What are the easiest species to grow from seed?

[milehigh_7]

goat heads do well from seed... wait they might be as succulent

 

[M. Frary]

goat heads do well from seed... wait they might be as succulent

Or a stew.

 

[Starfox]

I like growing from seed especially this time of year, it's like mystery at the nursery due to my lack of any sort of labelling system.

Then comes the realisation that you have about 500 tiny trees that you realistically have neither the space for or a good plan for what to do with them.
Still doesn't stop you from planting out another couple of trays though.

It is good fun but.

 

[Timbo]

I know how you feel I bought seeds last year and then i realized, I don't have enough room or pots. I've also had seeds with a low germination % sprout most of them and then I have way more than I need or want. I just had some tree seeds with 5-20% germination rate sprout about 95%...they are still kicking too! The good or bad news is some die off from planting/repotting/winter...etc. I read this and was just how I felt this spring, and yet I wanted to buy a few seeds that either didn't germinate or I found some that would work in my zone. I'm also that way with cuttings this year....piling those up and when they need potted up i'm in trouble. I guess the grass is always greener on the other side!

 

[Timbo]

Now this could save me some space i think!

I could grow all the seeds i want!
I'm sure i could come up with something similar.

 

[Matt Regan]

Anybody know who or where I can get some reliable lace leaf japanese maple seeds at?

 

[Adair M]

Anybody know who or where I can get some reliable lace leaf japanese maple seeds at?

Cultivars like that generally do not breed true. That's what they are propagated by grafting or cuttings.

Lace leaf maples generally don't make the best bonsai. Leaves are too big, and the internodes too long.

If you're determined to have one, I'd try cuttings.

 

[JoeR]

Cultivars like that generally do not breed true. That's what they are propagated by grafting or cuttings.

Lace leaf maples generally don't make the best bonsai. Leaves are too big, and the internodes too long.

If you're determined to have one, I'd try cuttings.

I attempted lace leaf cuttings recently and their leaves immediately turned brown and mushy and fell off... Meanwhile standard acer palmatum is rooting luke mad!

So I doubt they can be propagated by cuttings.

 

[Timbo]

Lace leaf is considered a cultivar? They are suppose to come true to seed. I have little luck with maple seeds, unless you get fresh seeds it's pretty hard....at least for me. I read someone that grows them said up to 95% could be duds. Explains why my dry rate is so low. I seem to get 1 or 2 to germinate in 30-50 seeds, I've tried them all diff ways. I might just throw a bunch in the ground.

 

[jeanluc83]

I have little luck with maple seeds, unless you get fresh seeds it's pretty hard....at least for me.

Find someone who has a Japanese maple in their yard. Come spring there are usually seedlings popping up everywhere. Most will be mowed down or plucked from planting beds. You can usually find some back in the brush that have been there for several years.

 

[M. Frary]

Lace leaf is considered a cultivar? They are suppose to come true to seed. I have little luck with maple seeds, unless you get fresh seeds it's pretty hard....at least for me. I read someone that grows them said up to 95% could be duds. Explains why my dry rate is so low. I seem to get 1 or 2 to germinate in 30-50 seeds, I've tried them all diff ways. I might just throw a bunch in the ground.

If you have zone 4 winters you won't be growing Japanese Maples.

 

[Timbo]

I have a friend who lives down the road in 4b, has a JM. Some dieback if we get cold winters but still alive. I have most of mine in pots.

 

[M. Frary]

I have a friend who lives down the road in 4b, has a JM. Some dieback if we get cold winters but still alive. I have most of mine in pots.

Are you sure you're zone 4. They don't last a winter here. Dead as can be in spring.

 

[Timbo]

According to the new 2012 map and the Michigan map i'm 4b
The Acer Palmatum i had in the ground didn't die back, about 1/2 inch trunk. The lowest it got here was -12 i think though.