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Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood'

Phonetic Spelling
AY-ser pahl-MAY-tum
Description

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.

More information on Acer palmatum.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#small tree#specimen#red leaves#winter interest#cottage garden#rabbit resistant#Asian garden#deciduous tree#container plant#showy#full sun#part shade#tree#walkway
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#small tree#specimen#red leaves#winter interest#cottage garden#rabbit resistant#Asian garden#deciduous tree#container plant#showy#full sun#part shade#tree#walkway
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Dark Gray
    Red/Burgundy
    Surface/Attachment:
    Smooth
    Bark Description:
    The bark is blackish-red.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    The current year stem is thin and reddish.
  • 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