Autumn blaze maple?

[Eric Group]

Anybody tried to use one of these? It looks almost like a cross between the standard "red maple" found in America and a Japanese Maple... It has more of a leaf shape like a Japanese Maple, but not as many points...

Just wondering if anybody has tried these for Bonsai? I am thinking of giving it a shot. The Lowes in my area got some big ones in, they are only about 18-20$ and look like they are fast growers based off what I have read so i think if trunk chop one, I could get decent branches back in a couple years... But if they just don't reduce leaf size and internode length well or respond well to training it might not be worth the effort, so I am hoping someone has tried it before.


Thanks!

 

[GrimLore]

That Acer freemanii 'Jeffsred', grows big and fast. Not certain if it is common to use in Bonsai but honest for 18-20 dollars I would give it a shot. Bottom line is if you can't manage the size after several years you could pop it in the ground and keep it 5 foot or so and have a hella nice looking ornamental "style" on the property.

 

[Eric Group]

They also had just regular old American Red Maples... I think they were about the same size/ price...

 

[GrimLore]

Don't get me wrong you can really get either to stay 3 1/2 - 4 foot without to much effort. We have some as ornamentals in good size pots. We also have a Thundercloud Plum and a couple potted Crabapples. They want be 20 foot or more but they are kept under control by my Wife as she loves to chop trees. I do the root work as needed.
Just make sure on initial re-potting you toss an old dinner plate or a decent size tile under the root mass to promote horizontal growth - otherwise plan on using a saw to manage the next re-pot.

 

[takeme4granite]

Anybody tried to use one of these? It looks almost like a cross between the standard "red maple" found in America and a Japanese Maple... It has more of a leaf shape like a Japanese Maple, but not as many points...

Just wondering if anybody has tried these for Bonsai? I am thinking of giving it a shot. The Lowes in my area got some big ones in, they are only about 18-20$ and look like they are fast growers based off what I have read so i think if trunk chop one, I could get decent branches back in a couple years... But if they just don't reduce leaf size and internode length well or respond well to training it might not be worth the effort, so I am hoping someone has tried it before.


Thanks!

Any update? I have the opportunity to go dig one of these up and was wondering if/how it went for you.

 

[Chesca22]

Any updates on anyone using an Autumn Blaze Maple? I also have some planted in the lawn & would like to dig one up & try it.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Give it a go! I’ve a number of these. Most stuffed in a forest, with a few singletons left after experimenting on them, then planting the excess in a friends farm. They are strong, forgiving and a good practice tree. I did Ebihara root work on a couple this spring and they took a licking and are still ticking.


You do have to watch them a lot and have pruning shears at hand as these are strong growers right from bud break to mid fall. Wire early on while the trunks or branches are skinny and Watch the wire! These grow so fast they will need wire taken off much sooner then most of my trees, especially in summer. I inadvertently scored a couple trees in the forest. Time will tell how these scars heal considering their growth, or not. Like I said good practice trees!

cheers
DSD sends