The vibrant palmate leaves of the Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) make this ornamental tree a spectacular addition to any landscape. The leaves of Japanese maples can be a stunning array of colors, including red, gold, bright green, orange, and yellow.
The Japanese maple, in contrast to other types of maple trees, is a relatively small tree that comes in a wide range of colorful dwarf varieties that are ideally suited for growing in pots or in small, compact gardens.
As members of the Acer family of woody plants, Japanese maples can be either large shrubs or small trees with showy flowers.
Japanese maples come from Japan, Asia, and southeast Russia, which is what their common name suggests. Japanese maples are trees and shrubs with leaves that fall off in the fall.
Many people are interested in this because it’s beautiful and also increases the beauty of nature, which is making it more and more popular. In this article, we are going to talk about some interesting facts about Japanese maples. We will also find out if Japanese maples produce seeds or not.
Japanese maple seed:
Yes, Japanese maple trees produce seeds. Most Japanese maples in nurseries are grafted, so their seeds won’t grow into the same tree. If you plant a seed from that tree, you’ll get a typical Japanese maple. It will still be a Japanese maple with red summer leaves, but it won’t be as interesting.
Japanese maples are stunning trees that, during the autumn months, transform into a riot of vivid, eye-catching colors. Because it is not possible to predict what will develop from a seed, finding a particularly lovely plant by chance is always a possibility.
The age when Japanese maple produce seeds:
Even when they are still quite young, Japanese Maples have the potential to produce seeds as early as their third year. However, none of them produce seeds that are viable for growth until the autumn.
They might fall off or they might not. The maples, which have wings that are one inch long, are ripe from the beginning of summer until the end of the season. The long-lasting release in Japanese maples begins somewhere around two weeks after the tree has reached its full maturity. About three years after they are planted, Japanese maples will begin to produce seeds.
The time of the year when Japanese maple produce seeds:
The fall season is when the seeds of the Japanese maple become mature. Once they have turned brown, become dry, and are falling from the trees, that is the time to collect them.
Both seeds that have fallen to the ground and seeds that have been picked from the tree are viable options for planting. It is essential to pre-treat the seeds of Japanese maples before sowing them in the ground if you intend to grow the tree from seed.
Put your seeds in a paper bag and keep them in a cool, dark place over the winter if you want to plant them outside in the spring. The paper bag will protect the seeds from moisture.
Which Japanese maples produce seeds?
The Japanese maple tree is a species of maple tree that is among the most diverse of its kind. In addition to that, this tree stands out from the crowd as being among the most versatile trees in general.
When we consider the fact that it produces a good quantity of maple seeds, we realize that we may be onto something here. Here are some types that produce seeds.
Bloodgood Japanese maples:
One of the most popular types of Japanese maples is called “Bloodgood.” It grows to be 20 feet tall and 20 feet wide, making it the perfect size for patio landscaping. They give off seeds.
Crimson Queen Japanese maples:
“Crimson Queen” is a small plant that gives off seeds. A small tree with thin, weeping branches and low branches. The leaves stay a beautiful crimson color all summer, and in the fall, they can turn a bright scarlet color. Sun-tolerant in cooler areas, where the sun brings out the color of the leaves.
Red Dragon Japanese maples:
“Red Dragon” is a small variety called with beautiful reddish-purple leaves that turn bright crimson in the fall. This tree grows straight up and has branches that hang down. It makes a beautiful larger quantity plant in any garden.
Full Moon Japanese maples:
During fall, the full moon maple is often one of the first maples to change color. Clusters of purple or red flowers that hang down from the plant come out in late spring, and then the plant makes seeds with wings.
Coral Bark Japanese maples:
Even though it grows slowly, coral bark maple is an entire variety that can reach a height of 25 feet. This is another type of Japanese maple that has red bark and can be interesting in the winter. When the leaves first come out, they are yellow-green, but by fall, they have turned more yellow-gold.
What to do with Japanese maple seeds?
You can do many things with these maple seeds. For example, you can sell them, you can germinate them and even you can eat them too.
The majority of the lovely Japanese maples that are available for purchase at nurseries have been grafted, which means that the seeds they produce will not develop into the same tree as the parent plant.
The seeds of a Japanese maple are produced during the spring and summer, and in order for the seeds to be viable for growth, they must remain on the tree until the fall. If you harvest seeds before they are ready, they will not develop into plants because the embryo has not yet completed its development.
It is important to make sure that the seeds of the Japanese maple have been properly prepared before you plant them in the ground. Put your seeds in a paper bag and store them somewhere cool and dark over the winter if you want to plant them outside in the spring.
How to grow Japanese red maple trees from seed?
In the spring, flowers grow on Japanese Maple trees. After the tree has bloomed in the spring, seed pods begin to develop. To let them grow, you have to leave them on the tree all summer and into the fall. Then you can collect them and grow them.
Collecting seeds:
First, you need to gather the seeds. As soon as you have all of your seeds, put them on a work table. Pick up each seed one at a time and break off the wing. Leave the wing behind and keep the part with the seed.
Put them in container:
Fill a container with hot water and add the seeds. Start your faucet running and wait until the water is warm to the touch but not scalding. However, it was almost as hot.
Submerge the seeds in the hot or warm water and leave them there for a full day. The seeds may float at first, but over time, nearly all of them will fall to the bottom.
Dry them:
After the seeds have soaked for 24 hours, drain them and spread them out on a paper towel. If you want them to be less sticky in the morning, dry them out overnight. Then, fill a flat with a well-draining seed starting mix.
Sow the seeds:
The seeds should be planted on top of the seed-starting mix, and then a light pressure should be applied to them so that they sink down into the soil. After that, a fine layer of seed-starting mix should be sprinkled over the seeds.
Use a dishpan:
Next, cut a piece of hardware cloth (a heavy screen) to fit tightly inside the dish pan. The hardware cloth is there to stop mice, chipmunks, and other animals from digging in the dishpan and eating your seeds.
Use a dishpan to cover up the seeds. Before Japanese Maple seeds will grow, they need to be cold for a long time. It’s a natural process.
Taking good care:
The majority of the work is now complete. It is now Mother Nature’s decision. Wait patiently. Growing a Japanese maple from seed is a time-consuming but ultimately lucrative endeavor.
If the weather is warm enough, the seedlings should sprout in two to three weeks. You will need to relocate your Japanese maple seedlings to a larger, more suitable location at some point. Moreover, when the seeds begin to sprout, use tweezers to remove them from the flat and replant them in a larger flat or a cell pack.
Final thoughts
Mature Japanese maples produce seeds. Most Japanese maples in nurseries are grafted, so their seeds won’t grow into identical trees. Planting seeds from this tree will result in a typical Japanese maple. It will still be a Japanese maple with red summer leaves, but won’t be exactly like its parent.