Call for red maples (acer rubrum)

rockm · Nov 19, 2015

I posted this in another link. Danny Coffey's photo of Vaughn Banting's Acer Rubrum group a the national arboretum.

In my experience, the main species of Acer rubrum is nothing but a pain in the ass for bonsai. The variety used most successfully is Acer rubrum "drumondiii" which a smaller leafed, tighter growing cultivar that is native to the deeper South. That's the variety used in this planting.

Gene Deci · Nov 19, 2015

ABCarve said:
Not sure what blight you're talking about. Does it have a name? Mine has had a fungus for the 24 years I've had it (also collected). It looks very similar to black spot which can get bad if not dealt with. Obviously it hasn't killed it. The worst I've seen it is the leaves will turn color in mid-August and fall off. This year I used Subdue (systemic fungicide) on it which stopped the progression in it's tracks. However, the leaves had already been damaged. Next spring I hope to get it before leaf damage occurs.

The agent did give it a name but I didn't catch exactly what he said other than it was a fungus. It is apparently common in northern Michigan. I do appreciate the tip though. I'll look for Subdue.

Nice tree! Thanks for posting that too.

TheSneakyTruth · Nov 19, 2015

rockm that's a great looking group. The leaves don't look much bigger than what you'd expect of a Japanese Maple. We don't get that specific cultivar in Aus, but since the native Acer Rubrum from the deeper South states are all smaller leaved, would seeds from these specific trees grow true to parent with smaller, tighter characteristics?

JoeR · Nov 20, 2015

TheSneakyTruth said:
rockm that's a great looking group. The leaves don't look much bigger than what you'd expect of a Japanese Maple. We don't get that specific cultivar in Aus, but since the native Acer Rubrum from the deeper South states are all smaller leaved, would seeds from these specific trees grow true to parent with smaller, tighter characteristics?

I bet if you plant 200 of them you would get at least one desirable seedling. Seeds never come true to parent but they may be more likely to have the traits you are looking for.

Personally I wouldn't mess with seedlings.

rockm · Nov 20, 2015

Drummondii is interesting in that it is sometimes treated as a separate species, which means its seed (I assume) would "breed true" and produce that same tree. I have a feeling, however, that this is a sliding scale.

The small leaves on Banting's trees aren't just due to the tendency for smaller leaves (and "smaller" is a relative thing...), it's due to root constriction and bonsai care over many, many years. The planting is over 30 years old. It doesn't get root pruned often-hence the big mound of soil. I think it is also leaf pruned regularly (which doesn't so much affect leaf size, as it does ramification)

jk_lewis · Nov 20, 2015

rockm said:
"drumondiii" which a smaller leafed, tighter growing cultivar that is native to the deeper South.

A narrow band along the northern coast (and inland 100 miles or so) of the Gulf of Mexico.

Giga · Nov 20, 2015

Didn't take a pic of the tree but the leaves sure are nice this time of year- I have 3 red maples 2 smaller and one massive one

rockm · Nov 20, 2015

jkl said:
A narrow band along the northern coast (and inland 100 miles or so) of the Gulf of Mexico.

Not really true. It can range a lot further North, Some USDA maps have it present up into New Jersey and Pennsylvania. I think that's a bit over the top, but there is probably some overlap between the "main" species and this one. I know the willow oaks here in Virginia are VASTLY different than the willow oaks in Texas...a lot of interbreeding among oaks. Probably the same for red maple.
http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=acrud

sorce · Apr 12, 2016

Good chance this is Red Maple.
Either way....it's one of those you probly "shouldn't have"...

And it doesn't deserve a thread yet.

Some more of that Show and prove spring. This one..I sphagged the outside of the basket...
@Dave E No die back or black slime roots in these....like I get with elm.

Block Solid.

Part way thru.

I shtuck a river rock under it.

Practice Practice.

I threw the other one out! -1

Sorce

Tentakelaertje · Apr 12, 2016

sorce said:
Good chance this is Red Maple.
Either way....it's one of those you probly "shouldn't have"...

And it doesn't deserve a thread yet.

Some more of that Show and prove spring. This one..I sphagged the outside of the basket...
@Dave E No die back or black slime roots in these....like I get with elm.

Block Solid.View attachment 101177

View attachment 101178

Part way thru.View attachment 101179

I shtuck a river rock under it.View attachment 101180

View attachment 101181

Practice Practice.

I threw the other one out! -1

Sorce

Wildass nebari Sorce!

Nice.

milehigh_7 · Apr 12, 2016

JudyB said:
@sorce, happens to everyone...

Ain't that the truth...

jomawa · Apr 13, 2016

OK, I'm at the current end of this thread and double checked, wasn't this thread something to do with red maples? Ahhh, yup. So can someone/anyone post at least one picture of a "red" maple bonsai??? Oh, and pretty please.

jeanluc83 · Apr 13, 2016

jomawa said:
OK, I'm at the current end of this thread and double checked, wasn't this thread something to do with red maples? Ahhh, yup. So can someone/anyone post at least one picture of a "red" maple bonsai??? Oh, and pretty please.

Not sure I understand. There were many very nice red maple bonsai posted???

I think red maple could make fantastic bonsai. The problem is that a suitable cultivar had not been found yet. There are just so many trees out there that eventually someone will find a tree with naturally small leaves and short internodes.

sorce · Apr 21, 2016

Any takers on a proper ID?
@armetisius

These leaves oughta be out soon.

Sorce

ColinFraser · Apr 21, 2016

jomawa said:
OK, I'm at the current end of this thread and double checked, wasn't this thread something to do with red maples? Ahhh, yup. So can someone/anyone post at least one picture of a "red" maple bonsai??? Oh, and pretty please.

Hah! I can't tell if you are being sarcastic or genuinely don't know: This thread is about the species Acer rubrum, commonly known as the "red maple" (regardless of the present color on any given specimen) - not about random maples that happen to have the color red. Comprende?

wireme · Apr 21, 2016

M. Frary · Apr 21, 2016

sorce said:
Any takers on a proper ID?

Spaghetti foemina?

M. Frary · Apr 21, 2016

ColinFraser said:
Hah! I can't tell if you are being sarcastic or genuinely don't know: This thread is about the species Acer rubrum, commonly known as the "red maple" (regardless of the present color on any given specimen) - not about random maples that happen to have the color red. Comprende?

If these were the red maples that this thread was about I would try one. Not the red maples this thread us about.

Tentakelaertje · Apr 21, 2016

M. Frary said:
If these were the red maples that this thread was about I would try one. Not the red maples this thread us about.View attachment 102155

For the colourblind among us, this totally not fake red maple:

20pcs-bag-font-b-blue-b-font-font-b-maple-b-font-tree-seeds-bonsai-seeds.jpg

ColinFraser · Apr 21, 2016

M. Frary said:
If these were the red maples that this thread was about I would try one. Not the red maples this thread us about.View attachment 102155

This one is starting to look more attractive

Call for red maples (acer rubrum)

Spuds Moyogi

Shohin

Seedling

Masterpiece

Spuds Moyogi

Masterpiece

Masterpiece

Spuds Moyogi

Nonsense Rascal

Omono

Mister 500,000

Shohin

Omono

Nonsense Rascal

Masterpiece

Masterpiece

Bonsai Godzilla

Bonsai Godzilla

Omono

Masterpiece

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