Acer palmatum seedling hardiness

[Alexmacrophyllum]

So I went through this maple phase years ago, I needed every one I saw that was unique. Many years later and after losing many trees, I have found the ones that do well even in the Southern California heat.

Around the same time, I would order seeds from all over the world, and most would germinate, grow, then after a year or to would die off. Most of those seeds originated from areas where they usually don't reach above 90 or 95 degrees.

Last year I collected handfuls of a nice mature Acer palmatum, nothing fancy just a good looking specimen grown for at least 20 years. A year later and all those seedlings are still in the same flat, will repot in late fall or winter. I have noticed although they haven't grown much they have been in full sun all summer and haven't lost a single one. I can only hypothesize that since the maple I collected from has been protected on the north side of home and has been properly cared for, the progeny are more adapted to area more so than other seedling not from around here.

 

[Mikecheck123]

Seed provenance is a real and important factor for many species. For example, American elms range from Florida to Minnesota. But you can't just take seeds from Florida and plant them in Minnesota. They'll die.

 

[leatherback]

the maple I collected from has been protected on the north side of home and has been properly cared for, the progeny are more adapted to area more so than other seedling

Nah. Genetics do not work this way. Rather, the tree that you have near your house is there because it deals well with the weather in your location. It therefor is logical that the offspring has all the characteristics to also make it there. Genetics are a more constant factor, and does not change based on location (How it responds to the location is genetically defined)