...and bought two varieties of japanese maple seeds from Commonwealth Plants.
All the maples you see in the stores are grafted, because maples do not come true to seed. So what I've bought is 50 seeds of exploration into the unknown.
What you do get with the seeds is the name of one parent, the one that produced the seed. All the maples are then open pollinated, so the seed may be crossed with any of the other maples that were con-currently blooming.
I bought 25 seeds from Acer palmatum dissectum "Viridis" and 25 seeds from Acer palmatum atropurpureum.
They arrived in the mail today, and more than half of the atropurpureum were already sprouting! So my lunch hour was spent putting the sprouting seeds in pots, and an hour after work putting the rest to pots. Fifty maples is a LOT of seeds.
I can't wait to see, through the next few years, what I have and how they perform in zone five. Winter hardiness, spring color, summer color, fall color...
Ought to be an interesting journey.
How very adventurous of you!
Posted by: Sandy | April 11, 2006 at 12:03 AM
Great project! I've been collecting year old grafts of japanese maples. I wanted to have the known "look" of the maple rather than having a Heinz 57 variety. If I had more time I would be doing just what you are -buying seeds and seeing what different variations appear. Please post pictures and let us know how the trees turn out.
Posted by: Ki | April 11, 2006 at 10:55 AM
Wow! 50 Japanese Maples. What a joy! I have fallen in love with them since I moved to California 20 years ago. They are the only maples that grow well here in the hot San Fernando Valley. Mine is a lovely burgundy color both at the beginning and end of each season.
I often tell friends that if I could start my own garden (this one was already established when we bought the property) I would have plenty of Japanese Maples.
Douglas
Posted by: Douglas E. Welch | April 11, 2006 at 07:44 PM
Yes, indeed, a super journey. I can't wait to follow along. What a garden you will have!
Posted by: Judith | April 12, 2006 at 02:59 PM
Oh, what a project! I don't know where I'd plant 50 trees. I agree with the first comment - post pictures when you can.
Posted by: Judi | April 21, 2006 at 06:38 PM
These are just starting to get their second leaves. As soon as I get some of those up, I will get some photos up. Baby pictures!
Posted by: jenn | April 23, 2006 at 05:59 PM
You can find some other good Grafted Japanese Maples of the dissectum cultivars at Wheelers Greenhouse and Nursery
Posted by: Bud | March 19, 2007 at 09:05 PM
Thanks Bud. That's a plug that I'll leave up. I'm moving to Phoenix, so I don't think I'll be buying any more japanese acers for a while...
Posted by: Jenn | March 19, 2007 at 09:18 PM