Sugar Maple seed from prairie trees. According to an article in a mag last week, there are sugar maples on the prairies, notably in Saskatoon, Morden, and Brandon. I would like seed from these, especially if it is from a tree in a clump. (Genetic diversity.)

Hair and Ken, I am going to direct sow some of the many that I picked, likely in a couple days, well, tommorrow, really. There was some discussion last fall, that it just may not be a Sugar Maple at my vets office. But, I think it is close enough to one. It is enough like one, going by the "big momma " tree that the seeds are from. I have the area for the seeds already mulched etc. So I am hoping to get a good tree here anyhow. If I am successcful, I'll post pics once the tree is something that looks like a tree, if tht happens. Poaky1

Interesting, the publication by Wright also shows hybrids with Acer platanoides (Norway maple) and Acer negundo (Boxelder maple), as well as Acer saccharinum (Silver maple) and Acer negundo (Boxelder maple). It would be interesting to see such a study replicated, and for a full growth cycle for the hybrids to take place. I live in Utah, and the native Acer grandidentatum (Bigtooth maple, close sugar maple relative) flowers at the same time as the invasive non-native Norway maple in our foothills at about 4,500 ft. Sometimes bees cross-polinate them, I'm sure of it when both trees grow near. Bees still prefer the Norway maple for its showy and nectar rich flowers. Both insects and wind pollinate them, but mostly wind because sometimes it is too cold for bees to work. I have grown some potential hybrids between the Norway and Bigtooth maple, from a Bigtooth maple 'female' tree, and the seedlings were weak, waxy/glossy, and lime green possibly from iron chlorosis. None of those made it after a week...

Hey, how long do sugar maples seeds last if dry? Back in Febuary I ordered about 300+ sugar maple seeds from amazon and I managed to germinate about 100 seeds by soaking in some cold water in the refrigerator for 3 weeks changing the water once a day and them stratifying them in a damp paper towl wrapped in aluminum foil for another two to three weeks. I still have about maybe 500 seeds left and dont really want them to go to waste. So, how long will they last? Will they still be.good if I used them next year? Please let me know. Thanks.