Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
Great information thank you! I was asking about both air layering and cuttings.
If these come grafted and they probably will, it's good to know it will air layer which will be the ultimate goal
Japanese Maples that Root from Cuttings
- Thread starter penumbra
- Start date
If these come grafted and they probably will, it's good to know it will air layer which will be the ultimate goal
Checking in here. This thread is three years old now, and I'm fairly certain many of you started this work long before that. I would be very curious and forever grateful to hear from you all on how the various cultivars have performed on their own roots.
Which cultivars are strongest?
Which ones don't seem to be worth the effort even if they will root?
etc.
(We probably don't need to mention the tried and true cultivars.)
I'm still early in this venture, but I can confidently say that Bonfire, Kamagata, Katsura hime, Gold Digger, Beni chidori, Deshojo, and Shishigashira, as well as everything I've ordered from Brent (Evergreen GW) have all performed well.
I'm still waiting to see vigorous growth post rooting on Wilson's Pink Dwarf, Saiho, and Tsukasa dwarf, but these aren't very far along yet.
Side note: I'm in search of a few of the hard to get rough bark cultivars. If any of you have one or two to spare let me know. Ibo juhi and Issai nishiki are the first two that come to mind.
Which cultivars are strongest?
Which ones don't seem to be worth the effort even if they will root?
etc.
(We probably don't need to mention the tried and true cultivars.)
I'm still early in this venture, but I can confidently say that Bonfire, Kamagata, Katsura hime, Gold Digger, Beni chidori, Deshojo, and Shishigashira, as well as everything I've ordered from Brent (Evergreen GW) have all performed well.
I'm still waiting to see vigorous growth post rooting on Wilson's Pink Dwarf, Saiho, and Tsukasa dwarf, but these aren't very far along yet.
Side note: I'm in search of a few of the hard to get rough bark cultivars. If any of you have one or two to spare let me know. Ibo juhi and Issai nishiki are the first two that come to mind.
Canada Bonsai
Chumono
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Emerald Lace was a surprise for me. Roots well from cutting, grows strongly, nice leaf size. I have yet to see how cooperative it will be with regards to branch placement, but ramification seems responsive.
I don't think it can replace Seiryu in my production line-up, which has a comparatively stronger upright habit. It might be necessary to propagate both
Hack Yeah!
Omono
It was just one tiny little after thought cutting that I stuck because it was there last winter/spring. I hear they root well, and I really think this one is slow just because it's so small and it wasn't really intentionally timed or anything. I just listed it because I know that it did root.
I would go for it! Lovely small leaves, and supposedly this cultivar "calipers up"/thickens quickly. I plan to do more with intention this year.
That's awesome! I had bought a small grafted tree to try early last year based on the vigor and small leaves. Mine is still quite small though so I haven't tired taking cuttings yet. I saw your post on instagram too. I'm excited to try this one!
Ohmy222
Shohin
i have struggle getting Saiho cuttings to root. I have not had issues with the couple of layers I have taken. The tiny leaves are ideal for bonsai but it feels like the branches thicken up quickly. Doesn't grow quick, just thickens up like a normal tree. you would expect delicate branches with such small leaves. Still interesting as most dwarfs are basal dominate and this one is upright.
Ohmy222
Shohin
Here are my updated notes. Understand most of my comments/experience is a very low sample size. A lot of my material is pretty small so when I take cuttings it is in small quantities, often only 1-2 off a trimmed branch. I have slowed on teh cuttings. For the ones I have layered, many are not that old on their own roots. Also, my climate is milder than many. My observations:
- Dwarfs and Rough Barks seem to do as good on their own roots as a grafted one. Ones like Kiyo Hime (or similar) or rough bark types seems fine.
- For me, the true red maples struggle, both vigorous (Bloodgood) or the dwarf versions. I am talking about those that red most of the year, not like Deshojo. Weird because these can be very vigorous on grafted plants. Mark Comstock used to sell Rhode Island Red maples so he figured out something.
- Most of the Corallinum types seem to do well but not as good as a grafted plant. I find Beni Maiko and Seigen are pretty vigorous though.
- Surprisingly the coral bark maples do really fine for me. I would expect them to be weak.
- I have yet to get a Bihou (yellow bark) to layer with multiple attempts. killed one trying and other attempts actually just heal over quickly. I may try a tourniquet. I did see one layered on instagram so guess it is possible.
- Ao Kanzashi, Higasayama, Seiryu, Sazanami, Katsura, Ueno Homare, Ryusen, and Kamagata seem very aggressive too.
| Cultivar | Cutting | Layer | Notes |
| Akaji nishiki | Y | Y | |
| Akita Yatsubusa | Y | Y | |
| Alan's Gold | Y | Y | |
| Amagi shigure | Died, Did Not Try | ||
| Ao Kanzashi | Y | Y | Easy |
| Aoba jo | Have Not Tried | ||
| Aoyagi | Y | Y | |
| Arakawa | Y | Y | Easy |
| Aratama | Y | Died | |
| Baton Rougue | Y | Y | Easy |
| Beni Chidori | Y | Have Not Tried | |
| Beni hime | Failed Cuttings | ||
| Beni hoshi | Died, Did Not Try | ||
| Beni Maiko | Y | Y | Easy |
| Beni otome | Y | ||
| Beni tsukasa | Y | Y | |
| Bihou | Failed Cuttings and Layers | ||
| Bloodgood | Y | Y | Low percentage cuttings |
| Bonfire | Y | Y | Easy |
| Calico | Y | Y | |
| Caperci Dwarf | Y | Y | |
| Carll's Corner | Died, Did Not Try | ||
| Chi otome | Y | ||
| Chiri hime | Have Not Tried | ||
| Chiyo hime | Y | Y | |
| Chuguji | Have Not Tried | ||
| Coonaria pygmy | Y | ||
| Coral Magic | Y | ||
| Coral Pink | Have Not Tried | ||
| Corallinum | Y | Cuttings struck but died | |
| Cynthia's crown jewel | Have Not Tried | ||
| Deshojo | Y | Y | Low percentage cuttings |
| Deshojo nishiki | Y | Weak on its roots | |
| Dixie Delight | Y | Cuttings Failed | |
| Eimini | Failed Cuttings | ||
| Glowing embers | Have Not Tried | ||
| Hagoromo | Have Not Tried | ||
| Hanezu hagoromo | Have Not Tried | ||
| Higasayama | Y | Y | |
| Hime shojo | Died, Did Not Try | ||
| Hino tori nishiki | Failed Cuttings | ||
| Hogyuko | Failed Cuttings | ||
| Hubble's Supercork | Y | Y | Easy |
| Ibo juhi | Y | Died | |
| Ibo Nishiki | Y | Y | Easy |
| Ichigyogi | Failed Cuttings | ||
| Iso chidori | Have Not Tried | ||
| Isobel | Y | Y | Easy |
| Issai Nishiki | Y | Y | Easy |
| Jewels | Y | Y | Layered but died later |
| Johnnie's Pink | Y | Y | Easy |
| Johnnie's Seedling | Y | Y | Easy |
| Kamagata | Y | Y | Easy |
| Karasugawa | Y | Y | Easy |
| Kashima | Y | Y | Easy |
| Katsura | Y | Y | Easy |
| Katsura hime | Y | Y | Easy |
| Kawahara rose | Y | Y | Easy |
| Ki hachijo | Have Not Tried | ||
| Kiyo Hime | Y | Y | Easy |
| Ko chidori | Y | Y | Easy |
| Komachi hime | Y | ||
| Koto Maru | Y | ||
| Kotohime | Y | Easy | |
| Koto-no-ito | Have Not Tried | ||
| Kureani jishi | Have Not Tried | ||
| Kuro hime | Y | Cutting rooted easy | |
| Lima gold | Y | Died | |
| Mikawa yatsubusa | Y | ||
| Mila | Y | ||
| Mimaye | Died, Did Not Try | ||
| Miss piggy | Have Not Tried | ||
| Murasaki kiyohime | Y | Y | |
| Mure hibari | Y | Died | |
| Nishiki Gawa | Y | Y | Easy |
| Nishiki Sho | Y | Y | Easy |
| Nishiki yamato | Y | Y | Easy |
| Odd otto | Have Not Tried | ||
| Oki kasame | Y | ||
| Okushimo | Y | Y | Low percentage cuttings |
| Olsen's frosted strawberry | Y | Y | Low percentage cuttings |
| Orange Dream | Y | Y | |
| Osakazuki | Failed Cuttings | ||
| Oto hime | Y | Easy | |
| Otome zakura | Y | Easy | |
| Peaches and Cream | Y | Y | |
| Phoenix | Y | Y | Easy |
| Rhode Island Red | Y | Y | Seem weak on its own roots |
| Ruslyn in the pink | Have Not Tried | ||
| Ryoku ryu | Y | Y | |
| Ryusen | Y | Y | Easy |
| Sagara nishiki | Have Not Tried | ||
| Saiho | Y | Y | Low percentage cuttings |
| Sango kaku | Y | Y | Easy |
| Sazanami | Y | Y | Easy |
| Scarlet Wonder | Y | Y | Low percentage cuttings; layers seem weak |
| Seigen | Y | Y | Easy |
| Seigen Aureum | Y | Y | Low percentage cuttings |
| Seigen rubrum | Y | Y | Easy |
| Seiryu | Y | Y | Easy |
| Seiun kaku | Y | ||
| Sekka yatsubusa | Died, Did Not Try | ||
| Sharp's pygmy | Y | Y | |
| Shidava Gold | Y | ||
| Shigitatsusawa | Failed Cuttings and Layer | ||
| Shin Chishio | Y | Y | |
| Shindeshojo | Y | Y | |
| Shishigashira | Y | Y | |
| Shishio hime | Y | Have Not Tried | |
| Shojo nomura | Have Not Tried | ||
| Summer gold | Have Not Tried | ||
| Tama hime | Died, Did Not Try | ||
| Tsukasa dwarf | Y | Have Not Tried | |
| Tsuma gaki | Y | Layer seems weak on roots; layer died | |
| Twombley's Red Sentinel | Y | Layer seems weak on roots | |
| Ueno Homare | Y | Y | Easy |
| Versicolor | Died, Did Not Try | ||
| Wilson's pink dwarf | Died, Did Not Try | ||
| Yama hime | Y | Y | |
| Yuri Hime | Y | Y | Easy |
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MalsRFun in TN
Seedling
Thanks for updating your list. I just retired this week and plan to start experimenting with propagation on my many small Japanese maples, along with the jumble of other trees I have, this spring and summer. Your notes are invaluable.
@Ohmy222 I don't have much experience with the red leaf cultivars, but I've hear much the same from other sources. However, my Pixie cutting from Brent at Evergreen Garden Works surprised me with how strong it grew and thickened this year. Pixie might be a good option for someone looking for a season long red leaf variety.
You're one of the only people I've seen mentioning Issai Nishiki. Do you know where I can find it?
eplov90
Yamadori
Haven't seen it listed here for air-layer but I had no issues airlayering a small BeniChidori branch last year. We'll see how it does on its own roots this spring/summer.
Ohmy222
Shohin
i don't know anyone else that has one. It is known for outgrowing its graft on nursery trees and then dying. I actually got mine from Maple Ridge Nursery near Atlanta. They were fed up trying to propagate it and gave me their mother plant. It is on their website but i wouldn't hold out hold they will sell it again. My mother tree died just like so many others. I was lucky to strike a few cuttings and they seem to be fine but they are very small and nothing I am looking to part with. I have thought that these might grow fine on their own roots and so far, so good. Below is a picture off Google of a grafted one. You can see the stark difference.
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I have good experience with rooting cuttings from A.p. Little Princess (dwarf growing to 1.5 meters, with beautiful yellow to orange autumn tones).
They are now (feb 2025) leafing out too soon and I had tom move them in the brick walled garden shed to protect them from frost.
A.p. Amber Ghost have rooted too.
They are now (feb 2025) leafing out too soon and I had tom move them in the brick walled garden shed to protect them from frost.
A.p. Amber Ghost have rooted too.
