Acer palmatum 'BLOODGOOD' Japanese maple
size/type
taller shrub,taller shrub
usual height
3-6m
usual width
2-3m
leaves
deciduous broadleaf
colour of leaves
flowers
insignificant or non-blooming
location
full to partial sun
soil type
acidic (peaty)
soil moisture requirements
evenly moist (dislikes drought)
USDA zone (lowest)
5b (down to -27°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
Acer
Japanese maples are very decorative and usually low shrubs, occasionally small trees, with attractive foliage and picturesque structure. There are many varieties in various shades of green, chartreuse, golden and yellow, red to maroon, and even multicoloured (variegated). They originate from Asia (Japan, China, Korea), where they have been cultivated for at least two centuries or perhaps even longer, however, they were introduced to Europe only at the beginning of the 19th century, specifically to Great Britain in 1820. Interestingly, the botanist Carl Peter Thunberg described them much earlier, in 1784, because he undertook an expedition to Japan in 1775-1776, discovering new species and collecting seeds and plants. He named the tree Acer palmatum, referring to the leaf shape resembling a human hand with fingers, although it is said that they first reminded him of frog fingers, which is also one of its oldest Japanese names: kaede. The other is momiji (baby hands). The beauty of the colours and shapes of the leaves and trees is reflected in many arts, for example, in the oldest preserved collection of Japanese poetry from the 8th century, the Man'yōshū (Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves). The Chinese poet Wang Wei (699-759) celebrated their beauty in many of his works, and naturally, maples often appeared in ancient paintings, tapestries, porcelain, and wherever classic and traditional decorations associated with the symbolism of these maples were desired: beauty and elegance, serenity, endurance, vitality, and transformation.Description of the plant:
Bloodgood is a purple-leaved Japanese maple variety of rapid growth which will create the typical Japanese garden atmosphere both as a specimen tree and as a backdrop. It is a very successful variety, especially thanks to the reliable foliage colour. Its deciduous leaves are dark maroon, deeply lobed with most usually 7 tips, and do not change colour during summer like some other purple-leaved maples. In autumn they turn bright red. The colour of bark and twigs is dark purple-black which easily distinguishes Bloodgood from similar varieties during dormancy. It forms a tall shrub or small, usually multi-stemmed tree with an airy yet dense canopy. It exhibits upright growth at first, but with age it forms a rounded crown as one of the few red-leaved Japanese maples. Although it grows moderately fast, its height in gardens usually slows down once it reaches around 3-4 meters and begins to thicken the canopy. The width of the crown in the canopy rarely exceeds 3m in common gardens, but the total size in parks and sites with unlimited root space can be up twice as much or perhaps a bit more.
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 reliably hardy to at least -27 °C (USDA zone 5b), perhaps a few degrees more.
Last update 08-12-2008; 05-09-2023
QUICK PRICE OVERVIEW
shrub
height 80-100 cm
3 580 Kč
shrub
height 80-100 cm
3 580 Kč
standard
height of stem 1900-200 cm, girth 10-12 cm, crown width 40-50 cm
24 250 Kč
standard
height of stem 1900-200 cm, girth 10-12 cm, crown width 40-50 cm
24 250 Kč
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GLOSSARY
- STANDARD QUALITY - Plants of this group are 1st class quality with number of branches and overall density adequate to their size and age, considering they were container grown.
- DE LUXE QUALITY - This label guarantees a luxurious quality of manually selected plants that, compared to their height and age, are exceptionally dense and beautiful.
- EXTRA - These plants are usually mature and bigger specimens with exceptional overall appearance.
- STANDARD (as described in the plant form) means a tree with a trunk of 190-210 cm and a crown at the top, unless specified differently. The commercial size for trees is their girth measured in the height of 1m from ground.
- HOBBY - These plants are of the same quality as our standard-quality plants but younger and therefore cheaper.
- SHRUB - a woody plant with branches growing bushy from the ground level.
- HALF-STANDARD or MINI-STANDARD - a small tree with shorter trunk, its size is usually specified.
- FEATHERED - These are trees with branches growing already from the base of the trunk and up along the stem.
- GRASSES and PERENNIALS - Sizes given usually read the diameter of the pot or the clump, as specified.
