Roughbark Trident Maple

[lackhand]

I've been wanting a trident for a while now, and a nursery relatively close to me is offering this cultivar of roughbarked trident maple. If you could acquire a roughbark trident maple seedling, is that something you would be interested in, or is the smooth bark and muscular trunk an important part of the appeal to you? Here is a pic, followed by the link to the site if you're interested in reading about it.


Evergreen Gardenworks

You have to scroll through their stock a bit to find the listing, but it's not too far down the page.

Anyway, I'm to the point where I'm starting to get more selective with what I'm adding to my growing bench as it's a bit crowded, and might need some thinning already (or thickening as it were since I'll probably just put some stuff in the ground). Just wondering as I plan future acquisitions if this might be something to put high on the list, or more of a curiosity. I'm kind of split on it myself at the moment, so let me know what you think.

[GavinG]

If there's no nasty graft anywhere I'd be happy to have it.

Gavin

[Bougy Fan]

Very interesting - of course we could not import them here

[Scott Roxburgh]

I assume it is seedling variation? If so, with the number of tridents grown from seed in Australia I would guess it would be already be here?

[Brian]

Very interesting - of course we could not import them here

yes you can. I have been involved with a friend who imported 3 very large trident maples, an Azalea and a Japanese maple from Japan about 20 years ago. It has to go through quarantine of course.

[lackhand]

I assume it is seedling variation? If so, with the number of tridents grown from seed in Australia I would guess it would be already be here?

Yes, he says these are cuttings from a chance seedling. Such variation does occur, so it might be there already, but I have never seen one anywhere except on this nursery's listing.

My real question though is, if you could get one, would you? Or do you prefer the regular smooth barked trident?

[Ray M]

Hi Karl,
I would certainly be interested. I think it is great to have some trees that are unusual.

Regards Ray

[shibui]

I really love the smooth, patterned bark of the standard trident, especially when it peels to give different tomes and colours.

I think with limited space I would go with the typical form rather than an unusual variant - unless it has better bonsai characteristics (small leaves, better ramification, etc) - but, as I do have the space I am always looking out for different forms that will provide variety.

[Damian Bee]

I think with limited space I would go with the typical form rather than an unusual variant - unless it has better bonsai characteristics (small leaves, better ramification, etc) - but, as I do have the space I am always looking out for different forms that will provide variety.

I suffer the same affliction.

[maple]

[quote="shibui"]I really love the smooth, patterned bark of the standard trident, especially when it peels to give different tones and colours.

if it has better bonsai characteristics (small leaves, better ramification, etc) - quote]

Lackhand,
I agree with Shibui. I would like to see a Rough bark tree in leaf and if the Nurseyman has an example he has been training rather than nursery stock.
If they were in my neighbourhood, I would definately have one.

[DustyRusty]

I'm a sucker for rough bark combined with fine, dense ramification. I'd take it over the normal variety any day.

[Luke308]

I would love to add a roughbark Trident to my collction. I would probably grow it on, take some cuttings and keep one of the cuttings to be a tree which I can take fourther cuttings off of. This way we can share them around and allow others to grow this great cultivar (which I have been looking for for about 3 years now)

If you would like to sell one or more of these cuttings, please PM me.

[shibui]

I'm a sucker for rough bark combined with fine, dense ramification. I'd take it over the normal variety any day.

Are you just assuming this variety will have fine dense ramification Dusty? I have a couple of tridents here that refuse to ramify well. They have coarse twigs and just won't make lots of shoots.

[DustyRusty]

Yeah I was assuming that. Could be the opposite as another feature of this cultivar. But then it would suck. So my forced qualification is: as long as it ramifies well id love it.