Red-headed Stepchild Trident

[Tidal Bonsai]

I bought a really interesting tree that I wanted to share from the MidAtlantic Bonsai Societies Spring Festival this weekend.


This trident maple was grown by Julian Adams from around 100 seeds that Valavanis harvested from his Acer buergerianum 'Arakawa.' From what he told me, he got one tree to produce the rough bark he was after. Valavanis references it here:

Evergreen’s Roughbark Trident

Has anyone grown these out a bit?They have been available for several years now. I bought a few and with intention to propogate.

www.bonsainut.com

The Mother Tree


Julian's Winning Seed

 

[Shogun610]

Dang ,You bought that too ??

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

Although the other 99 did not produce the bark he was after, they have some interesting characteristics compared to a standard A.B. This red-headed stepchild has an interesting orange/cinnamon color to the bark that I haven't seen with tridents.

Standard A.B.


Red-Headed Stepchild


Also, according to Julian it has a bright red fall color like it's parent. Fingers crossed that it is as beautiful as the color that I have seen online!

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

After it grows more, my plan is to air layer off the top to make into a shohin this season.


Next season I will decide if I can play with the angle to work with the whole base, or air layer again.

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

Dang ,You bought that too ??

I just bought the trident that you saw in person. Those are pictures of the tree the seeds came from, and the one success Julian had.

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

More "red-headed" traits


Standard A.B.


Red-Headed Stepchild

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

Now that the tree has acclimated and put on some solid growth, I made some more branch selections.


Instead of layering this season, I decided to let the wounds heal and grow out the top trunk section in the ground for 1-2 seasons.


This is my tentative vision for the shohin I am making out of the top of this stump.

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

Unlike every other tree I have ever cut back, I weakened lower branches to direct more energy to the top. The only cuts I made on the top of the tree were to remove shoots that were competing with the new leader.

Before


After


I want to get this big wound healed in the ground before I layer off the top. So far it is rolling nicely!

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

This tree had a great first growing season in my yard! However, it will still need another year to grow out the next trunk section and to finish healing wounds before the top is layered off.

 

[Peter/Chang’s/Nebari/]

Very nice tree. Seems you have a very clear plan and are implementing it well.

I acquired my first Tridebts this year. I was lucky enough to have a couple cuttings root and now we’re on our way to Jabba the hut beavers and tiny foliage!

PS. Sorry if the photos are not allowed. I’m just really excited I have them.

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

Very nice tree. Seems you have a very clear plan and are implementing it well.

I acquired my first Tridebts this year. I was lucky enough to have a couple cuttings root and now we’re on our way to Jabba the hut beavers and tiny foliage!

PS. Sorry if the photos are not allowed. I’m just really excited I have them.

Good stuff, they are a great species for bonsai!!!

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Strike Cuttings!!

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

I didn't see bright red fall color this year, but it was still very pretty red/yellow.


The large wound is healing nicely in the ground! I will probably be layering spring of 2026.


Some edits have to be made, but structure is being set for the final vision while it is still growing vigorously.