Bloodgood Japanese Maple
Best low-maintenance accent tree for residential landscapes seeking seasonal color.
The Bloodgood Japanese Maple is a striking deciduous tree, celebrated for its rich, burgundy-purple, palm-shaped foliage that graces the landscape all season long. Its artistic, spreading growth habit makes it an ideal accent or shade tree for residential settings. This maple offers subtle red flowers in mid-spring, transitioning to outstanding scarlet fall color. It's a slow-growing, low-maintenance tree, reaching a mature height and spread of 20 feet, and is best pruned in summer to prevent sap bleeding. It thrives in full sun to partial shade.
$89.99
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
7
/ 1209
#7 in Trees
Price vs Category Average
-16%
Below average
Mature Height
20
/ feet
Who it's for
- Gardeners seeking a dramatic, year-round focal point
- Homeowners in colder climates needing a hardy specimen
- Urban dwellers with limited space for elegant shade trees
Who should skip it
- Gardeners in regions with intense, scorching afternoon sun
- Property owners with heavy clay or poor drainage soil
- Budget-conscious buyers looking for inexpensive landscaping options
Performance breakdown
Visual Impact
Deep burgundy foliage provides a dramatic focal point throughout the season.
Maintenance Ease
Slow growth rate minimizes the need for frequent pruning and shaping.
Seasonal Versatility
Offers year-round appeal from spring blooms to vibrant scarlet autumn leaves.
Landscape Adaptability
Compact size makes it a perfect fit for smaller residential gardens.
Growth Predictability
Consistent, slow development ensures the tree stays within its mature dimensions.
Environmental Resilience
Hardy in zone 5a, though it requires consistent moisture and drainage.
Key Specs
Mature Height
20 feet
Mature Width
20 feet
Growth Rate
Slow
Hardiness Zone
5a
Light Needs
Full Sun, Partial Shade
Water Needs
Moderate
Foliage Type
Deciduous
Tree Species
Maple
Features
- Rich burgundy-purple foliage all season
- Artistic spreading growth habit
- Outstanding scarlet fall color
- Ornamental lobed palmate leaves
- Subtle red flowers in spring
- Adds winter interest with red branches
- Low maintenance landscape tree
- Suitable for planting under power lines
What customers say
Customers consistently praise the exceptional quality and health of the Bloodgood Japanese Maples sourced from Armstrong Garden Centers. Reviewers frequently note the vibrant color, robust root systems, and substantial size upon delivery or pickup. The reliability of these specimens is a major theme, with many buyers reporting successful establishment and strong growth even in challenging conditions. While the price point is often considered premium, consumers feel the superior quality justifies the investment, making this a highly trusted choice for landscape additions.
Know before you buy
Since this tree reaches a mature height and width of 20 feet, you should allow for a 20-foot diameter of space. This ensures the tree has enough room to develop its natural, artistic spreading habit without crowding nearby structures or other plants.
The Bloodgood is a deciduous tree, meaning it will lose its leaves in the winter. During the growing season, it maintains its signature burgundy-purple color, which eventually transitions to a brilliant scarlet before the leaves drop in autumn.
You should prune your Bloodgood Japanese Maple during the summer months. Pruning at this time prevents the tree from 'bleeding' sap, which is common if you cut the branches during the dormant winter or early spring seasons.
Yes, the Bloodgood is versatile and performs well in both full sun and partial shade. However, in regions with particularly intense summer heat, providing some afternoon shade can help protect the leaves from scorching and keep the color vibrant.
It is an excellent choice for residential landscapes because of its slow growth rate and manageable 20-foot size. Its artistic structure makes it a beautiful focal point, and it is even suitable for planting under power lines where larger shade trees would be problematic.
This tree prefers well-drained soil to remain healthy. Before planting, ensure your site does not have standing water or heavy clay that stays saturated, as the roots require proper drainage to thrive.
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Ask Hayley anything about this product before you decide.
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$90