Ininaatigoons
Shohin
Are there desirable or at least doable Shirasawanum? I have seen 'Garden Glory' and 'microphyllum' having smaller leaves. Anyone with experience or better suggestions?
Shirasawanum
- Thread starter Ininaatigoons
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Gabler
Masterpiece
It's been my impression that they have no advantages over A. palmatum, so no one bothers with them. That said, because I've never bothered with them, I can't say from firsthand experience that they're a bad species for bonsai.
One of the biggest apparent disadvantages is the length of the internodes and the coarseness of the growth habit. It's therefore worth mentioning that two of my favorite species are A. rubrum and Fagus grandifolia, both of which have very large leaves and large internodes, and both of which are resistant to leaf reduction techniques. The large leaves simply don't bother me to the same extent that large leaves bother others, so I am not deterred.
Red maple, however, does have a major advantage over Japanese maple in its cold hardiness. The roots of red maple can tolerate soil temperatures as low as 0°F, whereas Japanese maples suffer root damage at soil temperatures below 20°F. Avoiding the spring shuffle is another big bonus. In my experience, tender leaves can handle a late frost or even a freeze down to about 28°F without any sign of damage. They also grow faster, heal faster, and seem to suffer fewer diseases, at least in my own personal experience growing out both red and Japanese maples into pre-bonsai.
American beech likewise has an advantage over Japanese beech insofar as it is freely available to me. I just have to dig it out of the ground. Plus, I grew up in a house with a yard surrounded by American beech trees, and I derive a personal sense of satisfaction from growing native species.
Anyway, I don't know if that answers your question directly, but maybe it offers some context for the reasons people choose to grow certain species as bonsai.
One of the biggest apparent disadvantages is the length of the internodes and the coarseness of the growth habit. It's therefore worth mentioning that two of my favorite species are A. rubrum and Fagus grandifolia, both of which have very large leaves and large internodes, and both of which are resistant to leaf reduction techniques. The large leaves simply don't bother me to the same extent that large leaves bother others, so I am not deterred.
Red maple, however, does have a major advantage over Japanese maple in its cold hardiness. The roots of red maple can tolerate soil temperatures as low as 0°F, whereas Japanese maples suffer root damage at soil temperatures below 20°F. Avoiding the spring shuffle is another big bonus. In my experience, tender leaves can handle a late frost or even a freeze down to about 28°F without any sign of damage. They also grow faster, heal faster, and seem to suffer fewer diseases, at least in my own personal experience growing out both red and Japanese maples into pre-bonsai.
American beech likewise has an advantage over Japanese beech insofar as it is freely available to me. I just have to dig it out of the ground. Plus, I grew up in a house with a yard surrounded by American beech trees, and I derive a personal sense of satisfaction from growing native species.
Anyway, I don't know if that answers your question directly, but maybe it offers some context for the reasons people choose to grow certain species as bonsai.
Hack Yeah!
Omono
Just go big!
Japonicus
Imperial Masterpiece
Yes
Full Moon Maple Development
This is a full moon maple that was purchased at a Rochester nursery and put in the ground and had four growing seasons. I really wanted it for a yard tree but the deer and poor soil it was in had different ideas. So this spring I decided I would enjoy it more in a pot. Shovel and a cordless...
Ininaatigoons
Shohin
I have not seen 'Garden Glory', but the leaves were quoted as being the size of silver dollars! Well... of you dwarf a silver dollar whatcha got? Nicole!? Half Dollar, a quarter or maybe nickle!?
RKatzin
Omono
My Vine Maple is in that category. Big leaves and skinny legs with long limbs and such a beautiful presence in the woods I just love them.
Contact
Yamadori
I have some shirasawanum Aureum and Autumn Moon, of course you have to accept their long internodes and their bigger leaves, but you'll be absolutely in love with their colours in spring and autumn. Tomorrow of It will stop raining I will take some pics....
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Yamadori
Ininaatigoons
Shohin
Thank you so much for the pics!
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