Unidentified maple

Hello all

I picked up this maple today for cheap from a local garden centre. I plan to plant it out to thicken it up, perhaps airlayering it in future years.

I think it's a palmatum, does anyone know the cultivar? It didn't come with a label. It has fairly small leaves clustered in quite tight bundles.

Cheers

Try Acer palmatum 'Shishigashiri'

Thanks Dave, it may be a 'lion's mane'. The interweb says they're slow growing, can you provide any more info on them?

cheers

Not much more, really. I know they're highly sought after in the landscaping arena as a semi dwarf upright growing Japanese maple, but can be made into descent bonsai. Other then the unique leaf shape, this cultivar is also sought after for it's fall foliage color. I have 2 planted in the yard, but no bonsai.

Also check out 'koto hime'. It can be tricky telling them apart.

http://www.fantasticplants.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=FP&Product_Code=1430

(not an advertisement, just a picture)

R

This is a Lions Maneand this is a Goshiki kotohimeEven side by side I can hardly tell them apart. The Goshiki is a variegated dwarf only reaching a height of three feet. It has specks of white, cream, pink, and red in the spring. The Shishigashira is a bit larger, reaching seven to twelve feet. Both trees are rare and highly prized for bonsai. The Goshiki can tolerate a bit more sun than the Shishigashira.

Hey Dave. I have a Shishigashira that looks identical to yours. Same color trunk, same color and shape leaf, same growth pattern and same density. I agree the Koto Hime looks really close though but as far as your picture, it looks identical to mine. Mine was purchased at a nursery that specializes in Japanese maples but with so many varieties they could be wrong. With so many cultivars out there......it can make your head spin.

Have a great weekend
Sam

Thanks you all very much for your replies. I've planted it out to grow in a semi-shaded area of the garden.

How well do these things airlayer? I've never layered acers before but heard it's not too difficult. i'm not sure for these 'fancy' varieties though. Are they ok on their own roots? This one (and all the others I've encountered) is grafted.

Cheers

Rich, the only shi shi's I've ever seen have been grafted too. I know for a fact that koto hime roots easily and grows just fine on its own roots. I would assume the same of shi shi - and air layering.

My guess is that main reason these slow growing dwarfs are grafted is so a bigger, stronger plant can be produced faster. Remember, time = money.

Russell Coker wrote:Rich, the only shi shi's I've ever seen have been grafted too. I know for a fact that koto hime roots easily and grows just fine on its own roots. I would assume the same of shi shi - and air layering.

My guess is that main reason these slow growing dwarfs are grafted is so a bigger, stronger plant can be produced faster. Remember, time = money.

Gotcha Will have a go at layering one of the tops to see how it does. Don't want to do too much at once, there is the potential for a few trees to be made out of this one but no need to do it all at once.

Cheers

Rich and Russell,

When would be a good time to airlayer? I heard in the spring as buds are swelling. Is this accurate? I want to airlayer mine next year.

Thanks for your help and have a great week
Sam

RichLewis wrote:

Russell Coker wrote:Rich, the only shi shi's I've ever seen have been grafted too. I know for a fact that koto hime roots easily and grows just fine on its own roots. I would assume the same of shi shi - and air layering.

My guess is that main reason these slow growing dwarfs are grafted is so a bigger, stronger plant can be produced faster. Remember, time = money.

Gotcha Will have a go at layering one of the tops to see how it does. Don't want to do too much at once, there is the potential for a few trees to be made out of this one but no need to do it all at once.

Cheers

Sam, that's when I'd do it.

R

Will probably hold off until then too