Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood'
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-ser pahl-MAY-tum
- Description
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The Bloodgood Japanese Maple is a large deciduous shrub or small tree in the Sapindaceae (soapberry) family. It is native to southeast Korea and central and south Japan where it grows as an understory tree. It was initially sold prior to World War II by the Bloodgood Nursery on Long Island, New York. The genus name, Acer, is Latin for sharp and palmatum means shaped like a hand, referring to the leaves.
The tree can grow up to 20 feet tall and wide and has a slow to moderate growth rate. The shape is round, broad, and upright with dense spreading branches. It prefers well-drained acidic, organic soils with good air circulation. You can plant higher or in a raised bed in heavy clay soil for better drainage. It is easy to plant from nursery containers and requires minimum nutrients. The Bloodgood Japanese Maple can tolerate direct sun in northern areas. In southern areas, it prefers partial shade to avoid leaf sun scorch during the hot dry summers. It does leaf out early and may be damaged by spring frosts. You can prune in February when it is dormant to alter the shape if desired. Propagation is done through grafting and stem cutting.
This is a popular Japanese Maple because the leaves are red throughout the summer except in hot dry areas where they may be greenish red. In addition to the seasonal leaf colors, it provides winter interest with its muscular-looking multi-trunks and layered branching structure.
The Bloodgood can be grown in a container or as a specimen in the ground. Due to its small size, you can plant it along walkways and patios. It can also be used as an understory tree. The roots are noncompetitive, and you can place other plants around it.
It has received the Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Aphids, horse chestnut scale, and borers can attack the plant but rarely result in long-term health problems. Deer can damage the plant. The leaves can be scorched by hot dry summers. If it is planted without good drainage, it is prone to verticillium wilt.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Acer
- Species:
- palmatum 'Bloodgood'
- Family:
- Sapindaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Grafting
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China Japan, Korea
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 12 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Broad
- Dense
- Erect
- Multi-trunked
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Samara
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The elongated fruit is dry or hard with wings. It changes color from yellow-orange to red. The fruit is 1/2 to 1 inch and hangs in clusters for an extended time.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The red/purple-violet flowers are radially symmetrical. They are insignificant and clustered loosely.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Palmatifid
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The 2 to 4 inches long red palmatum leaf shape has 5 lobes plus 2 small lobes near the base. In hot southern summers, the leaves may turn greenish red or scorch if not shaded or irrigated. In the fall, the leaves are crimson to reddish-orange.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- The bark is blackish-red.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The current year stem is thin and reddish.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Patio
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Small Tree
- Specimen
- Understory Tree
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Rabbits