Try Emery's Garden in Lynnwood - huge selection of J. maples, the best in the PNW. They have several in a pretty good size (4+ feet) for a pretty reasonable size.

Whoops!! That last comment should read "for a pretty reasonable PRICE".

As far as color, Bloodgood is a dark red or purplish-red. Fireglow is a bright cherry red that stays that way most of the season. A Fireglow backlit by the sun is a sight to behold. Bloodgood is supposed to be a much larger tree when mature.

tree_oracle's bark color description fits my bloodgood and fireglow.

I might add bloodgood tends to grow more vertical and fireglow is more twiggy and tends to spread out more instead of vertical.

The fireglow leaves seem a bit easier to be burned by the sun, the color is more red than the darker purple of bloodgood's, and is a smaller tree.

My description was of the leaves not the bark.

Sorry I misread your post, You are correct in calling the leaves a cherry color, the bark color does differ a bit as well.

>Try Emery's Garden in Lynnwood - huge selection of J. maples, the best in the PNW.How many kinds? I walked through there today, didn't think I'd be confident to say there was no other place with more kinds BC to Calif.

2 other places to check for a Fireglow are Wells Medina Nursery in Medina which has a great selection of JMs and Yang's Nursery in Gig Harbor, a large selection too, they grow them. I have gotten most my JMs at these 2 nurseries. another tree you might want to consider is an Emperor 1. I think the Emperor 1 is better than a Bloodgood. I have a Fireglow and an Emperor 1, both are gorgeous, but the transparency & color of the FG leaves with the sun coming through is stunning, it's my fav. I find color varies from tree to tree within a group (ie. some FGs have better color than other FGs), so I buy for the color of the individual tree - all the trees mentioned in these posts hold their color well and are beautiful, so you can't lose in my opinion.

Yes i like both E1 and fg too they are very similar at least mine are...I would definitly choose either of these over the bloodgood just cause they are differnt and a bit brighter but if you like a darker look bloods are for you but as i said it may not actually BE one...Tree is correct any of the three will work fine are hardy and hold their color but E1 and FG are a definite improvement IMHO David

I just purchased a tree called Fireglow, it was from a respected dealer in the NW, however the leaves are less then remarkable. The reason given was that it has been in a green house until it was shipped to me. On arrival it was fully leafed out with larger leaves then my Bloodgood but my Bloodgood's leaves are small anyways. Could the green house effect be the reason why some of the leaves are green and far less attractive then a Bloodgood. If I have been screwed I need a Fireglow.

I think it is a plausible explanation ...in fact I was given the same explanation for red dragon I purchased in fact it was stated all the green housed ones looked "odd" this year... it sure didn't look like a red dragon to me ...I had one already!!But this person is also reputable and likely the same person ;>)and I trust him totally!!!...AND low and behold after about 3-4 weeks of full spring sun it is definitly a dragon through and through...So I'd give it time and SUN and it should develope it's true color...David

Well thanks for quelling my fears, One more question for the road, Vertrees says the color holds in hot and sunny conditions, some other say it can take sun all day while other highly recommend no after noon sun. As to planing J.M.Fireglow, I am at a disadvantage as I have a lot of afternoon sun and less morning sun. So I have two choices sun until or sun after 5 where there is no sun between 1 and 3:30. Is this too complected?
I have one Bloodgood where the sun cuts off at about 4 and it is looking supreme, but it is spring. Many Thanks

PS : I received a Villa Taranto today and oh my G. is it a nice tree, As a novice collector I think that to find a gifted grafter is very well worth sticking with as this graft is superior, it is very low, the under stock color is as the scions and it will be invisible next year or in the tree's third year.

Wells-Medina Nursery, Bellevue stocked 100-150 kinds of Japanese maples this year. Lots of redleaf ones still there to look at and compare.

If I planted 10 of each, Fireglow, Bloodgood and Emperor 1 could you tell them apart by mid July or August? Or does the individual plant, light, soil, moisture all play a more important part in how the plant looks? The point being how many of these Red up right palmatums are actually needed and of value in the trade? Shouldn't there be clear differences in plants before they are named? That may or may not me be the case with the plants discussed here but there seems to be a lot of plants being named and a lot of redundancy. Same problem with some of the conifer witches brooms. I would like to here some other thoughs on the subject. David

David,
you raise a very good point.

First to your specific question: the answer is yes, you can tell Bloodgood, Fireglow and Emperor apart easily if you plant them together in your garden and if they come from reputable sources that guarantee the cultivar origins.

Now, to the general question, my approach is that if you stick to the old cultivars, then you play it safe since they each have a distinct specific feature. The problem is with the new (last 10-15 years) cultivars. While some are truly new, many are almost indistinguishable from other existing cultivars (and I do have many examples). My advice here is that, unless you are a knowledgeable collector, to only deal with trustworthy suppliers who know what they are talking about.

I have also noticed a significant difference between Europe and North America (I do not know how it happens in Japan). Over here, in order to introduce a new cultivar, many growers go through a Âpeer review process by presenting their plants to a jury at famous Plant Fairs. While this is not foolproof , it is certainly better than just proposing you Ânew cultivar in e-bay.

Gomero

I agree with gomero...there is a differnce especially btween the bloodgoood and the other two ...now between FG and E1 as i said it is nominal ...the FG is slighly more , as it's name says, glowing ...that being said it is minor ...rcognizable and definable but MINOR...The blood good is defintly darker than these two other reds. A good example of the "new" cultivars being basically the same as older ones ...is the red barron ...a really nice tree but it is indisiguishable from the E1 IMHO ...now it's shape and size or hardiness may eventually be a determinant factor but otherwise I SERIOUSLY cannot tell the differnce !! David

I just purchased a Fireglow that was a lot darker than the others there but I liked the shape the best. When I inquired about the color being so dark and different I was told it was because it was not in the direct sunlight and that it would quickly revive in the sun. It was just delivered today and I am a little worried as to if it truly is a FG. The leaves are a dull dark purple with green on the underside and red winged seeds which I didn't notice on the others and am now reading on the net that Bloodgoods have. Does anyone know if FG's have that as well or how I might be able to tell the difference?

I have some pictures of my Fireglow in the gallery for comparison. Mine is located in full sun.

Neither JAPANESE MAPLES nor MAPLES FOR GARDENS mentions the color of the samaras, unfortunately. JM does make the comparative statement "It is similar to the popular, well-tried and tested 'Bloodgood', but the leaves are not as deeply divided and it has deeper, more intense, red color which stays throughout the summer, even in hot, sunny conditions." MFG says: "It can be compared with A. palmatum 'Bloodgood', 'Moonfire', or 'Nuresagi' but those cultivars usually grow into rather leggy treelike shrubs; 'Fireglow' seems to retain its shape better."

I guess the question could be posed ...were the others really fireglow's...you probably will never know ...all of these cultivars are really similar as i Have posted before ...I concurr with those that think there are just too many new cultivars that are really not very differnt and really sort of rip offs and with those that have posted mismarked and mislabled JM's are found everywhere...And the shade thing could be correct ...most all RED jm's will green out in the shade ...usually the bottom of leaves first...I DON'T think the fireglow would contradict this...If you like the tree call it a fireglow who the heck gonna know the differnce anyway!!! David

Thanks guys. I was considering taking it back and trading for the other obvious FGS that were so much brighter but I guess I'll just plant it and hope it's a real FG that will turn bright. Appreciate your help.
Wish me luck!

More information about differences and similarities between these two maples here - Fireglow vs Bloodgood Japanese Maple

Fire glow is more pinky red and very bright on colour. Blood good more burgundy... leaves are very similar. The biggest difference is the colour and there size they can get too, so where you are planting it can play a big part on which one you should get as they are both gorgeous. I personally like the fire glow better than the blood good.

Fire glow smaller than the blood good