Ask the Tree forum. They'll know. (The maple forum is not as active; you'll get more responses on the Tree forum.) If it's a Freeman, it's a seedling, so not identical to its hybrid parent, so there's no guarantee exactly what you'll get. But you definitely don't want it if it's more like the silver maple ancestor (aggressive ground level roots; constantly shedding small branches; not much in the way of fall color; I still have three around the house). I'd worry about whether the multiple trunks would be more likely to split. Was it cut off at the ground, then developed the multiple trunks? I don't really know, though -- but do ask someone. I know how tempting it is to keep a seedling that comes up in a likely place; I had a leaning black locust cut down last year on the edge of the creek. I was thinking about what to plant to replace it, but there's a 6' volunteer maple (Carolina red maple?) 10-15' to one side and an 18" white pine about 10-15' to the other side. So I'm encouraging them; we'll see.... Are there maples in the area that you admire? Does anyone have a good-sized, fall-red Japanese maple? You can always collect samaras this spring and grow one in the ideal location.

Hi Yardvaark, I was hoping you would chime in. Reading through other threads you often have some interesting ideas. There is a considerable slope at the front, but I think the photo is deceptive. It is not so bad that it can't be mowed. The tough slope is the one by the drive that has been mulched. The dogwood is a beautiful tree. It does hide the house, but really the house is no stunner (outside that is, I love it inside!). It also obscures our view of the less than picturesque duplexes across the street. I was looking for something distinct on the slope to the driveway. I settled on a weeping Japanese Maple after wandering around our neighborhood and admiring a neighbor's. It is interesting with leaves and without. This one is supposed to slowly reach a spread of 6 to 9 feet with an equal height, Putting it one day almost to the walkway. I've been thinking about the space to the right of the house between the maple and the corner. I think I would like a hedge of white hydrangeas like Annabelle, with some kind of deep green evergreen hedge behind (is there a laurel that would fit the bill?) with a green/white variegated hosta in front, with a creeping phlox at the very front, even falling into the right most window well. Sprinkle in daffodils clumps to add some spring color. Then place a couple of adirondack chairs in the grass in front of it painted the same red as my front door. It would hide the neighbor's AC unit as you were walking into the house and the red would give a pop of fun year round color against a pretty white / green background. At least that was what I was dreaming of last night. I don't know what to do as I go to the left across the house. I don't feel the need for foundation plants around the house, but I would like something tall and interesting between the two rightmost windows. And I'm at a complete loss as I go the left of the front door towards the garage and then down to the drive. A lady at the garden center was musing about dwarf lilacs in there. I'll continue thinking about to and would love some other thoughts. Thanks!

I think you mean Bloodgood, and I'm a bit late to this conversation, but they will look like the picture I am sharing: Or this... Or this... These are all from Acer Palmatum 'Bloodgood' and germinate successfully from samaras (seeds) that get cold stratified naturally (or in a fridge for 90ish days) and then grow into seedlings (shown in all of my pics). You can graft other cultivars (scions) onto these, which would make these seedlings your eventual rootstock (after seedling grows for about 2 years or 1/8 in). Or these seedlings could be used for bonsai, or just planted as is and they would just be considered Acer Palmatum Red Japanese Maple, not a Bloodgood unless it's grafted. Hope this helps (8 years later)!

If I may I'd like to remind that japanese maple seeds are like a box of chocolates: you never know what you're gonna get. So just because the seeds come from a red variety or a laceleaf variety does not mean that the seedlings will be the same or even similar to that of the parent. There is a higher chance that they will be similar compared to seeds of a normal green japananese maple, but no guarantee.