Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood'Japanese maple

Selected from ‘Atropurpureum’ and distributed by Bloodgood Nurseries in the United States, this cultivar grows as a large shrub or small tree, often with several stems. It forms a crown that is upright and ovoid at first and becomes progressively broader without losing a relatively upright structure.

In a garden it usually reaches 4 to 6 metres in height, although old specimens, in favourable conditions, can approach 8 to 10 metres. The dense branching creates a well-defined silhouette and a leaf surface compact enough to work as a focal point.

The leaves have five to seven long, pointed lobes. They emerge red-purple, darken to a shade close to red-black and hold that tone for much of the summer. In autumn, the crown turns a deep, luminous red. The small purple flowers are followed by red samaras, particularly visible against the dark foliage.

It prefers partial shade or gentle sun and a fertile, moist, well-drained soil. A regular supply of water helps the colour to last and keeps the leaves intact. In Portugal it should be protected from dry wind and the most intense afternoon sun, especially in inland regions.

It is suited to entrances, courtyards, small gardens and contemporary compositions that call for a vertical presence of dark colour. The contrast is especially effective next to pale façades, green vegetation or mineral materials. A mature specimen from Diaplant immediately adds several well-defined stems, a structured crown and a purple mass whose scale can already be assessed precisely in the project.