Plants: Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood' - japanese maple

Bloodgood is an extremely commercially successful variety with deep burgundy leaves. They have 7 lobes and hold the colour reliably. The leaves turn bright scarlet red in the autumn. The bark is blackish-red.

It forms a small tree or a large shrub with compact, rounded crown with predominantly upright branches. It is considered a vigorous grower compared to Japanese maples’ growth rate. It grows relatively fast to about 4m high where it slows down dramatically and thickens the crown. It seldom exceeds 3m wide.

Bloodgood is an easy-care, hardy plant, which does not need much maintenance. Just watch out for dry leaves and branch ends in full season which might mean a monilia infection. In such case the plant has to be treated against the illness immediately. This variety does well in full sun, too. Japanese maples require light, slightly acidic, semi-fertile, moist soil to establish extensive root system. Young plants need mulching for winter. Plants older than 3 years are hardy to about -27°C (USDA zone 5b).