Native Tree - Norway Maple

dbonsaiw

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I got my first taste of bonsai karma. An older neighbor asked me for some help with his yard and when we were done and had a few beers, he asked if I would mind also removing a stump. So long as I can keep it and he gives me another beer, I was glad to assist. I'm now the proud owner of a fairly thick Norway maple (over 3" at the bottom). This was kind of impromptu, so it ended up in a fairly large box planted in whatever soil I had - a few gallons bonsai jack and lots of bark (and other organic material). Curious to see if it makes it and what it looks like going forward.
 

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Norway maples are used for bonsai in the EU, Walter Pall uses them frequently. Page through his Instagram account for examples


By the way, Norway maple is not native to North America, it is an invasive species. It has invaded North America pretty much from coast to coast. So you are doing mild benefit to native habitat by removing Norway maple from the environment. Its leaves look like sugar maple, but when you break a leaf petiole, Norway maple bleeds a milky latex, where sugar maple has clear sap. Norway maple is most often used for medium to larger size bonsai. Sugar maple is often a failure as bonsai.
 
Norway maple bleeds a milky latex, where sugar maple has clear sap. Norway maple is most often used for medium to larger size bonsai. Sugar maple is often a failure as bonsai.
Good to know, thanks. It doesn't look like it's doing too well, but we will see.
 
Norway maples are used for bonsai in the EU, Walter Pall uses them frequently. Page through his Instagram account for examples


By the way, Norway maple is not native to North America, it is an invasive species. It has invaded North America pretty much from coast to coast. So you are doing mild benefit to native habitat by removing Norway maple from the environment. Its leaves look like sugar maple, but when you break a leaf petiole, Norway maple bleeds a milky latex, where sugar maple has clear sap. Norway maple is most often used for medium to larger size bonsai. Sugar maple is often a failure as bonsai.
I always considered it a throw away tree in regards to bonsai due to the large leaves and long petioles. I'll have to take another look - they have certainly taken over around here...
 
Good to know, thanks. It doesn't look like it's doing too well, but we will see.
Norway maple is a frigging weed here in its native range. I'd be surprised if it dies even if you neglect it. Once/if the seeds hatch, they can't be stopped. They grow in car hoods, wheel wells, rooftops, rain gutters, cracks in the sidewalk, cracks in walls, millimeter deep sand pockets.. Nasty aphid outbreaks too, they cover entire streets in honeydew every summer.

I yanked one out of the ground two summers ago, one that was growing in our hedge for about 8 years.. Hacked it back to a stub and cut the roots down to the base.
The end of last year it had a wicked nebari on it and it was growing like wildfire. Can't even remember if I ever watered it.
Decided to toss it because I don't like maples and I made the promise to a forum member that if he ever caught me owning a maple, he'd get it.
But yeah, Norway maple is about a tough as it gets. It's the only tree that I personally would like to try "torch and grow" on as a technique, because it would probably not care at all - and the 'not liking maples' plays a part, I admit.
 
Here's what it looked like this morning. Leaves aren't looking good.
 

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Here's what it looked like this morning. Leaves aren't looking good.


you sure there's nothing weird in the soil you used? Like gypsum or large amount of lime or unslaked cement powder?

IF there is nothing wrong with the soil, meaning if it is really just Bonsai Jack (a good enough product) and fir bark (again a relatively useful media)

Don't over water, and it should send up a normal set of leaves soon. Perhaps
 
That’s awful black for inorganic bonsai soil, did you add a bunch of peat humus to it? From whatnothers have said it probably won’t matter either way. They planted them all over my neighborhood 50-60 years ago when the houses were bult and they are dying off now. Had to have 2 big ones chopped down a few years ago.
 
That’s awful black for inorganic bonsai soil, did you add a bunch of peat humus to it? From whatnothers have said it probably won’t matter either way. They planted them all over my neighborhood 50-60 years ago when the houses were bult and they are dying off now. Had to have 2 big ones chopped down a few years ago.
Although I don’t hate Norway . They bring up a point to many people confuse . What is good or great to plant in a given situation . With what is available in the tree nursery trade . Bottom line with Norway as a example . It’s easy to propagate grows fast. . More tolerant of different souls and conditions than other maples . Some variety avail in leaf colour cultivars . So like other trees it’s popular in the nursery trade as it’s profitable . Has nothing to do with is it a good tree to plant in a given situation . Like a lot of trees in the nursery trade .
 
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