Dragon Tears Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum 'Dragon Tears') is a semi-pendulous, slow-growing ornamental tree prized for its striking year-round color and distinctive form. Its deeply lobed leaves emerge crimson red in spring, deepen to burgundy through summer, and shift to vivid orange, purple, and red tones in fall. The tree features strong horizontal branching with slightly weeping branch tips, giving it an open, sculptural appearance unlike typical upright Japanese maples. At maturity, Dragon Tears reaches 5 to 10 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide, making it an excellent choice for smaller landscapes, patios, and containers.
This patented variety is a standout specimen tree for terraces, garden borders, and focal points where a compact, colorful tree is needed. Its unique spreading and slightly contorted habit adds visual interest in every season. Dragon Tears is well suited for USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 8 and is relatively low maintenance once established. Its small stature also makes it an ideal candidate for container growing on a porch or deck.
Dragon Tears Japanese Maple Care
Plant your Dragon Tears Japanese Maple in full sun to partial shade, providing afternoon shade in very hot climates to prevent leaf scorch. Choose a location with moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter, and dig a hole one and a half times wider than the root ball, keeping the top of the root ball at ground level. Apply a layer of mulch around the base to conserve moisture and suppress weeds, but keep mulch away from the trunk. Water new plantings thoroughly and regularly during the first growing seasons until the tree is established; once settled in, water during dry spells to maintain consistent soil moisture. Feed your tree in early spring and again in early fall with an all-purpose or slow-release fertilizer, following label instructions.
Dragon Tears requires minimal pruning to maintain its naturally attractive shape. Remove any damaged, dead, or crossing branches as needed to keep the canopy open and healthy. If shaping is desired, prune during the summer months rather than in spring, as pruning too early can cause the tree to bleed sap. Protect your Dragon Tears from strong winds and avoid planting in areas with prolonged drought or excessive heat exposure, as Japanese maples prefer sheltered sites.
Dragon Tears Japanese Maple Spacing
Space Dragon Tears Japanese Maple trees 6 to 8 feet apart to allow for their full mature spread. This compact tree works beautifully as a specimen near patios, decks, or garden borders where its form and color can be fully appreciated. When planting in a container, choose a pot with good drainage and a diameter of at least 20 inches to support healthy root development. Avoid placing your tree in areas exposed to harsh afternoon sun, heavy winds, or reflected heat from walls and pavement.
Dragon Tears Japanese Maple Information
| USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 - 8 |
| Plant Type: Trees |
| Light Exposure: Partial Sun to Full Sun (At Least 4 Hours of Direct Sunlight) |
| Mature Height: 5 - 10 Feet |
| Mature Spread: 6 - 8 Feet |
| Spacing: 6 - 8 Feet |
| Habit: Spreading, Weeping |
| Flower Color(s): Red |
| Flower Description: Small Red Flowers in Spring |
| Bloom Period: Spring |
| Foliage Type: Deciduous |
| Foliage Color(s): Burgundy, Red |
| Foliage Description: Crimson Red in Spring, Deep Burgundy in Summer, Orange-Purple-Red in Fall |
| Seasonal Interest: Spring Flowering, Summer Foliage, Fall Interest |
| Watering: Average |
| Resists: N/A |
| Tolerates: N/A |
| Attracts: Birds, Butterflies |
| Container Role: Thriller |
| Uses: Borders, Containers, Specimen or Focal Point |
| Features: Foliage Interest, Low Maintenance |
| Brand: Garden Debut |
| Common Name: Dragon Tears Japanese Maple |
| Other Name(s): Dragon Tears Weeping Japanese Maple |
| Scientific Name: Acer palmatum 'Dragon Tears' |
- SKU:
- 1231029436-pc
Container Sizes
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on; type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
4.5" Pot
Also Known As:
4.5" Container
Plant Age:
~ 6 months
Plant Size:
~ 3"-6"
Pot Size:
~ 4.5"H x 3.75"W
Volume:
1.42 quarts
Quart Pot
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
2.5 Quart
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
#1 Pot
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
#2 Pot
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
#3 Pot
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
For more detailed information, please click here.
Plant Addicts Guarantee (Included On All Plant Orders)
Plant Addicts always guarantees your plant(s) will arrive happy & healthy. However, plant(s) are being shipped through the mail & sometimes accidents happen. If the plant is dead, has dried out roots or the incorrect item was shipped, just notify Plant Addicts within 3 days upon delivery. We may ask for pictures but will try to make it as easy as possible for you. Please note, plant(s) with damaged branches or wilted leaves will not qualify for this guarantee. Plants are very resilient and will rebound quickly when cared for correctly.
For more information on how to care for your new plants, please click on our guide below.
Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)
Plant Addicts Warranty - 1 Year (Extra Purchase Required)
We encourage all plant lovers to purchase the Plant Addicts Warranty, whether you're a new gardener or an expert. There are many variables outside of anyone's control that can cause a plant to die. Hungry animals, drought, poor soil conditions, over watering, diseases & pests are all good examples of what can cause plants to die. The Plant Addicts Warranty is a 1 year warranty protecting you from all of the unknowns and will replace your plant if something were to happen to it.
The warranty is purchased on a per plant basis and must be purchased at the same time as the plant(s). We will cover 100% of the price of the plant, but the warranty does not cover shipping costs. SImply let us know if your plant has died within 1 year of receiving it and we will get you a new one shipped out as soon as possible (depending on the time of the year and availability). We may ask for photos for documentation purposes, but we try to make the process as easy as possible.
For more information, please click on our page below.
Plant Shipping
Below are some factors we consider when determining when to ship the plants depending on the timing of the order.
Winter to Early Spring
We ship only when it's warm enough to plant in your growing zone.
Sometimes plants aren't completely ready to sell and ship in early spring. We will wait until the plants are ready before shipping so you don't get a subpar product.
For Southern plants we will be able to ship much earlier than plants coming from our northern nursery.
Summer
If there is extreme heat we may delay shipping for a week or several weeks.
We review what areas the plants are traveling through as well as your location.
Fall into Winter
We’ll ship plants out all the way up to the end of the fall planting season!
Winter
Get your order in early to reserve your plants for Spring planting!
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an automated email with tracking information.
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Planter Shipping
Standard Colors: 2-3 business days
Special Order Colors: 8 weeks - this is due to the planter being custom made with the color(s) of your choice
Please Note: On special orders there can not be any cancellations