Emperor 1 Japanese Maple

The Emperor 1 Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum ‘Emperor 1’) is an upright, wide-crowned, small-sized tree that is a captivating addition to any small garden. Similar to the Bloodgood Japanese Maple, its 5-7 lobed leaves are a crimson red (although may be slightly darker) and have blackish-red bark that makes it appealing in the winter months.

Introduced by Dick Wolff at Red Maple Nursery in Pennsylvania in 1976, The Emperor 1 is unique in that it has less of a risk of late frost damage in the spring as its leaves bud out about two weeks later than the Bloodgood, making it better for climates with longer winters. It also can maintain the color of its leaves better in the shade. This tree is low-maintenance, growing best in partial shade but can also be grown in full-shade, with no significant preference to soil type (although will keep its color better in moist soils in hot climates or in full sun).