Wanted: Acer Palmatum ‘Seigen’

[Brian Van Fleet]

Anyone have a verified ‘Seigen’ root cutting they’d be willing to sell or trade for some similar-sized Itoigawa or Satsuki Azalea ‘Kinsai’ cuttings? Seigen has been on my list since BT #47 arrived in my mailbox in around 1996. ?. Thanks...

 

[Ohmy222]

There is a cultivar Bonfire which many consider the same and more available too. My local maple source (Maple Ridge Nursery) said they are different but only because the Seigen has darker green leaves. I can take cuttings for you but don’t have any rooted. It is a beautiful tree that I am airlayering anyway. If the Kinsai is the one with strap leaves I would interested. I had one years ago from mini plant kingdom that died when I went off to college. Either way don’t mind helping out.

You are right though they look beautiful. The Peter Adams book was the reason I wanted a Seigen. I just bought a small starter Corallinum that has pink spring growth too. See how that works out. Similar to Beni Mako.

 

[Gary McCarthy]

That cultivar is a nice leaf size, shape, and color - https://www.mendocinomaples.com/acer-palmatum/seigen

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Well, thanks to my new friend, @Ohmy222 this Seigen is now planted in my back yard, after a 20 year search. watch this space in another 20 years!?. Thanks Michael. Let’s see yours!

 

[barrosinc]

The Peter Adams book was the reason I wanted a Seigen.

Same here... big difference, I haven't found one.

 

[Gary McCarthy]

Well, thanks to my new friend, @Ohmy222 this Seigen is now planted in my back yard, after a 20 year search. watch this space in another 20 years!?. Thanks Michael. Let’s see yours!
View attachment 237735

I call FIRST DIBS on any cuttings when you start trimming back this tree

 

[Ohmy222]

Put mine in a pond basket. I checked they are sold out so I guess we cleaned them out. You have longer branches than mine but solid for the price and rarity.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Nice! Best of luck to you and your Seigen. We’ll need to update this thread every so often. Maybe we can even get it moved to the proper forum ... @Bonsai Nut...?

 

[Smoke]

Well, thanks to my new friend, @Ohmy222 this Seigen is now planted in my back yard, after a 20 year search. watch this space in another 20 years!?. Thanks Michael. Let’s see yours!
View attachment 237735

Cool tree, thats why I just bought the Kandy Kitchen. Am eager to see if it holds color all summer.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Nice! Best of luck to you and your Seigen. We’ll need to update this thread every so often.

Wow and here I thought you wanted my opinion?

 

[barrosinc]

Ship me a Seigen!!!!! PLEASEEEEEEEEEEE

 

[Deleted member 21616]

congrats @Brian Van Fleet excited to see where you take it!

Seigen and Beni Chidori are on the very top of my list

The Peter Adams book was the reason I wanted a Seigen

I really liked the Peter Adams tree too, but what really pushed me over the edge was that cascade by @William N. Valavanis . Not only did that tree drive my interest in having seigen in my garden, but it was also the first cascade maple that i truly fell in love with!

pictures taken from here:
https://valavanisbonsaiblog.com/2015/05/14/spring-beauty-at-the-international-bonsai-arboretum/

 

[leatherback]

Hahahahaha
I just got a seigen in on Friday! After looking for 9 years. Finally, in one week, I found 2 sources. Ne was too expensive. So I ended up with a chopstick not unlike yours!

On its own roots? Or grafted? Mine is grafted and thinking of layering it off.

 

[baron]

I got myself a little one last summer after a lot of searching on the internet. Unfortunately it's grafted and the leaves were already green by the time I got it.
So this spring I saw the leaf color for first time and I'm in doubt whether it is a Seigen.



This is not where I ordered mine, but I came across them looking for another cultivar... don't know if this is an option?
http://www.esveld.nl/plant.php?plant=Acer+palmatum+'Seigen'

This one is for sale at Danny's place, but it's a bit too much for my wallet.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Wow and here I thought you wanted my opinion?

It may be a while with this one!

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

On its own roots? Or grafted? Mine is grafted and thinking of layering it off.

Grafted. It’s planted in the ground now, and I’ll plan to make some air layers from it once it puts on some wood.

 

[leatherback]

This is not where I ordered mine, but I came across them looking for another cultivar... don't know if this is an option?
http://www.esveld.nl/plant.php?plant=Acer+palmatum+'Seigen'

Yup, that is where I got mine. First time in years that I see them there.

 

[GGB]

Andrea meriggioli says seigen have to be grafted, usually to their own seedlings because their own roots won't support them. I am interested to see if this is bad info. I have never seen any from cuttings, of course.... I have only seen a few in general. good luck, very cool variety

 

[SouthernMaple]

Cool tree, thats why I just bought the Kandy Kitchen. Am eager to see if it holds color all summer.

how is your kandy kitchen doing? I am picking one up on monday

 

[Ohmy222]

Andrea meriggioli says seigen have to be grafted, usually to their own seedlings because their own roots won't support them. I am interested to see if this is bad info. I have never seen any from cuttings, of course.... I have only seen a few in general. good luck, very cool variety

He's wrong. His book is awesome for techniques, photos, and bonsai knowledge but the general maple information has gaps. I will try to get a picture tomorrow but out of the Seigen above I have 3 air layers and probably 8-10 cuttings or so. In fact, I have probably 40-50 cultivars of maple and it the quickest to layer and close to the easiest maple to root. I believe he also says Shishigashira's cant be layered too and i have done two of them as well. Clearly I can't tell you the long term growth rate of them on their own roots but have not noticed a difference. The tree is now in the ground like Brian's.