Glad to hear it's working better for you this year, Fall color-wise. Shantungs seem to be getting a lot more popular. I hope the guy who does the 'Fire Dragon' form starts offering them by shipment.

Richard.

I still think it would be happier in a warmer climate, but it did do better this year over previous years. Concidently it was a MUCH hotter year than normal. Can't say that was the reason why, but something to watch over the coming years. It added almost 1" in caliper this year (almost 3/4" last year). I put my observations and photos on the net, so that others can find information that is coming from someone trying to sell you something. Plus, because when I was looking for info on several of our trees, there wasn't much beyond the standard spiel, and even that often contradicted.

According to the website of the patenter, this maple is not being propagated by Greenleaf, therefore availability should improve over the next couple of years. Just same, if you REALLY want one now, check out the link below. They appear to get them on an as ordered basis. They are located near on of Greenleaf's main production facilities, so I suspect they acquire them from there as needed.

Arktrees

Here is a link that might be useful: Fire Dragon

The older vars that were mature around me in Sacramento (I left in 2003) were more orangey and yellowey. This var would be a nice addition to a small grove with orange fall color.

Dan

Arktrees,

Glad to see that it's performing for you nicely up there. Mine are just getting started. I have another red one called Blaine's Dragon (named after owner's daughter). It seems to be more of purple reddish color. I'll need a few more days for it to completely turn color.

My brother from Houston told me that I gave him a seedling that turned red for the last year. If it turns red again this fall, I may graft some and see how they do up here.

My favorite Fire Dragon fall color but apparently it takes certain weather to be able to produce red with yellow edge. Temperature declining has been very gradual this fall so it may happen??? Last year, we went from summer to winter rather quickly so it was so-so.

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Here is a link that might be useful: Pictures at Metro Maples

Except for perhaps somewhat more slender twigs and deeper lobes looks like some of the K. Warren Shantung/Norway hybrid maple trees being planted a lot now look some years here. One I put on an Island County, WA site had a lot of red last year but was mostly yellowish this time. Don't remember which of the two main selections circulated so far it was supposed to be, one is described by Schmidt nursery as more red but this does not seem to be a consistent identifying feature - when attempting to put names on unlabeled local plantings.

Hi Richard,

I noticed the other day that Sooner Plant Farm is selling 'Fire Dragon' but they are currently out of stock. I'll link ya below.

Dax

Here is a link that might be useful: Sooner Plant Farm

Hey Arktrees, here is the picture of Blaine's Dragon. Color is more of purple-reddish.

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Leaves of Blaine's Dragon

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Might be worthwhile to look at batches of seedlings or raise your own, to see if there are any red ones. That way you would avoid the potential problems of planting a grafted tree.

Lou,
That's are really nice. I love the leaf shape. Much more lancelate, almost "cutleaf". I'm sure Metro Maples will patent that one as well. Leaf shape and bark were the driver behind us ending up with a Fire Dragon in the first place. I liked that it was unusual and rare, especially for this area combined with a nice red color, and not a large tree. It fit a spot so to speak.

Anyway, thanks for the pictures. Those are more than worth looking at. Hope that one works out as well for you as the Fire Dragon's have.

Arktrees

I was about to give up on the fall color due to wild fluctuation on wind, sun and temperature then they started to color up. It has been warmer and dryer than usual which may explain late fall color (don't recall this late fall color on Fire Dragon). Last year was the opposite. Cold and wet... I think they started to color up in late October which was the earliest one!

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