Acer ‘Crimson Queen’

Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit

Acer ‘Crimson Queen’, a laceleaf Japanese maple, is a deciduous shrub or small tree offering spring through fall interest, with its cascading structure also lending some interest to winter landscapes. A highly popular cultivar, prized for its dramatic crimson foliage, Acer ‘Crimson Queen’ begins to leaf out in feathery foliage early in spring, along with attractive, but insignificant, reddish flowers. Flowers give way to winged samaras that ripen in early fall as the leaves begin to turn bright red. Throughout the growing season, it exhibits excellent color retention.

Having a delicate appearance, this rounded shrubby tree has a weeping, cascading habit of finely dissected leaves with a large spread and a strong but slow growth rate. A perfect specimen plant with a decidedly Zen vibe, Acer ‘Crimson Queen’ is extremely colorful and highly textural and fits nicely in mixed beds as well as in containers.

Low maintenance, this Japanese Maple tree variety prefers moist, organically rich, average to slightly acidic, well-drained soil. High pH soils may result in chlorosis, a yellowing or blanching of the leaves. More sun tolerant than most, the plant grows best in full to dappled sunlight. It is rabbit and black walnut resistant, making it a favored understory plant.