Japanese Maple or Red Maple seedling?

12 years ago

Hi,

We have a couple of red maple & Japanese red blood maple trees in our yard & so I started my little hobby of collecting seeds and seedlings from our yard last year. I had also tried keeping (winterizing?) seeds in the fridge for a few months (as per directions).

My problem is that I can't seem to figure out which seedlings are red maples and which are japanese red blood maple from last year. There were/are thousands of little seedlings around but I can't seem to figure out which is which to see if I can "up" my chances of propagating a red blood (the goal).

This last fall I also hand picked the seedlings from the red blood japanese maple, winterized them in the fridge, and am still waiting (after 2 months) for them to sprout.

***Are there images out there that show the difference between the two? I also don't think I want to try grafting offspring.***

Any help would be appreciated.

Featured Answer

Cody Mast

4 years ago

I think you mean Bloodgood, and I'm a bit late to this conversation, but they will look like the picture I am sharing:

Or this...

Or this...

These are all from Acer Palmatum 'Bloodgood' and germinate successfully from samaras (seeds) that get cold stratified naturally (or in a fridge for 90ish days) and then grow into seedlings (shown in all of my pics).

You can graft other cultivars (scions) onto these, which would make these seedlings your eventual rootstock (after seedling grows for about 2 years or 1/8 in). Or these seedlings could be used for bonsai, or just planted as is and they would just be considered Acer Palmatum Red Japanese Maple, not a Bloodgood unless it's grafted.

Hope this helps (8 years later)!

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Comments (9)

musicgirl99
Original Author
12 years ago
Here is a picture of the 3 maples we have around the yard, including some other trees I don't know about (we live in Atlanta). I think I'm getting a lot of the 3rd plant shown??

Thanks!
hairmetal4ever
12 years ago
The top pic (in the original post) is DEFINITELY an Acer rubrum, Red Maple.

The bottom pic - the left and middle are both types of Japanese maple. The last one looks almost like a Rose of Sharon, Hibiscus syriacus.
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musicgirl99
Original Author
12 years ago
I appreciate the help! From my readings, it looks like red maples are a dime a dozen?
musicgirl99
Original Author
12 years ago
I appreciate the help! From my readings, it looks like red maples are a dime a dozen?
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
12 years ago
"it looks like red maples are a dime a dozen"

That's about right!! The most common and widespread deciduous tree in North America.
musicgirl99
Original Author
12 years ago
So, that I know what a red maple seedling looks like, how can I see what a blood red JM seedling looks like? I can' t seem to find any online...

If my blood red leaves are red right now, would the seedlings also be red ... or do they change color when they're mature?
Leslie Lee
2 years ago
Hey do you sell your seedlings bloodgoods
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
2 years ago
Please reread that last statement: "planted as is and they would just be considered Acer Palmatum Red Japanese Maple, not a Bloodgood unless it's grafted."

The seedlings would not be Bloodgoods but only Acer palmatum. Any named cultivars of JM's can only be obtained by grafting or by cuttings. The seedlings may or may not develop into a red leafed tree, although most will. But regardless of leaf color, they will not be Bloodgoods.