Maples are Awesome..!

[Robsterios]

Maples are awesome...I'm sure most would agree! As a collector of the rarer species of Maple amongst other species, eg; rarer cedars and spruce, dwarf ginko, etc., I wonder how many others may have this obsession as I do...I now have a number of dwarf maples, some new for this year and they are superb. Acer Palmatum Komachi Hime is special. I've been after a good version of this to Niwaki or Bonsai for a long time and very happy to have found one that's fantastic now and will be a killer little tree in a few years. Emery's Dwarf is also a hard to find tree from what I can tell. The tiniest little filigree (dissected) leaf on an upright...just fantastic - and of course all opening up with this latest Melbourne warm weather.
My Coonara Pygmy that I've had now for at least 10 years and has been getting better and better over the last couple. This one is probably one of very few that are seedling grown in the country as nowadays, you would only find them grafted. Of course the Deshojo's and Shindeshojo's stand out with their perfectly scarlet new foliage. Mikawa Yatsabusa, Shishi Gashira and the list goes on...This year, I've also added a young Bloodgood and Shaina to the collection and although not at all rare, who doesn't love red new foliage..? Also exciting is to have found a young Crimson Queen grafted at about 4". So hard to find these ultra low grafts. Standard Palmatums are still awesome of course and Tridents are still king which I have many but I'm keen to know if others also get excited about these rarer species and if so, would be happy to discuss....Aren't Maples awesome..!?

[Andrew Legg]

I have tridents and palmatums, but the one I have that I find really special is the chishio or shishio Japanese Maple. It's leaves are a stunning vibrant red when they come out in spring. Absolutely the joy of my collection, and it's not even a developped bonsai yet!

[Robsterios]

Yes. ..Chisio select is special..I think I've got one as well as one of the shindeshojo's I bought last year was not actually a shindeshojo and a wrongly labeled Chisio..if you love the red foliage, check out the Shindeshojo..they are spectacular as well. .cheers..

[Elmar]

Don't suppose you fellers want to pop up some pics for us all to enjoy?!

[Truth]

Japanese Maples are like a drug, once you try one, you have to have them all

Few plants exude the same beauty, and grace of a lovely Japanese Maple, and despite them being a little temperamental at times, they always eventually response well to bonsai techniques.

I'm looking specifically for the 'Arakawa' and 'Nishiki Gawa' cultivars at the moment. But i'm always on the lookout for anything new, interesting or otherwise that catches my eye. I agree with Elmar though, why don't you guys start posting some photos? I would post mine, but they're all in development stages still and look less than ideal.

[Andrew Legg]

Biggest problem I have is loads of summer winds, so anything with the name "maple" struggles with leaf burn, and anything with the name "dissectum" is pretty much pointless. If this were not the case I'd have many more of them.

Any ways to combat wind burn, let me know (other than keeping 'em out the wind of course!

Cheers

Andrew

[Truth]

Biggest problem I have is loads of summer winds, so anything with the name "maple" struggles with leaf burn, and anything with the name "dissectum" is pretty much pointless. If this were not the case I'd have many more of them.

Any ways to combat wind burn, let me know (other than keeping 'em out the wind of course!

Cheers

Andrew

Surround them on all sides with various other trees is probably the prettiest way to build a makeshift wind-break.

Other than that, some degree of wind burn and leaf scorch is inevitable. I've read of bad wind-burn occurring on maples even in more mild and cold climates in the US and Canada. It's just part of the game I suppose.

I have also found that some maples just fare better than others. I have 2 landscape Japanese Maples outside that receive 100% sunlight all day. Nothing surrounding them to shade them out or windbreak as they're used on the nature strip by the road. Due to the fact that the leaves that develop are probably more sun tolerant than my potted maples that develop in shade, they fare much better.

[Robsterios]

Yes. ..hot summer winds are a pain..I too get frustrated as I live near the coast and the salty air is not much good for them either..I rarely get Autumn color like in the hills, hence is why I look for the brightest spring foliage...there are a few that Excell though... in my garden, I have a seriu..for an upright dissectum, they are incredibly resistant to leaf scorching and color's up pretty good every year...I've given up on Red weepers in the garden though. But as bonsai, I can keep them protected..do look into the Seriu...I can vouch for their performance...

[Andrew Legg]

Cool - thanks guys. Not much choice around here though as they are simply not that popular - probably because of the wind.

Here is the ropey, but delicious Shishio.... the first picture I brightened because of the background and contrast, but the one of the leaf is unaltered. No increase in brightness or saturation . . . .

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[Ozzy Koshi]

Japanese maples are definitely my most favourite species for bonsai!

I have been trying to find a shin deshojo, seigen or chisio acer palmatum but they're difficult to find! I have come across some but mostly they are grafted really high up.

Just a couple of days ago I found this twin trunk Mikawa Yatsubusa Acer Palmatum. It's the only one with low growth from the root base and the only one with natural red tinge whereas the rest are all bright green.

[Robsterios]

Mikawa Yatsabusa's are brilliant - strange the spring color...mine just opens lime green...They color in the hills nicely although not spectacularly...mine just went a yellow/orange but for most of the year, it resisted leaf scorching...it's a Niwaki though (tub specimin)(big bonsai)...
Some specialty Nurseries around do stock Shindeshojo - I purchased mine from Conifer Garden Nursery (Dandenong Ranges)...but yeah, hard to find low and unobtrusive grafts for bonsai..Not sure how cuttings would grow but suspect not as strongly on their own root stock compared to stock Palmatum roots. Having had my Shin for it's second year - again, Niwaki tub specimen - Would love to find a low graft for a young bonsai as they are just crazy red in spring...

[GavinG]

If you can find a graft that's not butt-ugly, you can layer just below the graft line - you get the seedling root stock, but not the nasty trunk line. On their own roots the varieties can often be a bit frail.

Gavin

[Truth]

On their own roots the varieties can often be a bit frail.

I'm not convinced this commonly spread piece of information is 100% accurate. There's no doubt that dissectum and weeping varieties need to be grafted for obvious reasons, and it's also clear that when grafted onto a wild-type palmatum rootstock the tree will grow faster, more vigorously and make for a tree available for sale quicker. However all red or green upright whole leaf varieties i've worked with have done absolutely fine on their own roots. Sure they might have developed faster on a wild root stock, but bonsai is a waiting game anyway.

Besides, nature would take care of any serious health or vigour issues early-on due to genetic mutations. This is how we get the varying cultivars after all.

[Robsterios]

Thanks for the info..I've never done cuttings..I'll do some research but is it too late now that it's into Spring...?

[shibui]

However all red or green upright whole leaf varieties i've worked with have done absolutely fine on their own roots.

Does that include these dwarf vars? They do seem to be less hardy than the larger ones.

I've never done cuttings..I'll do some research but is it too late now that it's into Spring...?

depends how you can look after the cuttings. Soft and semi hard cuttings with leaves can root faster than dormant hardwood cuttings but you do need to maintain high humidity. Layers are easier and can be done right through spring and summer.

I have had very poor results with Acer cuttings. They seem to produce roots then turn black and die. I suspect fungal infection so this year have treated with fungicide. Looking good so far

I currently have around 20 different palmatum vars but always interested to find sources of new and different varieties.