Buy Japanese maple Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood': Delivery by Waitrose Garden

Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood'

Japanese maple

Japanese maple

Position: partial shade or full sun (but not south-facing)
Soil: fertile, moist, well-drained neutral to acid soil
Rate of growth: slow-growing
Flowering period: April to May
Hardiness: fully hardy

This upright deciduous Japanese maple is one of the best purple-leaved varieties. It has deeply cut, dark red-purple leaves that turn bright red in autumn and tiny purple-red spring flowers. Try it as a focal point in a small, contemporary or minimalist garden, where the intensity of the autumn colour can really sing. It needs a sheltered spot, away from strong winds or all-day sunshine.
Garden care: Add a top-dressing of a multi-purpose fertiliser around the base of a newly planted tree in late spring and keep well watered. No routine pruning is required, just remove any dead, damaged or crossing branches in late autumn or winter when they are fully dormant.