Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’: the star of the show in any garden

Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’ is an extremely popular Japanese maple. A deciduous large shrub or small tree, it has attractive dark red to purple foliage and provides breath-taking autumn colour.

 

With lovely finely-cut leaves, ‘Bloodgood’ is one of the most-attractive Acers and is deserving of a place in any garden. Its colouring ensures that it is always an ‘eye-catcher’ and, whilst it can be planted in groups or drifts, we usually find that it works better as a standalone ‘focal point’ specimen plant.

 

Ultimately achieving heights of up to 4-5m, A. ‘Bloodgood’ is very slow-growing and prefers a sheltered position protected from harsh winds (which can cause leaf scorch). It can tolerate most soil conditions, but is usually happiest in ground which is moist but well-drained. It isn’t keen on very alkaline soils and, although it likes the sun, it often performs better in dappled shade.

 

Attractive throughout spring and summer, A. ‘Bloodgood’ is particularly impressive in the autumn. Transitioning to an exceptionally bright scarlet red, its leaves gradually fall as the season progresses, forming a lovely carpet of colour beneath the plant. Mature speciment also provide winter interest via a network of attractive stems.

 

A great plant for adding structure and interest to a garden, A. ‘Bloodgood’ looks wonderful alongside plants with contrasting foliage texture. Large ornamental grasses such as Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerester’ or Stipa gigantea make great companion plants, but Euphorbia wulfenii and Phormium ‘Sundowner’ can also work well.

 

Good alternatives to A. ‘Bloodgood’ include Acer ‘Osakazuki’ or Acer ‘Sango-kaku’.

 

 

Tythorne Garden Design provides professional fixed-fee garden design solutions for customers in Grantham, Stamford, Newark and surrounding areas. Let's see how we can help you to enjoy your garden more. Call us on 07900 224 239 or 01529 455 355.