Acer seedlings

These are from 2008, haven't had seed appear since then. Don't know why. Am growing these in various locations, most in containers, but there are five I have left in the ground. Hoping to have an acer "forest" bonsai down the road. In 2010 most are still pretty small, it will probably be a couple years before I can put them in one container.

2013

Acer palmatum 'Aka hosada'

2011

Purchased in 2009 and planted, came through the winter fine. If this keeps growing, it should be a beautiful tree. Keeps its leaf color with dark red branches. Still love this.

2013

Acer palmatum 'Jewels'

New 2010 from Topiary. It was unnamed until this year. Supposed to be dwarf. Nice color and seems vigorous. Fine in 2011, not a lot of growth.

Acer shirasawanum 'Red Dawn'

Purchased in 2009 this survived the winter fine. It is kind of reddish, but not any better (supposed to be more red)than xJohin. Picture of the two with red dawn on the right. Staying redder in 2011.

Acer shirasawanum 'Junihitoe'

Purchased in 2009, planted in sun. Doing well in 2010.  Has sent up a leader that it about 5' high in 2011.

Acer shirasawanum 'Aureum'

This is another of the first acers planted in 1995. It gets morning sun and afternoon shade. In 2010 birds planted a nest in it, which seems like some kind of achievement as to its size. I have heard it is difficult, I did lose the first one, but it was guaranteed for a year (Wayside Garden) and the second one lived.

Acer shirasawanum 'Autumn Moon'

Purchased in 2008, this has done well in quite a bit of sun until 2010. Too much water has caused some leaves to burn. First picture from 08, second 2010 with burn. At the recommendation of growers on the UBC maple site, in the fall 2011 I dug this up to put into a container for awhile. Hopefully, it will get stronger in the container and I can plant it out again. When I dug it, the soil did seem really dry, so that could have been the problem.

Acer palmatum 'Yuri Hime'

Purchased in 2009, this suffered a lot of dieback in the garage over the winter. Not sure why. I pruned it back and although a lot smaller, looks like it will survive (picture on left 2010).

Acer palmatum 'Ryuzu'

Purchased 2009 from Davidsan's. This is a hardy dwarf that made it through the winter fine. It looks a lot like O jishi and I get them mixed up. It's supposed to reach about 9' at maturity. Not in my lifetime:)

Acer palmatum 'Rugosa'

This is another from Topiary that looks terrible this year. Purchased in 2009, the leaves looked unusual and interesting. In 2010, after transplanting (although the reason I transplanted it to a clay container was because it looked so bad) the leaves look eaten/distorted. Hopefully, it will look better next year. Still doesn't look great, leaves aren't eaten in 2011, but nothing outstanding. Every year looks better. In 2013, it looks the best ever.

2013

2011

Acer palmatum 'Ojishi'

2011

Purchased 2009 from Davidsan, Ojishi is a more compact form of Shishigashira. It should be a "very dwarf, multi-branched, compact little shrub." In 2011 seems to be growing pretty fast.

Acer palmatum 'Enkan'

Davidsan's 2009, planted in the ground and came through the winter fine. Very attractive color with red leaves and stems.

Acer palmatum 'Emerald Lace'

Purchased in 2009 from Davidsan's it has grown so fast that I put it in the ground June 2010 (his has done well in ground). One picture from the first fall in container, one from first year in ground. Survived winter well and looks good in 2011.

Acer palmatum dissectum atropurpurea

Bought from Lowe's (the price was right) in 2005. Half of it died, looked like vert. wilt, but it has recovered and so far seems to be growing well with a little bit of pruning and shaping. In 2011 continues to have pieces die each year, but seems to make up for it with growth.

Acer palmatum 'Garnet'

This was the first maple I planted in about 1990-91, not sure. It has grown to enormous proportions. I have taken many pictures of it and have had to move plants and paths to accomodate its size. It's probably 20' across and about 5'high.

Acer palmatum 'Chitosayama'

I bought this at Enchanted Gardens in 2009. I wasn't familiar with it, but it looked unique. The coloration of the leaves and stems are kind of different. Growing it as a container plant in 2010, but if it was being sold in southern Wisconsin maybe it will be hardy. This is developing one-sided growth. It will probably need some severe pruning somewhere down the road. Did set seed in 2011, did put into the ground in 2011.

Acer palmatum 'Carl's Corner'

Beautiful container plant purchased in 2009. Reminds me of Shaina, but more vigorous. Davidsan's had a large one planted out in 2010. I'll have to see how it does. For now will keep it in a container. In 2011 the growth is so vigorous it is topheavy.

Acer shirwasawanum 'Mr. Sun'

2011

Purchased from Davidsan's 2010. Three gallon pot, so it will go in the ground. Plan to put it by the front in sun. Unique and sturdy looking. Came through its first winter fine. Some deer damage in early spring 2011, but good growth has covered it up.

Acer palmatum 'Red Feathers'

2011

Purchased from Davidsan's 2010. Beautiful feathery red that is supposed to be really hardy, too. Will keep it in a container for a couple years until I figure out a place to put it. Changed my mind and put it into the ground in 2010. In 2011, looks great, no dieback.

Acer palmatum 'Amber Ghost'

Purchased from Davidsan's 2010. Another in the ghost series that I had been planning to get and when I saw it, had to have it. Will keep it in a container for a couple years. In fall 2010 a branch fell and took out the far right limb and damaged the trunk. I had to train one of the existing branches over some. Took the wire off in July 2011 and there was some impression of the wire on the damaged bark area.

Acer palmatum 'Tsukushi gata'

Purchased from Davidsan's 2010. Will try over on the west side of the house which is pretty shady, but getting more sun due to oaks dying. Came through winter and looks good in 2011, except for some deer damage.

Acer palmatum 'Ground Cover'

Purchased June 2010 from Davidsans. Was showing stress due to being too dry in container. Planted in racetrack area. Quite a bit of dieback winter 2011, but has recovered well.

Acer palmatum 'Beni shi en'

2011

Bought the first one because of the contrast between bright green branches and dark leaves, but the leaves all turned brown and died. Purchased from Topiary, in spring of 09 planted it in the ground. It may have been just too much rain in 2009, and planted a little low in a low light area. Second one from Topiary (I think from her)is in more sun in a raised bed. It is doing well and came through the winter fine. Looks great in 2011 even though deer nibbled on it some.

Acer palmatum 'Aka hosada'

This was new from Davidsan's last year and I love it. It's a linearlobum, very dark red that holds, plus the stems are a dark red. It is a nice foil to Koto no ito. Most importantly, made it through the first winter with no dieback.

Acer palmatum 'Ukigumo'

Purchased in 1998, this was one of my first maples. The coloration is not as great as many I have seen in pictures. To see the variegation, you have to get really close. From a distance it doesn't look terribly special.

Acer palmatum 'Tiger Rose'

I admit it, I bought it because of the name. It is growing nicely in a container, but is not anything outstanding.

Acer palmatum 'Sister Ghost'

2011

Purchased in 2005, this has been a very slow grower. It seems to do well with zone 5 winters with protection. In 2010, it is starting to look like a small tree. Continues to improve each year.

Acer palmatum 'Shishigashira'

My original died in 2009, I really think because of too much rain. We almost broke the record. The second one was planted in a different area in 2009. It had been a container plant since 2007. Slowly growing in 2011. It will be receiving more light due to the death of three of our red oaks and one of the neighbors.

Acer palmatum 'Sharp's Pygmy'

Bought the original in 2007 and after keeping it in a container a couple years, planted it out in 2009. It had some dieback in 2010, but is looking good. About the same in 2011, had some dieback overwinter and doesn't look quite as lush as 2010.

Acer palmatum 'Peaches and Cream'

Purchased in 2007, I planned on having this as a container maple. However, a friend of mine in the same area has one that she planted in the ground that I never thought would make it and it did, so who knows...

Acer palmatum 'Purple Ghost'

2011 (former container)

I have two of these, one I bought in 2005 and almost killed. It was so ugly I stuck it in the ground and left it to die, but in 2010, it has become a small (very small) tree. Then I ordered another to keep in a container. It looked great until last fall when I transplanted it. This spring, there was a lot of dieback and I'm not sure why. But both are still alive...the Ghost series seem to be pretty hardy and strong. Have both in the ground in 2011.