Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Pink Dragon’
Japanese maples are among the many most versatile small timber for the backyard and panorama, and ‘Pink Dragon’ is a dwarf, fuss-free magnificence with elegant department patterning and beautifully colourful, dainty foliage.
Extremely decorative, ‘Pink Dragon’ crops have a compact dimension and a comparatively sluggish progress charge that makes them preferrred for smaller landscapes, backyard nooks, and containers. However there’s nothing small in regards to the impression of their stunning, filigree leaves!
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The upright, rounded behavior with weeping branches provides a sleek profile that makes a putting point of interest for foundations, islands, combined shrub beds, or patio planters, and it’s among the many greatest for retaining its vibrant burgundy shading in full solar.
The lacy, deeply dissected leaves give a long-lasting and spectacular present.
They emerge brilliant cherry purple in spring, deepen to a darkish, scrumptious merlot or plum colour for summer season, then brighten to a shocking cerise for fall’s foliage finale.
And in winter, the dense body of good-looking, red-stemmed twiggy branches are made for a string of vacation twinkle lights!
In case your backyard’s prepared for an infusion of red-toned sophistication, let’s leap into find out how to develop ‘Pink Dragon’ Japanese maple!
Right here’s what you’ll discover forward:
What Is ‘Pink Dragon’ Japanese Maple?
‘Pink Dragon’ is a dwarf cultivar of Acer palmatum var. dissectum, often known as laceleaf, cutleaf, threadleaf, or weeping Japanese maples.
A. palmatum is a well-liked species that hails from Japan and japanese China. And the variability identify, dissectum, refers back to the form of the foliage.
The leaves are deeply lower with a fragile, feathery nature – apparently, they resemble a dragon’s claws, therefore the colourful cultivar identify!
These deciduous timber have a mature top and unfold of six to 10 toes – smaller when grown in containers, normally three to 5 toes – with a powerful, central chief stem and a number of branches in an open, rounded kind with a weeping behavior.
Together with the sleek kind, ‘Pink Dragon’ shines for its three seasons of color-changing foliage.
New progress is brilliant purple with the leaves deepening to burgundy in summer season, then brightening once more as soon as frosty temperatures arrive.
‘Pink Dragon’ retains its purple hues in summer season higher than most Japanese maples.
In spring, small, inconspicuous flower corymbs seem, maturing into burgundy samaras in late summer season to early fall.
Samaras are the two-winged, seed-containing whirligigs that spin as they journey on the wind.
The crops additionally present winter curiosity with a gorgeous, multi-branched silhouette, and coarse, grayish bark on the chief and most important branches plus purple stem ideas.
These compact timber sometimes have a clearance of about three toes from the bottom and develop at a sluggish charge. However they’re long-lived, with a lifespan of as much as 80 years.
Their upright and weeping progress provides distinctive magnificence to protected websites all through the panorama and ‘Pink Dragon’ can deal with full solar in temperate areas, though gentle afternoon shade is really helpful in areas with intense afternoon sunshine.
They’ve reasonable chilly hardiness and are appropriate for rising in Zones 5 to eight.
Cultivation and Historical past
The islands and territories of Japan are residence to 23 identified species within the Acer genus, however the many stunning panorama specimens often called Japanese maples come primarily from two species, A. palmatum and A. japonicum.
Improvement of the decorative cultivars began in Japan within the early 1600s, however it wasn’t till the tip of the 1700s that they have been launched to Europe, making their option to North America by the mid-1800s.
Simply cultivated with few issues, at this time Japanese maples are a welcome addition to small yards or giant landscapes.
Dwarf Japanese maple varieties like ‘Pink Dragon’ and ‘Crimson Queen’ make a putting point of interest for compact areas comparable to metropolis and courtyard gardens, foundations, nooks and islands, or as a formidable spiller in giant containers and patio planters.
‘Pink Dragon’ Japanese Maple Propagation
For the house gardener, ‘Pink Dragon’ Japanese maple timber are greatest propagated from softwood stem cuttings or through grafting.
Beginning timber from seed is feasible, however as a result of the unique inventory was most probably grafted, the seedlings they produce gained’t be true to the mum or dad.
Right here’s find out how to begin softwood cuttings:
Take softwood cuttings in mid-spring, 4 to eight weeks after new progress emerges.
Use clear, sharp shears to take away six- to eight-inch ideas from softwood stems which have hardened barely.
Take away leaves from the underside half of the cuttings however preserve the tip leaves intact.
To enhance possibilities of rooting, dip the lower finish in a rooting hormone powder. Shake gently to take away extra powder.
Fill six-inch pots with a rooting soil mix or make your personal from equal elements of coir or peat moss, panorama sand, and perlite.
Water evenly to moisten the soil combine however don’t saturate it.
Insert the lower ends midway up the stem and agency the soil rigorously round them to maintain them in place.
Set the cuttings in a web site that receives brilliant, oblique gentle. Water every day with a delicate mist setting.
Roots ought to develop inside three to 4 weeks.
Our information to rising Japanese maples covers this course of intimately.
In fall, plant your new saplings into 12-inch pots to offer them one other yr of progress earlier than planting out into backyard beds or a everlasting container.
If you happen to’d prefer to attempt your hand at grafting, our information to grafting Japanese maples has all the main points.
Transplanting
The simplest option to get began is to buy a plant from a backyard heart or nursery and transplant it into the backyard.
Fall is the very best time to plant because it provides the roots time to get established whereas the remainder of the tree is dormant, however spring works as nicely.
And when you obtain numerous winter rain, planting in a raised mound might be a good suggestion. Elevating the roots in a mound helps to keep away from standing water and improves drainage. Mounds must be not less than 18 inches above the backyard soil stage.
Loosen the soil within the planting web site to a depth of 18 inches.
To your backyard soil, combine in a single a part of compost, well-rotted manure, or worm castings to complement the soil – Acer species do greatest with reasonable quantities of nutrient wealthy natural supplies.
Combine in a single half panorama sand, pea gravel, or stone chips to offer the crops the sandy texture they like and to enhance soil drainage.
Add in a single a part of moisture-retentive materials, like coconut coir, peat moss, perlite, or vermiculite to assist preserve the soil evenly moist.
Create a planting gap thrice the width and one to at least one and a half occasions the depth of the foundation ball.
Fill the outlet with water after which let it drain.
Rigorously take away the tree from the nursery pot and gently loosen a number of the feeder roots from the highest of the foundation ball solely, however don’t attempt to unfold all of them out earlier than planting.
Set your tree in place with the highest of the foundation ball stage with the soil line or as much as 4 inches above it – the quicker your soil drains, the nearer to the soil line the highest of the foundation ball might be.
After checking that the chief trunk is straight, backfill with soil, firming it gently in place.
Water gently however deeply in order that your complete root ball will get a drink.
The way to Develop ‘Pink Dragon’ Japanese Maple
‘Pink Dragon’ is greatest grown in evenly moist, organically wealthy, well-draining soil with a sandy loam texture and barely acidic pH of 6.0 to six.5.
It grows in full solar to half shade, however the foliage can endure from scorch in areas with scorching summers, particularly if the soil isn’t stored constantly moist.
A web site with gentle afternoon shade is useful for areas that have intense afternoon daylight.
Japanese maples are additionally liable to scorch from different environmental stressors like overly dry soil and scorching, drying winds, and that is notably true for cultivars with extremely dissected leaves, like ‘Pink Dragon.’
The deep cuts within the foliage create a big floor space for optimum moisture absorption, however they’re additionally quick to dry out in scorching winds, inflicting the leaves to brown and curl.
Select a sheltered rising web site that may present safety from drying winds.
After planting, water new timber frequently to assist them change into established, and water weekly in summer season, within the absence of rain to take care of good well being.
As soon as established, preserve the soil evenly and evenly moist. A gradual provide of moisture retains the skinny, delicate leaves well-hydrated and helps to forestall burning and drying out.
Container Grown Vegetation
‘Pink Dragon’ is good for rising in giant containers and patio planters.
It has a compact dimension to begin with and Japanese maples are “self stunting,” which implies that the cover progress slows when the roots are confined.
The outcomes are that they’ll keep in the identical pot for years with out sizing up or pruning the roots. The one within the picture above has been in the identical pot for 25 years with no issues!
Select a container that’s two or thrice the quantity of the foundation ball and guarantee it has drainage holes – these timber are delicate to soggy soil and might simply develop root rot in moist circumstances.
I like so as to add a two-inch layer of porous drainage materials over the drainage holes to maintain the water shifting and keep away from points like moist soil. Supplies comparable to damaged pottery or pebbles work nicely for this.
Fill the container to 3 quarters with an excellent high quality potting soil. Or you possibly can combine your personal mix.
Use two elements loamy backyard soil; and add one half compost, manure, or worm castings for vitamins; one half gritty materials for drainage; and one half moisture retentive supplies to assist preserve the soil evenly moist.
Water the soil within the pot and let it drain away by means of the holes within the backside.
Take away the tree from its nursery pot and set into place, making certain the chief trunk is straight.
Add extra soil to cowl the roots leaving the highest of the foundation ball stage with the soil line or about two inches above it. Agency the soil gently in place and water deeply.
Add a layer of mulch to assist preserve the soil evenly moist and water when the highest of the soil dries out, watering deeply.
Learn our information to study extra about rising Japanese maples in containers.
Rising Suggestions
Simply cultivated ornamentals, the next ideas will assist your ‘Pink Dragon’ to thrive!
Plant in a web site with not less than six hours of daylight per day for the very best leaf coloration.
For essentially the most enticing leaves, present them with a web site sheltered from sturdy winds.
Water frequently to maintain the soil evenly moist.
Pruning and Upkeep
‘Pink Dragon’ does an admirable job of retaining a gorgeous form and requires little or no in the way in which of pruning.
If pruning is required, achieve this in late fall to mid-winter, however a lightweight summer season trim can also be acceptable. Nevertheless, keep away from pruning in temperatures above 80°F – the beforehand shaded bark could also be tender and liable to solar scald.
In winter, it’s simpler to see the branches to make the cuts wanted to raise the cover. However in summer season, you get a greater thought of the place the thinning must occur if you wish to expose extra of the inside.
It’s additionally necessary to not take away greater than 1 / 4 of the tree’s crown or greater than 1 / 4 of the leaves on any particular person department at anyone time.
Eradicating greater than these quantities could cause pointless stress and starve the tree of vitamins.
In late winter, use your fingers or a small hand rake to groom the branches and take away any lifeless leaves nonetheless clinging to them.
On the similar time, take away any lifeless branches utilizing clear, sharp shears or a small backyard noticed.
To raise the cover or branches dragging on the bottom, comply with the stem’s tip as much as a powerful aspect department, eradicating the decrease department just under the junction.
Study extra about pruning Japanese maples in our information.
When grown in a full solar location, the cover normally turns into totally foliated. In partial shade, it stays open and ethereal, exposing a number of the tree’s “bones” in layers or tiers – a cultured look usually present in botanical or show gardens.
To create a cascading, fan-like profile, in summer season, trim the branches evenly into overlaid tiers that arch over the subsequent layer, however don’t contact.
Use clear, sharp shears to trim away small branches which are touching or crowding the subsequent lowest layer. However use a lightweight contact to forestall stress. It’s higher to sculpt your tree over a interval of two or three years than to take away an excessive amount of in a single season.
To assist preserve evenly moist soil, in summer season apply a two or three inch layer of mulch, utilizing supplies comparable to shredded bark, conifer needles, chopped leaves, leaf mould, pebbles, or straw.
In winter, making use of a thick layer of mulch over the foundation zone helps to guard the roots from chilly publicity and from heaving in freeze/thaw cycles.
‘Pink Dragon’ has a reasonable urge for food and must be fertilized sparingly.
In spring as new progress emerges, aspect gown with a two-inch layer of compost, manure, or worm castings.
Or you possibly can apply a half-strength answer of a liquid fertilizer components or sluggish launch pellets.
Completely happy Frog Natural Japanese Maple Fertilizer
Completely happy Frog Natural Japanese Maple Fertilizer is formulated for the (sluggish) job and has an NPK of 4-3-4.
You could find Completely happy Frog out there from Maple Ridge Nursery.
Learn up on find out how to fertilize Japanese maples in our information.
The place to Purchase
‘Pink Dragon’ is a well-liked cultivar and might be discovered in lots of backyard facilities and plant nurseries.
‘Pink Dragon’
If you happen to favor to buy on-line, you could find crops out there at Nature Hills Nursery.
Alternatively, Maple Ridge has ‘Pink Dragon’ in quite a lot of nursery pot sizes.
Managing Pests and Illness
Like different Japanese maples, these are easy-care timber however they’ll develop fungal issues when grown in lower than preferrred environments.
Ailments it’s possible you’ll come throughout embrace anthracnose, botrytis, fusarium wilt, leaf spot, verticillium wilt, and stem canker. Most are unfold by bugs, or water splashing onto branches and foliage, or overly moist circumstances.
Present your timber with good air circulation on all sides, trimming evenly to open the cover or to raise the underside branches off the bottom if wanted.
To keep away from moist soil, it should be well-draining. Amend the soil with gritty materials like panorama sand, pea gravel, or stone chips to enhance drainage or plant timber in an elevated mound.
Guarantee containers have drainage holes and keep away from overwatering.
Additionally, using a drip irrigation system is useful to keep away from splashing water and pathogens onto the leaves.
If wanted, spray your tree with a pure fungicide like neem oil to manage issues.
You possibly can study extra about frequent Japanese maple illnesses in our information.
Potential pest issues it’s possible you’ll come throughout embrace aphids, beetles, and scale. Our information to managing frequent Japanese maple pests may also help you resolve any points.
Greatest Makes use of for ‘Pink Dragon’ Japanese Maple
The superb, fern-like leaves of ‘Pink Dragon’ have a lightweight, delicate look and provides a fantastic texture to the panorama.
The timber can tolerate partial shade, and with their compact dimension and ethereal kind, they’re the best understory plant for including colour and privateness with out crowding in borders and screens.
Massed in a row, they supply a colourful border or seasonal hedge.
And as a standalone accent, ‘Pink Dragon’ makes a putting point of interest for foundations, islands, and combined shrub beds. Add some companion crops for added backyard curiosity.
They’re preferrred for containers and planters on balconies, decks, and patios or all through the backyard, including colour, top, and texture. And may even be skilled as bonsai.
Fast Reference Rising Information
Plant Sort:Dwarf deciduous treeFoliage Colour:Burgundy (summer season), cerise (fall)
Native to:China, Japan, KoreaMaintenance:Low
Hardiness (USDA Zone):5-8Tolerance:Half shade
Season:Spring, fallSoil Sort:Humus wealthy
Publicity:Full to half sunSoil pH:6.0-6.5
Time to Maturity:10 yearsSoil Drainage:Properly-draining
Planting Depth:Crown at soil stage or a little bit aboveUses:Accents, borders, bonsai, containers, foundations, islands, seasonal screens, and combined shrub beds
Spacing3-6 feetFamily:Sapindaceae
Top:6-10 toes, smaller in containersGenus:Acer
Unfold:6-10 toes, smaller in containersSpecies:Palmatum
Water Wants:ModerateVariety:var. dissectum
Widespread Pests and Illness:Aphids, beetles, caterpillars, mealybugs, and scale bugs; Anthracnose, canker, leaf scorch, leaf spot, root rot, powdery mildew, tip blight, verticillium wiltCultivar:Pink Dragon
Ethereal and Elegant Dwarf Timber
With a chic look and ethereal, delicate leaves that change colours with the seasons, ‘Pink Dragon’ is a fantastic dwarf cultivar with all the very best qualities of Japanese maples.
A putting alternative as an accent for foundations and islands and an outstanding addition to containers, give them the circumstances they like, they usually’re low fuss ornamentals.
Preserve evenly moist soil for sturdy, vibrant roots and supply a sheltered spot out of scorching, drying winds for wholesome, pleased leaves – then sit again and watch the attractive shades of purple change from spring to summer season and summer season to fall!
Is ‘Pink Dragon’ in your record of must-haves? In case you have any questions, tell us within the feedback part under.
And for extra details about rising Japanese maples, make sure you add these guides to your studying record subsequent:
Images by Lorna Kring © Ask the Consultants, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for extra particulars. Product images through Maple Ridge Nursery and Nature Hills Nursery. Uncredited images: Shutterstock.
