Comparing two plants is always interesting because you can learn a lot of helpful information. In addition, it helps you make the right choice.
QUICK ANSWER: The main difference between Crimson Queen Japanese Maple and Bloodgood is the leaves. Crimson Queen has much more dissected leaves and looks pretty exciting. Bloodgood Japanese Maple leaves are also dissected, but the lobes are more prominent and not dissected.
| Crimson Queen | Bloodgood | |
| Name | Acer palmatum ‘Crimson Queen’ | Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’ |
| Hardiness zone | 5-8 | 5-8 |
| Mature height | 8-10 ft | 20-25 ft |
| Mature width | 10-12 ft | 20-25 ft |
| Growth rate | fast | fast |
| Light exposure | full sun, partial sun | full sun, partial sun |
| Soil | moist, drained | moist, drained |
| Soil pH | 5.8-6.8 | 5.5-6.5 |
| Watering | One time per week in a drought | One time per week in a drought |
| Diseases | fungus | fungus |
| Pests | insects, mites | insects, mites |
Foliage
The first thing that catches your eye when you look at these maples is the leaves. The foliage is entirely different.
The Crimson Queen has very heavily split foliage. The leaf is divided into several lobes, which are also split apart. You can even say that the leaf blade consists of veins and a narrow margin around them.
Bloodgood, on the other hand, usually has a leaf divided into five lobes. In rare cases, there are 6-7 lobes. Lobes are large and sharp at the tip. The leaf edge has small serrations.
Usually, the Crimson Queen leaf does not exceed 4 inches across, while the Bloodgood leaf can be much larger than 4 inches.
From the leaf shape, one can conclude that Crimson Queen is a more refined variety for collectors or those who like compact and complex shapes.
Read also: How to Plant and Grow Japanese Maples Properly.
Color
At the beginning of the season, the Crimson Queen has a lighter red color. It can be described as crimson or crimson-red. It is the color of the leaves that got this variety’s name.
In midsummer, the color becomes a little pale and slightly darker. In the fall, the foliage turns a bright red before falling off.
Bloodgood has darker leaves, which is especially noticeable if it gets enough sunlight. Its primary color is red-purple. Sometimes, it can even be almost purple, but by midsummer, the color fades and may even show a greenish hue.
Like its competitor, Bloodgood turns bright red at the end of the season. This is the second time of the year when this maple gets special attention.
A slight advantage of Bloodgood is that the leaves have a larger surface area than the Crimson Queen. As a result, some light is reflected off the leaves, giving them a glossy appearance.
Size
Bloodgood is a large tree. It can reach over 25 feet but just under 20 feet wide. The growth rate of this maple is relatively fast, growing more than 1 foot per year.
The Crimson Queen, on the other hand, does not usually exceed 10 feet in height and 12 feet in width after 10 to 15 years. The growth rate is noticeably slower than the competitor and is less than 1 foot per year.
Both varieties’ size and growth rate can vary greatly depending on growing conditions. Bloodgood is much larger than Crimson Queen in the same amount of time.
From this data, you should realize that Bloodgood needs more space. Plant it 15 feet away from other trees and buildings.
At the same time, Crimson Queen is better suited for smaller parts of the yard. It needs about 6 feet of space on both sides.
Growth habit
Bloodgood has an upright growth habit. In the first 10 years, most branches of this tree grow vertically or almost vertically.
As a result, it grows upward quite rapidly. Only at a mature age does the crown begin to expand, but still, this maple will always be more prominent in height than in width.
Crimson Queen, on the other hand, is a classic weeping Japanese maple. Most of its branches are already sagging and spreading sideways from a young age. After ten years of growing, you will have an excellent low mound of filigree leaves that are bright red.
Bloodgood, thanks to its size and shape, can be used as a shade canopy. It is also more prominent in the garden and can become its center.
Similarities
The following is a discussion of the similarities between the two varieties. This primarily concerns growing conditions, although there will also be slight differences.
The first is the need for water. Since Bloodgood is a larger maple, it will need more water than Crimson Queen. Check from time to time how wet the soil near the roots is, and once it is 1 to 2 inches dry, water it with a few gallons of water.
Once a year, apply a slow-release granular mineral fertilizer in the spring. Crimson Queen will need a little less fertilizer than Bloodgood. Read the recommendations on the label before using.
Both maples need direct sun to develop correctly and have vivid leaf color. Plant them in a location with at least a few hours of direct sun daily.
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