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Japanese Red Maple or Red Select Japanese Maple?

16 years ago

What is the difference, if any, between a Red Select Japanese Maple and a Japanese Red Maple? When I search the different names on the Internet I get different information. However, the trees look the same. For instance, the Red Select says it gets about 12 foot tall with a 12 foot spread. The Japanese Red Maple says it gets up to 20 foot tall with a 20 foot spread. I'm so confused now!

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Comments (3)

myersphcf
16 years ago
'Red select' is a named cultivar which some say is the same as 'Inaba shidare'... it is a weeping dissectum mounding 7-12 feet IS a red Japanese maple of particular heritage... Most are grafted...A "red Japanese maple" is generally thought to by most folks to be a seedling tree with no paticular heritage and size unknown maybe 10 feet maybe 20 or more and generally it is an upright tree...grown by seed it has much less value to anyone in the know as far as Japanese maples are concerned ( actually it is of little value to JM afficianados) And the cost SHOULD relect that point. David
mattlwfowler
16 years ago
Hmmm...where to start. First of all, there are nearly a thousand different cultivars of Japanese maples. About a third (or maybe more) of them have red leaves at least a portion of the year.

Secondly, japanese red maple would be a misleading name since a red maple is a native maple to the US that has green leaves and red flowers. Red japanese maple would make more sense.

So, "Japanese red maple" could refer to one of hundreds of cultivars that have been reproduced by grafting, or it could be a red seedling that shows good red characteristics. This would mean that 'red select' is a specific cultivar of a red japanese maple.

You must also consider whether or not it is a weeping red dissectum (fine lacy leaves) or an upright palmatum (star shaped leaves).

'Red select' is one of many red dissectum cultivars (lacy and weeping). I think 'red select' is a seedling from 'inaba shidare' (guys I know Vertrees claims that they are one in the same, but I have convincing information that says otherwise). They are similar, but some claim there are distinct differences (and by distinct I mean practically with a magnifying glass).

Other similar common cultivars include 'crimson queen', 'tamukeyama', 'garnet', and the newer 'red dragon'.

A couple of good red upright cultivars include 'bloodgood' and 'fireglow'.

Search these names and this should shed some light on what the differences are.
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I don't think you have to move right to questioning his competence. I would check first what assumptions each of you is operating under. If you have given him instructions to produce a certain kind of environment in the yard, shade may be an essential part of that and perhaps he can't produce any other source of shade in the short term and is concerned you'll not be happy with the outcome if there isn't enough shade. Or something. He may also be making some assumptions about how much you want to water your plants. I de-shaded the north side of my house with the removal of a tree and it does get sunny as the sun veers around in the afternoon. New trees are just growing in enough to make an impact 4 years later. If there is a chance you will be removing the big tree at some point within 5 years, the pot is a very good idea for another reason - you'll have to get the little maple out of the way of falling tree parts. They do grow well in pots, especially if the pots are big enough. KarinL
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Just so happens I have a Bloodgood Japanese maple under a canopy of a Sugar Maple and a Red Maple. However, I can probably get away with this as my precip tends to be heavy 50-60 inches annually. In your drier climate, I think there would be excessive competition for moisture--Japanese Maples do NOT like drought. Good luck with your Japanese Maple. PS., Despite having lots of exotic plants, that tree always gets all the attention!
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My Acer palmatum Robinson's Red has done very well in my garden. The tree has seen -25Â°F without damage and the tree is in one of THE most exposed spots in my yard. I protect the tree with a cylinder of 4' tall chicken wire covered with burlap, and that's it. I do not put anything inside the chicken wire enclosure. The root zone is well mulched. Robinson's Red is a seed-grown selection from a tree growing in Ohio, at Girard's Nursery, and since the tree is seed-grown I am not putting the name in single quotes. Girard's is the only source I know for the tree. Girard's did not list the tree for sale this year. I have provided a link to Girard's web site, below. Mike Here is a link that might be useful: Girard Nurseries
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No worries :-) Weeping dissectums are often planted very close to structures........like right next to them. The roots pose no issues to foundations. They are quite dainty and delicate as far as maple roots are concerned.
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mattlwfowler
16 years ago
I'm too slow...always getting beat to the punch :)

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