Bloodgood Japanese Maple
Bloodgood Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood')
Height: 20 feet Spread: 20 feet Sunlight: Partial shade Hardiness Zone: 5a
Description: The Bloodgood Japanese Maple is arguably the most popular feature tree for home landscapes, boasting rich burgundy-purple palm-shaped foliage all season long and a beautifully artistic spreading growth habit. Perfect for the front yard, it requires ample space to showcase its stunning presence.
Ornamental Features:
Form: Ornamental globe-shaped form.
Flowers: Subtle corymbs of red flowers rise above the foliage in mid-spring before the leaves.
Foliage: Attractive burgundy deciduous foliage that emerges deep purple in spring. The lobed palmate leaves turn an outstanding scarlet in the fall.
Bark: Rough gray bark and red branches add an interesting dimension to the landscape.
Landscape Attributes:
Deciduous tree with a rounded form.
Fine texture that sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.
Low-maintenance tree; should be pruned in summer after leaves have fully developed to avoid 'bleeding' sap.
No significant negative characteristics.
Recommended Uses:
Accent
Shade
Planting & Growing:
Grows to about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 feet.
Low canopy with a typical clearance of 4 feet from the ground, suitable for planting under power lines.
Grows at a slow rate and can live for 80 years or more under ideal conditions.
Prefers a location that gets morning sunlight but is shaded from the hot afternoon sun. It will also grow in partial shade.
Avoid hot, dry locations that receive direct afternoon sun or reflected sunlight from surfaces like white walls.
Thrives in average to moist conditions and should not be allowed to dry out. May require supplemental watering during drought or extended heat.
Not particular about soil pH but grows best in rich soils.
Somewhat tolerant of urban pollution and benefits from being planted in a sheltered location.
Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates.
This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.