Pro: Medium Size
Bloodgood Japanese maples can eventually reach 15 20 maybe even 25 feet in height and probably 15 feet in width. Like most Japanese maples Bloodgood is definitely very cold hardy. You can grow all the way, it was on five and then down to zone 8.
Although still moderately slow growing Bloodgood’s going to be much faster than cut-leaf varieties. In the weeping varieties, we might get 6 inches or maybe even a foot of growth out of in a single season.
Con: Sunlight requirements
In terms of sun or shade on these Bloodgood Japanese maples, I think if you’re in zone 5 probably even 6a you can put it in almost all day full sun without much of a problem. I’m in zone 7b if I put it in full sun all day, by mid-summer, it’s just become brown on the edges.
They just don’t look great by late July and most of August. That really cuts out a lot of the fall color which is one of the most desirable things about this plant. So as you get further and further south this is a plant that you probably want to find a spot where is some afternoon shade for it. Where some taller trees are on the west or the north of it.
Pro: Ornamental view
The primary use of Bloodgood is just going to be as a small ornamental tree. It’s great near a patio to offer a little bit of shade. This thing actually makes a good container plant probably nine to five. It would be cold hardy in a container in zone 5 but in zone 6 7 or 8 almost certainly.
This would make a fantastic container plant it probably gets too large to use near a foundation. It would be tempting to put this on a corner but I think it would get too big in time. You probably want to use a cut leaf maple or one of the weeping Japanese maples.
The primary feature of these Bloodgood Japanese maples is the purple foliage which it has throughout the growing season. I pick this tree on purpose it’s got some green in the interior, it was being shaded by some other trees.
They definitely do need some direct light to make sure it keeps its best color. You need to put enough direct light on it. At least six hours a day to keep it its best color.
Pro: Drought tolerance
Bloodgood maple is going to be reasonably drought tolerant once it’s rooted. The first year you want to keep a close eye on it. Just drown the space around it, if it’s dry. Then let it dry out again before you do that again.
In the future, if you see any leaves getting their fall color turning red on the interior of the plant. That’s probably telling you it’s dry and at that point, you can drag a water hose to it. Again drown it let it dry out.
Pro: Fertilizer
I would definitely fertilize your Japanese maple about the time it’s waking up in the spring. The best color on the leaves on this plant or on the newest growth and we can get a lot more of that by fertilizing them. Any outdoor slow-release fertilizer that’ll last three or four months would be perfect.
Pro: Pruning
There’s not a lot of pruning that’s going to need to be done on your Japanese maple definitely if you see anything growing below the graft at the base of it get it off quickly. That is not a Bloodgood Japanese maple. It needs to go quickly, if you have any lower limbs that are sticking out go ahead and take those off when you plant it.
Once it gets up to a certain height it’s going to be very difficult to prune so if you’re getting crazy limbs on it early on that are out of balance with the tree you might want to take those off.
Pro: Healthy plant
There really aren’t a lot of pests on these Bloodgood Japanese maples. I got some caterpillars in mind year and I just cut the branch out that had the caterpillars on them rather than spray them.
Some leaf spots on the leaves may appear if they’re staying wet for a prolonged period of time. As long as they’re drying out pretty quickly in the morning that shouldn’t be a problem.
If you have deer problems it’s not going to be near the top of their list but if they run out of other options they will go after these.