Maple 'Japanese Bloodgood'
Maple 'Japanese Bloodgood'
Maple 'Japanese Bloodgood'

Maple 'Japanese Bloodgood'

Willowbrook Nurseries Inc.

$89.99
Title

Command attention with the "celebrity" of Japanese Maples. The 'Bloodgood' is a stunning masterpiece of form and colour, featuring deep, wine-red to burgundy palmate leaves that hold their rich, velvety hue even through the heat of summer. Its graceful, upright-spreading habit creates an artistic silhouette that looks like a living sculpture in your yard. As the air cools, the foliage ignites into a brilliant scarlet-red, providing a dramatic autumn finale that is simply unrivalled.
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Plant Details

Mature Size:

20' H x 20' W

Zone:

5-8

Watering:

Medium

Foliage Type:

Deciduous

Growth Rate:

Slow - Moderate

Light:

Full Sun/Partial Shade

Plant Profile

Common Names:

Bloodgood Japanese Maple

Scientific Name:

Acer palmatum var. atropurpureum 'Bloodgood'

Type:

Ornamental Deciduous Tree

Growth Details:

  • Mature Size: Typically 15–20 feet tall and wide.
  • Growth Habit/Form: Upright with a rounded, artistic spreading canopy.
  • Growth Rate: Slow to moderate; faster than weeping varieties.
  • Longevity: A long-lived ornamental tree with proper care.

Environmental Needs:

  • Exposure: Full sun to partial shade.
  • Soil Preferences: Thrives in moist, organically rich, slightly acidic, and well-drained soils; grows particularly well in sandy loams.
  • Soil Tolerance: Highly adaptable to various soil types once established.
  • Watering: Requires regular watering during dry spells; mulching is highly recommended to keep roots cool and moist.

Special Features:

Award of Garden Merit winner (RHS); Disease Resistant; Rabbit and Black Walnut Resistant.
Care Guide

Ornamental & Landscape Value

Seasonal Interest:

  • Bloom: Small, purplish-red flowers in mid-spring that are attractive up close.
  • Fall Colour: Outstanding, brilliant scarlet or crimson red.
  • Bark: Smooth, blackish-red bark that provides striking winter interest after leaves fall.
  • Fruit: Distinctive red, winged seeds (samaras) that ripen in late summer and resemble "dragonflies".

Garden Value:

A premier specimen or focal point for Japanese gardens, rock gardens, and small-space landscapes. Its dramatic colour also makes it a perfect "anchor" for mixed borders or entryways.

Wildlife & Human Value:

  • Wildlife Value: Seeds are a welcome food source for various songbirds; flowers attract butterflies.
  • Human Value: Provides cooling shade and immense aesthetic value; can also be trained as a large-scale bonsai specimen.

Planting & Care Guide

Planting Considerations:

  • Best Time: Fall is generally the best time for root establishment, though spring is also suitable.
  • Spacing: Allow 15–20 feet to accommodate its mature spread without crowding other structures.
  • Location Tips: Site in a location protected from strong, drying winds. Ensure the graft union is not buried when planting.

Care:

  • Light: Performs best in filtered sun or partial shade; while it can handle full sun in northern regions, afternoon shade is preferred in hotter climates to prevent leaf scorch.
  • Moisture: Keep soil consistently moist but never soggy; avoid waterlogged conditions which can lead to root diseases.
  • Maintenance: Low maintenance; prune only if necessary during the dormant season (late fall to mid-winter) to avoid "bleeding" sap.
  • Fertilization: Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring before new growth appears.

Tolerances:

Tolerates black walnut and urban pollution; moderately drought-tolerant once fully established.

Tips For Success:

Mulch deeply but keep it 6–8 inches away from the trunk to prevent rot. In colder, exposed areas (like Ottawa), provide burlap winter protection to prevent dieback.
Fruit Profile