Moonfire Japanese Maple Zones 5-9 Sun to shade. Palmatum Group -red – Another outstanding red leafed maple, Moonfire holds it’s red color extremely well in the hot summer months. Color is dark purple-red to black-red. Reputedly this is a better selection for the long hot summer months of the South than Bloodgood, and it is smaller and slower growing, but eventually may reach 15 to 20’ or more. Introduced by Richard Wolff of Pennsylvania in 1970.