Acer Palmatum Emperor I

The Emperor I Japanese maple tree’s scientific name is “Acer Palmatum Wolf” after the cultivar’s breeder, and is sometimes called “Red Emperor.” Similar to the Bloodgood, this upright tree with palmate shaped leaves is a deep, purple red throughout most of the year, turning to a crimson red color in the fall. It does not get as tall or wide as a Bloodgood, reaching its mature height and width of 12-15 feet in 10 years. It also tolerates the heat and sun better than the Bloodgood can in the south, and can be placed in the full sun or shade and still hold its reddish-purple color all year long. The Emperor I takes about 2 weeks longer to leaf out in the spring than other Japanese maples, so it is less likely to have damage caused by early frosts.