Bloodgood for bonsai / zone 9

I seem to recall several posts on the old IBC describing Acer Palmatum "Bloodgood" as not being very good for bonsai. For the life of me, I can't remember just why it's thought that.

I live in zone 9b. I could be wrong, but I think that Bloodgood is one of the few Japanese Maples that will survive in this climate. If there are others, please, let me know.

Thanks.

For Japanese Maples they have pretty big leaves but will reduce some and can make good bonsai, but tend to look better in larger sizes. They do hold up better than most in warmer climates but still do better if they only get full sun in the morning, filtered sun the rest of the day.

Ah, thanks. That's not so bad then. Yes, they only get filtered sun thanks to my large landscape trees. They are popping with their first leaves of the season.

I think that they are one of the trees that are very susceptible to fungus...............

Ed

In my experience Japanese Maples will survive for some years in Central Florida but never thrive. They will loose their leaves two or three times a season to fungus and finally just wear out.

In my experience Japanese Maples will survive for some years in Central Florida but never thrive. They will loose their leaves two or three times a season to fungus and finally just wear out.

Really? That's a shame. Figures I would want what I can't have the most.

Thanks everyone.

Easy choice then, follow Jim and move north!

I am working with some Florida native maples. Nothing is Bonsai ready yet, but with a lot of attention, maybe.

Easy choice then, follow Jim and move north! Twisted Evil

Haha! Yes, the thought has crossed my mind, but we are doing well here and the Missus won't stand a cold winter any more.

Ed: I live in zone 9a in SW Louisiana. Japanese maples don't do that well here as bonsai, but you can grow them. I've found that the standard Acer palmatum does best. Bloodgood and other varieties don't seem to make it in the long run.
Acer palmatum does great in the ground here. In bonsai containers, the leave are getting crispy by the end of June usually. Here's a Japanese maple I've grown from a one-gallon container since 1977. It is not great bonsai (I've never been able to get a branch to grow on the left side of the trunk), but the aged bark makes it a keeper. Sorry that the view is not closer, but that is my most recent photo of it.

Thank you Alan and great tree.

I think I'll stick to trident maples then. I love them too.

Another maple you might consider is the Chalk Maple....
Leaves do reduce well in Bonsai culture.
Irene

Everything you say here,applies double for Albuquerque,and not just Palmatums,but all maples.It seems there are also fungus that are unique to hot dry climates.Maple leaves also get damaged easily in high winds,which we get a lot around here.The only Japanese Maple I have seen do well in the ground,is on The University of New Mexico campus,and while in the ground,is protected in sort of a closed plaza,that is almost like an open miniature tunnel.It only gets a couple of hours of partial sun a day.Less than a block from where I live,are two silver maples,tat are left exposed to the elements.Most of the branches are dead,and what little pathetic foliage these trees have,is all brown and crispy around the edges.

I've found that the standard Acer palmatum does best. Bloodgood and other varieties don't seem to make it in the long run.

Alan, I'm confused. I thought Acer palmatum is the species: not the cultivar which is the variety. So when you say standard, what do you mean? Thanks.

EdMerc wrote:I seem to recall several posts on the old IBC describing Acer Palmatum "Bloodgood" as not being very good for bonsai. For the life of me, I can't remember just why it's thought that.

I live in zone 9b. I could be wrong, but I think that Bloodgood is one of the few Japanese Maples that will survive in this climate. If there are others, please, let me know.

Thanks.

Hello Ed,

The thinking (as stated) is that Bloodgood has a coarse growth habit and large leaves with long internodes iirc which precludes it as shohin size. They do not reduce well or ramify allegedly. (is this a bonsai myth????)

Don't see why they wouldn't be OK in a larger 3ft or so size.

I've got a couple hanging around in the ground that I prune back hard each winter and they have some potential imo.

Zone 9B should be acer heaven imo - UK South Coast is similar and mine grow like mad including Arakawa (rough bark) Katsura, Sango Kaku (Coral Bark) , Kiyohime, Seigen, plus what I call Acer Palmatum Communis Gardenii ( ie. bog standard 5 lobe small leaved variety)

But having been to both places, Zone 9B Fla ain't nutin like Zone 9B UK - a lot steamier for sure

Thanks

TimR

Thanks for your response Tim. It really get's to the heart of what I was wondering. I have the tree and it's growing nicely. I will have to wait and see what happens in the long run.