Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Crimson Queen’
‘Crimson Queen’ ticks all the boxes on the list of what people love about Japanese Maples.
It’s a dwarf tree, features shockingly bright red fall foliage, has lace-like serrated leaves, and grows in a cascading habit that creates a unique focal point in the garden.
It’s essentially that quintessential cascading red Japanese maple with lacy leaves.
If that’s just what your landscape needs, ‘Crimson Queen’ has to be near the top of your list of Japanese maple cultivars.
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It’s not a perfect tree, though. You will need to take care of it if you wish for it to be at its best. Don’t worry, we’ll go over all of the pros and cons of this garden favorite.
Part of what I love about ‘Crimson Queen’ is that after the beautiful foliage is done for the year, the twisting branches add visual interest to the winter landscape, and the shape becomes more impressive as the trees age.
If you’re in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 8, you’re in luck. ‘Crimson Queen’ can be yours. Coming up, here’s what we will chat about to help you get to know Her Royal Highness:
Can’t wait one minute more? Then let’s jump right in.
Cultivation History
‘Crimson Queen’ is a weeping Japanese maple cultivar. It’s a standout in the dissectum category, as discussed in This guide will help you identify the Japanese maple species.
The trees in this group are usually smaller and more shrubby than their species counterparts, with a habit of cascading.
‘Crimson Queen’ was bred in the United States in 1965, and rapidly became a commercial success. It won the RHS award of Garden Merit for 1993.
This dwarf cultivar takes about 15 years to grow to its mature size of about five feet tall and seven feet wide, which may seem slow, but that’s about the average growth speed for any Japanese maple.
It can get a bit taller with ideal sun exposure and moisture, but usually, it doesn’t grow much taller than that. It’s common for the tree to stay much smaller if it’s planted in a shady spot.
If you aren’t afraid of a little pruning, you can train it to be shorter or taller than it would be naturally, and you can encourage a bushier shape or a more upright one.
You’re looking for the best container? You’ve found it. The small size and cascading shape of ‘Crimson Queen’ makes it ideal for life in a pot.
In the springtime, the leaves emerge as a deep red-purple and then gradually change into bright red. It’s almost like fall in the springtime, and the foliage makes a beautiful contrast to all the bright spring colors.
It is a little lighter in summer and then turns brighter, fire engine red for the fall.
‘Crimson Queen’ is beloved for its ability to retain its color all summer long, with the exception of occasional leaf scorch or loss of color in hot, sunny areas.
In hot regions, it might take on more of a bronze-green hue in the summer, especially if it’s growing in direct sun.
The leaves can grow to be up to 4 inches wide and tall, palmate and deeply lobed. They are finely dissected and have seven to nine lobes.
Insignificant flowers bloom in spring, giving way to samaras that have two wings.
Crimson Queen Propagation
‘Crimson Queen,’ as with many cultivated varieties, won’t grow true from seed.
They are often grafted instead of grown from seed. Feel free to give it a try if that’s something that interests you – with the understanding that you never know what you might get.
You will be guided through the whole process by our guide.
If you don’t have any plants, then stick with cuttings or buying them. Cuttings don’t always take, so plan on starting multiples just in case a few don’t turn out.
The following are some of the ways to improve your own ability to speak. Guide to Growing Weeping Japanese Maples You will be guided through the process of planting a plant you have purchased and also how to propagate it via cuttings.
It is best to do this in the spring or autumn. Keep the soil moist, but not soggy for the first season after planting a tree. The soil should have the same texture as a kitchen sponge that you’ve wrung out really well.
Place trees at least four feet from fences or other structures, including buildings.
Crimson Queen Japanese Maple: How to Grow it
This Japanese maple grows best in moist, loamy soil. The plant will tolerate sandy loam. The soil pH should range between 5.5 and 6.5.
The top few inches can be allowed to dry out after the first watering.
The following are some of the ways to get in touch with each other Two inches of organic mulchIf you use well-rotted compost, or bark shredded, it can help retain moisture in the soil and suppress weeds.
Don’t build up a layer of mulch against the trunk, though. Keep the mulch a few inches from the trunk.
Remember how we talked about the downside of ‘Crimson Queen?’ We’ve come to that part. She’s prone to scorching. If her soil gets too dry or she is planted in a location with too much sun, the leaves will shrivel, turn yellow or brown, and look shabby on the “fingers.”
By keeping trees moist, and by providing afternoon shade, you can prevent scorching. You can prevent leaf scorch by keeping the tree moist and providing afternoon shade.
It does better in an area with temperate summers. If you provide it with afternoon shade, however, it can do well even in regions that are warmer. If your leaves are scorched, they will fall off and be replaced by new foliage.
That’s all to say that you should plant in partial sun with shade in the afternoon, or in full sun if it doesn’t get too sweltering in the summer in your neck of the woods.
In regions where summers are cooler, such as the Pacific Northwest and the northern Atlantic Coast, these can be grown in full sunlight. If you’re in the West or Midwest, best to provide afternoon shade.
Water is an important part of keeping a ‘Crimson Queen’ happy during the heat, so stay on top of your irrigation routine during warm weather.
This tree may be suitable for zones 5-8, but you can plant it in Zone 4, if you select the planting site carefully.
It will keep the roots warm if you place it near a wall facing south that is protected against strong winds by a foundation of cement or brick. To protect the roots, cover the soil with a thick organic mulch.
‘Crimson Queen’ maintains a compact size naturally, so it lends itself to container growing. Avoid using pots that are made of thin metal or plastic.
You need something fairly hefty so the tree doesn’t tip over in high winds. A pot about two feet in diameter that’s slightly wider than it is tall would be ideal.
Fill the container up with standard potting soil. If you don’t have a favorite already, I swear by FoxFarm Ocean Forest potting mix.
It is a combination of earthworm castings (earthworm guano), bat guano (bat guano), fish meal, sphagnum moss and forest humus that is perfect for Japanese maples.
FoxFarm Ocean Forest Potting Mix
Buy bags that are 12 quarts in size Amazon.
Containers tend to dry faster than soil on the ground. Keep an eye out for your tree, or install drip irrigation.
More information can be found in our guide on growing Japanese maples containerized..
Avoid splashing water onto the leaves when irrigating, either in the soil or a container. Applying water at ground level will reduce the risk of fungus diseases.
You likely won’t ever need to fertilize your Japanese maple, but if you notice your tree seems to be extremely slow-growing or stunted, do a soil test Check to see if there are serious deficiencies in your soil. If so, add the nutrients that are missing to your soil.
You can add nutrients to your soil if you feel it is deficient. Follow our guide to feed your plants.
Growing Tips
- Plant in full sunlight in cooler climates, or in afternoon shade in warmer climates.
- When the soil’s top two to three inches dries out, water.
- Keep your plants well hydrated during hot weather.
Pruning, Maintenance and Care
Japanese maples require regular pruning in order to maintain their attractive appearance. However, weeping varieties need additional attention.
The tree will take on a more striking form if you prune out the main branches and leave only three to five.
A crowded crown won’t be as dramatic as one that is carefully curated to include the most beautiful branches that contribute to the shape you want to see.
Some of the most interesting and beautiful Japanese maple specimens out there didn’t happen by chance. The Japanese maples were pruned carefully, especially young, in order to achieve a pleasing form.
If you crawled under your tree and looked up when it was in full leaves, you would be able to make out some of the sky. If you can’t, then your tree is in need of a good pruning.
Visit our website to learn more about the process. Japanese maple pruning guide.
Any leaves that are diseased, damaged, dying, deformed or dead can be removed at any time of the year. However, shaping should only be performed in the winter, on a day with temperatures above freezing.
Where to buy
You can find ‘Crimson Queen’ all over the place. It’s an extremely popular option and is commonly carried by garden centers and plant nurseries.
‘Crimson Queen’
As an example Nature Hills Nursery You can grow live plants in the sprinter pots.
If you aren’t familiar with the term sprinter pot, it’s a pot just under a quart in size containing a tree under two years old.
You can also grab a tree between one and two feet or from two to three feet. Fast Growing Trees.
Pests and Disease: How to Manage Them
‘Crimson Queen’ is susceptible to all the usual common diseases and Pests that attack Japanese Maples.
This tree is susceptible to attack from AphidsBorers Scale. Infestations are often minor or even deadly.
Watch out for anthracnose when it comes to diseases. Powdery mildewPseudomonas wilt, verticillium wilt, and root rot.
All of these are covered in our guide on growing Japanese maples.
The general signs of a disease are yellow or brown leaves.
Crimson Queen: Best Uses
‘Crimson Queen’ is the ruler of specimen planting. Just try to look at anything else when she’s draped in her red robe in the summer.
She also makes an excellent container option, whether that’s in a large planter or a tiny little bonsai pot.
This tree is a great addition to any landscape, whether it be winter or spring, summer or fall.
Quick Reference Growing Guide
Plant Type: | Deciduous trees | Foliage color: | Red, bronze, green |
Native to: | China, Japan and Korea | Tolerance: | Shades of grey |
Hardiness (USDA Zone ) | 4b-9b | Soil Type | Sand, silty clay, sandy loam |
Season: | Spring | Soil pH | 5.5-6.5 |
Exposure: | Shade or full sun | Soil drainage: | Well-draining |
When will you reach maturity? | 15 Years | Attracts: | Birds |
Planting Depth | Same depth as the container (graft exposed). | Companion Planting | Black walnut, crocus, iris, hellebores, hosta, rhododendron, dwarf conifer |
Spacing | 4 feet | Avoid Planting with: | Barberry, cacti, crocus, forsythia |
Height: | The height of the sand is 8 feet | Uses: | Container planting and bonsai specimen |
Spread: | As high as 10 feet | Family: | Sapindaceae |
Growth Rate | Slowly | Genus: | Acer |
Water Needs | Moderate-high | Species: | Palmatum |
Maintenance: | Moderate | Variety: | Dissectum |
Common pests and disease: | Aphids, borers and maple scale. Powdery mildew (pseudomonas), root rot (verticillium wilt), powdery mildew (anthracnose), verticillium leaf wilt, anthracnose | Cultivar: | Crimson Queen |
All hail the Queen
She’s an undeniable beauty. It’s perfectly clear why she is considered one of the best options if you want a lacy, weeping, Red Japanese Maple.
She’s sure to draw all the attention when she’s sitting on her throne in your garden.
How are you going to highlight Her Royal Majesty? You may want to place her in a vessel. Use her as an accent in a Japanese garden. Share your ideas in the comment section below.
Don’t end your Japanese maple journey here. These plants are fascinating. These guides will help you to learn more about these plants.