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Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood'Local DFW Delivery Only
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Bloodgood Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood'Bloodgood Japanese Maple brings bold color and refined structure to any landscape. Its deeply lobed, red palmate leaves provide a stunning display from spring through fall, creating a vivid contrast against surrounding greenery. With a balanced, rounded form, it can grow up to 20 feet tall and about 20 feet wide at maturity, making it a commanding presence without overwhelming nearby plantings. The rich, red foliage holds its color beautifully through the season, adding texture and depth to your outdoor spaces.
- A deciduous tree
- Broad, rounded growth habit
- Moderate growth rate
- Deep red palmate leaves
- Excellent as a focal point or shade feature
Hardy in zones 5-8, Bloodgood Japanese Maple thrives in the North Texas climate when given morning sun exposure only, which helps protect its foliage from scorching afternoon rays. Plant it in well-drained, slightly acidic soil to support healthy growth and enjoy its vibrant color and graceful silhouette year after year.
Compact, graceful, and elegant, the Bloodgood Japanese Maple adds structure and color year-round with minimal fuss - if given the right conditions. Here’s what it needs:
- Watering: Keep soil consistently moist but never soggy. Young trees need deep watering once or twice a week until established. Mature trees can handle brief dry periods but will show leaf scorch if left too dry for too long.
- Pruning: Prune in late winter or mid-summer to shape and remove dead or crossing branches. Avoid heavy pruning - it disrupts the tree’s natural, layered silhouette. Light thinning improves airflow and reduces pest risk.
- Fertilizing: Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring before new growth. Avoid high-nitrogen formulas, which can dull leaf color and encourage weak, fast growth.
- Mulching: A 2-3 inch layer of mulch around the root zone helps conserve moisture and maintain even soil temperature. Keep mulch 6 inches away from the trunk to prevent rot.
- Sunlight: Best in partial shade - morning sun with afternoon protection. In cooler climates, it can handle full sun, but in hotter regions, too much exposure may cause leaf scorch.
- Winter care: While mulch will help with insulation, you can also use burlap or windbreaks to shield your Bloodgood Japanese Maple against extreme winter winds, preventing damage.
Common Issues and How to Take Care of Them
Though generally low-maintenance, Bloodgood Japanese Maples can run into a few manageable issues:
- Leaf scorch: Brown, crispy leaf edges are common in hot, dry, or windy conditions. Keep soil moist, use mulch, and provide afternoon shade.
- Verticillium wilt: A soil-borne fungus that causes wilting and branch dieback. Remove affected branches and improve soil drainage. Avoid planting in previously infected soil.
- Aphids: Small insects that suck sap and cause curling leaves. Wash off with a hose or treat with insecticidal soap.
- Scale insects: Appear as small, flat bumps on branches. Use horticultural oil during dormancy to smother eggs.
- Root rot: Caused by poor drainage. Plant in well-draining soil and avoid overwatering.
- Stem canker: A disease that creates dead and sunken areas on stems. Prune infected branches with tools that you'll clean both before and after to prevent the disease from spreading.
Good site selection and steady care go a long way toward keeping this maple vibrant and healthy for decades.
Since these trees are excellent ornamental specimens, ensure your maple is the center of attention in your garden or landscape. However, don't forget that these trees love morning sun only, with mandatory afternoon shade.
It grows slowly to moderately, usually adding 1-2 feet of height annually in the first few years, then slowing down as it matures. It reaches full maturity in around 15-20 years.
The Bloodgood Japanese Maple got its name after the Bloodgood Nursery in New York where this cultivar was developed before World War II.
The things that stress out this maple variety are mostly extreme heat and inadequate watering with poor drainage. Naturally, they're also stressed out by physical damage and over-fertilization.
Early spring or fall, when temperatures are mild and the tree can focus on root growth.
Once established water deeply once or twice a week during dry spells. During the first two years water daily when temps are above 95 degrees and every other day when temps are between 80 to 95 degrees.
Light feeding in early spring is enough. Over-fertilizing can cause excessive growth and reduce the intensity of leaf color.
Remove dead, weak, or crossing branches to maintain structure. Never shear or drastically cut back, Bloodgoods look best with their natural form intact.
Yes, it grows beautifully in large pots or planters with well-drained soil. Just water more frequently and protect from harsh afternoon sun.
With good care and ideal conditions, it can live 80 years or more.
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