SKU: 00840369420947 Crimson Queen Japanese Maple Tree in a Quart Sized Pot

Key Features

• Growth Habit: Slow-growing, weeping deciduous ornamental tree with finely dissected laceleaf foliage and gracefully cascading branches.
• Bloom Color: Small, inconspicuous reddish-purple flowers appear in spring but are not considered a primary ornamental feature.
• Fragrance: No noticeable fragrance.
• Fruit Flavor: Produces small winged samaras ("helicopter" seeds) that are ornamental but not edible.
• Culinary Uses: None.
• Medicinal Uses: No recognized medicinal uses. Primarily cultivated as an ornamental landscape tree.
• Possible Toxicity: Generally considered non-toxic to cats, dogs, horses, and humans. While not considered poisonous, consuming large amounts of leaves or seeds may cause mild digestive upset.
• Wildlife & Pest Resistance: Provides shelter for songbirds and supports beneficial insects. Generally deer resistant once established, though young trees may benefit from protection. Occasionally susceptible to aphids, scale insects, Japanese beetles, and spider mites. Good air circulation helps reduce fungal problems.
• Planting Zone: Hardy in USDA Zones 5–8.
• Sun Preferences: Partial shade to full sun. Morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal in warmer climates to help prevent leaf scorch and preserve rich foliage color. Full sun is suitable in cooler northern climates.
• Drought Tolerance: Moderate once established. Prefers evenly moist, well-drained soil and benefits from supplemental watering during extended periods of drought.
• Mature Size: Typically grows 6–10 feet tall with a graceful spread of 8–12 feet.

When and How to Prune

• Prune in late winter while dormant or during mid-summer after new growth has matured to minimize sap bleeding.
• Remove dead, damaged, diseased, or crossing branches as needed.
• Lightly thin crowded interior branches to improve airflow and showcase the tree's naturally cascading form.
• Avoid heavy pruning or topping, which can diminish its elegant weeping habit.
• Remove any vigorous upright shoots that disrupt the tree's balanced shape.

Planting Instructions (1-Gallon Pot into the Ground)

1. Plant in spring or early fall when temperatures are cool and soil conditions are favorable.
2. Choose a site with fertile, slightly acidic, well-drained soil protected from strong afternoon sun and drying winds.
3. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and approximately the same depth as the nursery container.
4. Carefully remove the tree from the gallon pot and gently loosen any circling roots before planting.
5. Position the root ball so the top sits level with or slightly above the surrounding soil.
6. Backfill with the native soil, gently firming around the roots without compacting.
7. Water deeply after planting to settle the soil and eliminate air pockets.
8. Apply a 2–3 inch layer of organic mulch over the root zone, keeping mulch several inches away from the trunk.
9. Water regularly during the first growing season, especially during dry weather, to establish a strong, healthy root system.

Overwintering Steps

• Crimson Queen Japanese Maple is hardy in USDA Zones 5–8 and requires little winter care once established.
• Continue watering deeply until the ground freezes if autumn rainfall has been limited.
• Maintain a 2–4 inch layer of mulch around the root zone to insulate roots and reduce freeze-thaw stress, keeping mulch away from direct contact with the trunk.
• Young trees may benefit from trunk wrap during their first few winters to protect against sunscald and frost cracks.
• Protect newly planted specimens from harsh winter winds, which can dry out branches.
• Gently brush heavy snow from branches to prevent breakage, but avoid knocking off ice that has formed naturally.
• Avoid fertilizing in late summer or fall to prevent tender new growth that could be damaged by freezing temperatures.

Elegant, colorful, and remarkably easy to grow, Crimson Queen Japanese Maple is an outstanding specimen tree for gardens large and small. Its finely textured burgundy foliage, graceful cascading form, and brilliant fall display provide four seasons of beauty, making it one of the most admired and dependable laceleaf Japanese maples available.