Acer monspessulanum "neagari"

Montpellier maple is just at its limit of natural range here, it's supposed to be a Mediterranean species, but because of global warming, it can spend the winter outside, even in a very small pot.

June 2011:



Acer monsp. is a very slow grower.

Here it was today:

You have combined theory with practice quite well, Alain. The filigree structure of the neagari roots on your tree looks great.

alain - would be nicer yet, had the lower roots been allowed to thicken more...
the visual weight of the upper roots makes the lower ones look fragile...
almost in the same way that reverse taper makes a tree look weak.

Glad you said it Kevin.

I like Alain, too much to want to upset him.
Chicken Khaimraj

I think that the "visual weight" is affected by the size of the leaves. This species doesn´t reduce the size of them easily I guess. If the tree is mine ( I wish it is ) I would try to extend the lower part of the roots a bit to get a visual taper and "improve" the stability. I assume it was the original plan anyway - seeing the first pic

There may be a reason that the roots on the second pic are arranged the way they are?

Constructive criticism, thanks for your input

Perhaps planting it in a wider and slightly deeper pot for a couple of years could help the roots at the base thicken.