AusBonsai

Hi Folks

I am having great difficulty finding ordinary Acer palmatum plants. The majority of maples here are grafted. The grafts are so bad that you could never make a descent tree with them.

Also Acer circinatum x palmatum seems to be hard to find.

However I have been offered an Acer j. 'Aconitifolum plant. I know they are a semi-dwarf but their leaves are bigger than Acer palmatum.

How suitable is Aconitifolum for bonsai? Is their leaf size a problem? Any other issues you can think of?

Fred

Aconitifolium will always have larger leaves than palmatum, but it can be OK in a larger tree. I know most of the special forms are grafted, but the usual palmatum species is usually seed grown here. If you are desperate, you can buy a grafted special form and layer branches off it, but be aware that some of the special forms aren't as strong on their own roots.

Gavin

Hey Fred,
I have an Acer japonicum 'Aconitifolium' & 'Vitifolium', leaf size is a factor, not only are they larger but they also do not reduce to the same extent that is possible with A.palmatum. Another thing is a very coarse branch structure, 'Vitifolium' a little better than 'Aconitifolium', if your going to use them as bonsai aim for a larger tree with a loose structure.
I get good colour from both trees, yours can only be better for the extra cold
Matt

create your own supply---get access to a grafted maple -strike a piece or ten or thirty from cuttings--from this source I have enough to start several groups or forests--just do it

Hi Gavin, Matt & Gut

Thanks for your replies.

Matt - I intend to have a tree about 400-500mm high. Would it be possible to post some pics of your Aconitifolium and Vitifolium?

Fred

Hey Fred,
I knew you would ask that Both are in the ground growing out but I will try & get a clear pic of them for you... This is the 'Aconitifolium when first acquired, about 1m tal in the pic. I picked up a couple of palmatum at the same time, all had been neglected at the back of a nursery for 20yrs, the palmatums & "Vitifolium' had leaves of about half normal size, the 'Aconitifolium' leaves had reduced almost nothing.

Ok heres the 'Aconitifolium', it stands approx 110cm. The 'Vitifolium' stands approx 90cm with an overall trunk length of 110cm. Another 60cm not shown will be layered off the top for a garden tree, I have also been thinking about layering off the left trunk/branch but not sure if either would work without the other. What do you think?

Guy, what's your trick with maple cuttings? I've never had any real success with them.

Gavin