Big leaf or canyon maple

[rat fink]

I have two Canyon or big tooth maples I bought and re potted them into a maple training box, similar to Peter Adam's book describes. There is a lot of information on trident and Japanese maples. Which one is the big tooth maple closest to? Both recieved chops, any advice on care and styling? What are peoples experience with them. I live in New Mexico, zone 7.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Big leaf maple I believe is related to the Vine Maple, Acer circinatum. In general care and styling would be along the same lines as done for the Full Moon maple varieties of Acer japonicum, Acer seiboldianum and Acer shirasawanum. These work best for medium and larger sized bonsai, not easy to create small bonsai with. The techniques are pretty much the same as for the traditional Acer palmatum, but you have to deal with a coarser ramification. Most likely one problem you will have is the intense summer sun. Site your maples so they are in the shade for the hottest part of the day, especially afternoon they will need shade. I don't think the big leaf maple has been used much. I don't know how well the leaves will reduce, I would expect them to always be too large to make a convincing smaller bonsai. If the leaves don't reduce in size over time, this may be a tree that looks it's best in winter and early spring before the leaves expand. Style your tree to have a pleasant winter silhouette. With the smaller leaved maples, you can use the foliage to hide rough or less than elegant chops, bends and scars. For a tree that is shown in winter, you have to make sure the trunk and branches are pruned correctly to avoid unsightly scars and less than elegant branch placement. It could work, and it is a species native to your area. So please post progress pictures as you work this tree.

 

[esons]

When I read the title I expected this to be about the big leaf maple that grows wild in my canyon Acer Macrophyllum. There leaves are huge, like 9 or 10 inches. I'd like to see what it looks like as a bonsai, like a maltese or what ever those weird dogs are. Yours is Acer Grandidentatum? I don't much, so don't hold me to any of this, but it's a western maple (even though it has eastern characteristics) so it might be helpful to look into what people have done with western maples. Red maple perhaps?

 

[markyscott]

I'm pretty sure he is talking about Acer grandidentatum - it's native in that area. It grows in Texas too - Lost Maples State Park is the easternmost stand. Ive been there often, but I don't know about their cultivation unfortunately. How long have you had the trees?

Scott

 

[rat fink]

acer grandidentatum or canyon maple

The tags on the trees stated acer grandidentatum, both had the fall leaves on them and the leaves were about 1 inch. I will post pictures soon. They are plentiful and inexpensive ($39.95 each), both sporting 2 inch trunks. Cambium still green, I pruned the roots hard as well as chopping them.

 

[sdavis]

Bigtooth maple

Acer saccharum var grandidentatum is Bigtooth maple. It is a western species: ID, NV, TX, UT, NM, etc. It is most closely related to the eastern hard maples. It is not closely related to vine maple. It is cold hardy and tolerates drought.
I have had them in pots in Oregon for 3 years. They have small leaves, are slow growers, and I think will make good bonsai. Good yellow fall color.

 

[plant_dr]

They are EVERYWHERE here. I see them all the time when hiking in the mountains and always want to collect some. The leaves are pretty small and the trunks are contorted and rough barked from the desert-y conditions. I think they would make a great bonsai, especially for a "natural" style. Pics, please!

 

[rat fink]

big tooth canyon maple

This is my canyon maple after a chop and root prunning. Trunk is 2 inches, a few buds poking out. in 80% inorganic.