The 'Emperor I' Japanese Maple is an upright, red-leafed tree widely regarded as an improvement over the classic 'Bloodgood' cultivar. Engineered for excellent performance in both cold-winter zones and hot-summer zones, it solves a major frustration for homeowners: late-spring frost damage. 'Emperor I' buds out nearly two weeks later than other Japanese maples, saving its early growth from being zapped by sudden spring freezes.