Maple

Acer species

Trees and Shrubs, Bonsai

Seed experiences double dormancy, and is ideally planted outside when the seeds drop from the tree, before it can dry out. Or soak seed 48 hours, surface sow, 3" apart, stratify 2 months, then grow warm and moist 2 months, and stratify in fridge another 2 months. Ring-barking is fairly slow. Most maples do well with good light but some shade. Well-draining, acidic, moist soil preferred. Softwood cuttings may also be taken in summer. Zone 2-9

Acer japonicum and Acer palmatum, Japanese maple, are among those species suited to side veneer grafting; both are hardy zones 5-8. Acer palmatum and its cultivars, best grown in a protected location and light shade, are particularly suited to growing in containers, and as bonsai, though most species may be used

Acer saccharum, the sugar maple, is grown as above, though ideally in full sun, as are the Norway maple, Acer platanoides, and silver maple, Acer saccharinum; the latter is also fairly pollution-tolerant. Hardy respectively to zones 3-7, 4-7, and 3-8. Acer platanoides also relatively salt-tolerant, and a good choice for clay soil