Anyone here into Japanese Maples? Grafting trees?

[foxd]

I have a couple of Japanese Maple trees that were started from seeds and are ungrafted. I have been wondering what the point is of grafting them?

[Alan_L]

That's the only way to propagate cultivars.

[foxd]

That's the only way to propagate cultivars.

Couldn't the branches be rooted?

[Alan_L]

I suppose so. I think grafting is faster though. Grow a bunch of "generic" plants from seed or whatever, then use them as rootstock for "more desirable" cultivars. Just guessing, as I've neither 1) grafted anything or 2) grown a Japanese maple from seed.

On the seed topic... I've been reading that if you harvest them dry, you'll need to soak them and cold stratify for 100 days or so. I've also read that if you harvest them early (before they dry) you can speed up this process, but it wasn't clear if that meant that they still needed to be stratified. Anybody who's had success care to clarify?

[fredgpops]

I have several varieties of Japanese Maple. My favorite is Coral Bark. The bark turns red in winter and spring. It grows reasonably fast as well. I got several plants from Koniferkid who used to post on the bamboo garden site. He lives in NJ and propagates a many kinds of maples. He probably posts on the japanese garden site. Nice guy and talented. I can post s
ome maple pictures you are interested. rgds

[GrowingHabit]

Please post pics!

[fredgpops]

Sorry for delay on photos. Will be a couple of weeks before I post. Rgds

[fredgpops]

Late fall turns this maple a deep red. A Pitt White is directly in back of the maple. Dwarf Whitestripe surround the maple. A D. sengteeanum branch is also visable over the top. Most J. maples like this require shade. Sorry my Id on this maple is long gone. Coast oaks are on the left and right. A New Zealand Flax can be seen on the right.

Spring and J. maples showcase leaves.



Maple with backdrop of chrysophullus

Maple with H. porcatus visable on the right

Coral Bark Maples - Hardy & grow fast

Maple in a Chusquea gigantea grove

They look great potted too

RGds

[GrowingHabit]

Fabulous!

[Alan_L]

Reviving this old post because in one of my replies I said I don't grow Japanese Maples from seed. Well, I do now! I found a couple of tiny seedlings while weeding at lunchtime.

We'll see how they do.

[fredgpops]

Found 4 coral bark maple seedlings close to the mother plant. Also found a glauca yunzhu seedling (ref last years flowering) growing along side them. If anyone is into bonsai, these seedlings may be of interest. Send me a pm if you are interested in the maples. Rgds