Growth Habit & Size
Spreading · Rounded · Dwarf
Spreading, broadly round-topped tree that may flatten at the crown with age. Dwarf versus semi-dwarf descriptions vary; long-term height can exceed 12-15 feet.
PUNGO MAPLES
Virginia Beach Japanese Maple Nursery
Red Pygmy
Acer palmatum
● In Stock
🌱 Dwarf
Cultivar Description & Characteristics
Red Pygmy is a unique dwarf upright cultivar characterized by extremely narrow, strap-like linear lobes of deep red. The spring foliage emerges in a rich burgundy color that gives the shrub a fine, delicate texture. Throughout summer, the dark linear leaves maintain their distinct shape and color without fading. Autumn brings a final transformation into brilliant crimson before leaf drop.
10-Yr Height
8.0
10-Yr Width
6.0
Seasonal Foliage Spectrum
Spring: Deep Red
Summer: Burgundy
Fall: Brilliant Crimson
Sun Tolerance Ratings
Morning Sun
9 / 10
Afternoon Sun
6 / 10
☀️ Morning Sun Guidance:
Rich burgundy color on narrow strap-like lobes emerges clearly.
☀️ Afternoon Sun Guidance:
Maintains distinct shape and color well under standard summer conditions.
Image highlights cultivar traits and is not exact photo of available stock. Image is property of Pungo Maples, unauthorized use prohibited.
Get to know your maple
What do these growth habit terms mean?
More than one term can apply. Branch direction, crown shape and size describe different characteristics, and the outline can change as a tree matures.
- Upright
- Main stems and branches emphasize upward growth. An upright tree can still develop a broad canopy.
- Spreading
- Branches extend outward to form a broad canopy. The tree does not have to be wider than it is tall.
- Weeping
- Branches or branchlets arch or hang downward. The tree can still have an upright trunk.
- Rounded
- The crown has a rounded outline. This describes the overall shape rather than the direction of each branch.
- Dwarf
- A cultivar with a smaller natural stature than typical forms of its species. Dwarf describes size, not branch direction or a fixed height limit; it does not automatically mean slow growth.
For example: Bloodgood can grow upright while developing a broad, rounded canopy with spreading branches.
Learn more: NC State plant forms · Bloodgood profile · RHS trees for smaller gardens
Roots & heritage
The story behind Red Pygmy
Acer palmatum 'Red Pygmy' is a narrow-leaved Japanese maple associated with the Linearilobum Group. Its slender, deeply divided leaf lobes distinguish it from conventional broad-leaved Japanese maple cultivars. The foliage typically emerges red to reddish-purple in spring, with coloration varying through summer according to growing conditions, before developing brighter autumn tones. Although the cultivar is established in horticultural commerce, its original selection history is not sufficiently documented here to identify a particular breeder, nursery, country, or selection year. The date when the plant was first selected must also be distinguished from its later commercial introduction; neither date has been reliably established. Its narrow foliage does not, by itself, demonstrate a particular parentage or deliberate hybridization. No cultivar-specific patent or registered-trademark record has been verified, so legal status and propagation rights remain undetermined.
Explore the sources behind this story
Plantentuin Esveld - Original introducing nursery; confirms introduction in 1967Trees and Shrubs Online - Historical account of the original Italian garden plant and introduction by EsveldVineland Nurseries - Red Pygmy cultivar profile and unknown parentageRoyal Horticultural Society - Acer palmatum Red Pygmy botanical profileJC Raulston Arboretum - Red Pygmy living collection accession
📊 Inventory and Pricing
● Live Data
Pungo Maples Onsite Inventory
| Size | Price | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Gallon | $140.00 | AVAILABLE |
| 1 Gallon | $45.00 | SOLD |
