Acer palmatum 'Jade Dragon' Dwarf Japanese Maple Tree

'Jade Dragon' is an exceptionally compact dwarf cultivar with an upright, dense habit and very slow growth, reaching approximately 3 feet in height and width after 25 years. New foliage emerges as tiny, tightly clustered leaves with reddish-pink tints on fresh growth, maturing to deep emerald green by late spring; fall color transitions to golden yellow and orange. The cultivar's miniature stature, sturdy trunk, and responsive branching make it well suited to container cultivation, bonsai, and small-space garden settings, and it tolerates full sun in zones 5-8 (afternoon shade recommended in zone 9). According to the growers at Mr Maple, this cultivar was found as a seedling in the 1990s near Hendersonville, North Carolina, beneath an Acer palmatum 'Shishigashira' by Bob Jackman, who collaborated with grafter Norman Nichols; the name Jade Dragon was chosen to reflect the tree's deep green color and its cultural significance as a commemorative gift. The cultivar has become exceptionally popular for bonsai work and air-layering propagation.