Insignificant
Leaf: Colorful, Good Fall