An article about Mr. Maple

[Bonsai Nut]

An interesting article about Mr. Maple... and Japanese maples in general. (May or may not be behind a paywall - I could still read it)

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/27/realestate/japanese-maple-tree-gardens.html

 

[gooeytek]

I read this yesterday, and the coral bark maples now have me intrigued...

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I read this yesterday, and the coral bark maples now have me intrigued...

There are actually several red bark JM cultivars. Sango kaku is the one you see most commonly - and it is a strong, fast grower, which I believe adds to its popularity in landscape. However sometimes the fastest growing cultivars are tough to wrangle into bonsai culture.

 

[gooeytek]

There are actually several red bark JM cultivars. Sango kaku is the one you see most commonly - and it is a strong, fast grower, which I believe adds to its popularity in landscape. However sometimes the fastest growing cultivars are tough to wrangle into bonsai culture.

and there's a dwarf variety...

 

[19Mateo83]

and there's a dwarf variety...

Little sango

 

[gooeytek]

Little sango

Yup. Do you have one of these?

 

[19Mateo83]

Yup. Do you have one of these?

No but I have been wanting to get one.

 

[Wood]

Here's a copy of the article without the paywall, but it doesn't have any of the photos:

https://web.archive.org/web/20240327121412/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/27/realestate/japanese-maple-tree-gardens.html

 

[misfit11]

Cool article. Interesting there's no mention of Japanese Maples as bonsai

 

[Gabler]

There are actually several red bark JM cultivars. Sango kaku is the one you see most commonly - and it is a strong, fast grower, which I believe adds to its popularity in landscape. However sometimes the fastest growing cultivars are tough to wrangle into bonsai culture.

The other issue is that the red color is only new growth. I bought one to use for bonsai a few years ago, but the trunk and branches turn gray as it matures. I plan to plant it in a sunny part of the yard where it can grow freely, and I can enjoy the red color on all the new branches.

 

[River's Edge]

The mature bark is quite interesting with gray mottle and they air layer quite easily. So purchasing a larger one for the landscape and creating some smaller trees with air layers for Bonsai is a good option.

 

[Scorpius]

I remember when Mr. Maple was a smaller obscure company I could peacefully order a tree from their 10@10 on Tuesdays sales and now its milliseconds to purchase the hard to get varieties.