Acer Palmatum Ryusen or Ryusei

The Ryusen Japanese maple tree is a very unique tree. Its name slightly changed from the original “Ryusei,” the Japanese word for “dragon spirit.” It is a cascade or pendulous weeping palmate that has a dramatic color change from the spring and summer chartreuse green color to deep oranges and reds in the fall. Great for small gardens and spaces, this tree only gets three or four feet wide. Ryusen can be planted in the sun or the shade, but prefers a bit of shade from 2-5pm during the summers in the mid-south. It truly is a “choose your own adventure” tree, as you can design the height and guide branches sideways to achieve the look that you desire. Some folks like to keep their Ryusen a small size, and some like to pick a leader branch and lead it up a stake to 6 feet tall. You could also be super adventurous and lead the tree up to 12 feet tall! The dramatically weeping branches are unlike any other weeping Japanese maple tree, leaving a stunning feature in your garden all year round. We only have a few available for sale this year, so visit us at the Memphis Botanic Garden this weekend to pick out your favorite one!