Bloodgood Japanese Maple is a small slender deciduous tree with an airy rounded crown and interesting red-black bark.  The large, deeply palmated dark purple-red foliage turns brilliant scarlet in fall.  Small non-showy but attractive umbels of purplish-red flowers bloom in spring followed by red samaras.  Grows best in rich, moist, slightly acidic well-drained soils.  Prefers full sun in cooler climates, but needs afternoon shade in southern areas.  One of the hardiest of Japanese maples, with good sun tolerance in the South.

MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Low maintenance.  Water regularly.  Mulch in southern climates to keep roots cool.  Keep pruning to a minimum and prune in fall or winter.  Potential issues include stem canker, leaf spots, fusarium, wilt, botrytis, anthracnose, and root rots.  Potential insect pests include aphids, scale, borers, root weevils, and mites.  Chlorosis may occur in high pH soils

LANDSCAPE USES: Group Plantings or Specimen Tree, Naturalized Areas, Woodland Gardens, Privacy Screen, Street Tree, and  Shade Tree

COMPANION PLANTS: Gibraltar Azalea, Coral Bells, 'Patriot' Hosta

IMAGES:  Photo by F. D. Richards, Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood', 2018 photo, (2) David Ohmer from Cincinnati, USA, Cincinnati - Spring Grove Cemetery & Arboretum "The Road Past The Bloodgood Japanese Maple Tree" (6337588162), CC BY 2.0, (leaf) Photo by David J. Stang, Acer palmatum Bloodgood 10zz, CC BY-SA 4.0 (fall color) Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood' kz01, CC BY-SA 4.0

*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown.