In which case, what variety would you say the highest chance of it being, is?If you bought it at a bonsai nursery or nursery that grows trees for bonsai yes Id agree its a high chance.
If you bought it at a home landscape nursery, Id say the chance is much lower
From where was it imported? From Japan? Do you still have the label or something?This is an imported bonsai. I think it was always worked as a bonsai. I mean it wasn't a nursery stock for sure. I actually don't care what variety it is, but I am making bonsai for professional purposes. So my customers are frequently asking about the cultivars. This is why I need to know what variety it is.
Do you think this may be a Beni Maiko?
Thanks for all the answers given.
From where was it imported? From Japan? Do you still have the label or something?
I think the regulation dor exportation are quite strict over there.
I don't think it is a Beni Maiko.
It does look like a Deshojo, but it could be anything
In which case, what variety would you say the highest chance of it being, is?
Even home landscape nurseries know about this stuff, at least where I am anyway. They have a good few cultivars in fact. "Ohh fancy colours, sell for more money", end of knowledge for them but its certainly not a Bonsai only thing mate![]()
If I'm not wrong the leaves of the Beni Maiko are a bit marbled (it's subtle) and the leaves on your photos look more plain.Why do you think it is not a Beni Maiko?
Yes but it looks very similar to deshojo. The new and old leaves' colors, branch colors, shapes, even the length of the lobes are quite similar. This is why I thought it is a deshojo. More, mass produced low cost red JMs in Japan are generally Deshojo, seigen and rarely Beni Maiko. That's another reason that I thought this beauty is a Deshojo.Landscape nurseries mostly stock what grows best for the home yard. Generally that isnt varieties like Deshojo, which is a less vigorous variety for home landscapes.
Ayxowpat has already clarified that it was imported as a bonsai. There are other red cultivars used for bonsai. Given the number of red cultivars, it could be anything.
Without a definitive identification guide, all we can do is guess at what it is. It is too bad the documentation has been lost.
The problem is that there are LOTS of varieties that all look similar. They are so similar that to positively ID the variety requires multiple meristics such as counting the points on the leaf edges, leaf veins, depth of the cuts between the lobes. Cant just go by color and general shape.Yes but it looks very similar to deshojo. The new and old leaves' colors, branch colors, shapes, even the length of the lobes are quite similar. This is why I thought it is a deshojo. More, mass produced low cost red JMs in Japan are generally Deshojo, seigen and rarely Beni Maiko. That's another reason that I thought this beauty is a Deshojo.
I agree. Based on the pictures and based on popularity, I would say it's a deshojo. But we could never be 100% sure.Yes but it looks very similar to deshojo. The new and old leaves' colors, branch colors, shapes, even the length of the lobes are quite similar. This is why I thought it is a deshojo. More, mass produced low cost red JMs in Japan are generally Deshojo, seigen and rarely Beni Maiko. That's another reason that I thought this beauty is a Deshojo.
I am making bonsai for professional purposes. So my customers are frequently asking about the cultivars. This is why I need to know what variety it is.
Yep I am agreeing with you. I am simply saying the chances are high it is deshojo, given the current information. Given the picture and the fact that Deshojo is a common red variety, it makes the chances quite high.Landscape nurseries mostly stock what grows best for the home yard. Generally that isnt varieties like Deshojo, which is a less vigorous variety for home landscapes.
Ayxowpat has already clarified that it was imported as a bonsai. There are other red cultivars used for bonsai. Given the number of red cultivars, it could be anything.
Without a definitive identification guide, all we can do is guess at what it is. It is too bad the documentation has been lost.
Can you imagine the number of Maples out there, where the random website has simply said its "Deshojo" or "whatever" and for years we have simply taken it as gospel. Sometimes ignorance is blissWithout a clear provenance... ie record of ownership and original cultivar... you will NEVER know. It doesn't matter what it "looks like". It doesn't matter that it came from Japan and was raised as pre-bonsai. There is not a person on this site (or anywhere in the world) who can give you an identification based on appearance.
I am not trying to be harsh, but if that is your objective, it will never be fulfilled. Cultivars cannot be identified by appearance. They can only be identified by provenance - ie a clear path back to the original cultivar. Once that clear path is gone - or unknown - then it is just a red Japanese maple.