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help identify japanese maple - Beni Otake ??

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I found this small japanese maple at home depot for $14 and couldn't resist. Don't really have room for more trees but figured I'd make it work by pruning/shaping if needed. (It may hit the 2nd level deck if it reaches 12 feet.... which will be a while).

The label says "Bloodgood" and the pot says "Upright" but this one was obviously different than similar trees with the same labeling, so I think it was mislabeled. I thought it might be Emporer 1, but I bought one of those for a friend a few months ago and the leaf structure doesn't match at all.

Looking at pics online it seems to match Beni Otake. The leaves were all red a week ago but now they're greening up a bit.

Any ideas what this is and how big it will get? I'm in Atlanta and it's planted in a backyard with heavily filtered afternoon sun, so mostly shade. (Huge water oak blocks the sun). I know it won't do great things without much sun, but figured it should survive at least.

Featured Answer

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

8 years ago

I see no graft either, so yes, a seedling. Very likely the Bloodgoods are also seedlings. Many, if not most, will bear a very strong resemblance to Bloodgood but ethically and horticulturally cannot be sold by that name. And yes, 'mutt' JM's (we prefer to refer to them as just species trees - lol!) are perfectly acceptable and often extremely attractive garden additions. Just nameless ones :-))

I buy product for a large independent nursery in my area and Thrive Wholesale is not a vendor name I recognize. And a good many, if not most, of the JM's we carry originate from Oregon.

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User
Original Author
8 years ago
User
Original Author
8 years ago
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David-- You want me to tell you all my secrets:) I watch almost everything I can find online regarding maples, ebay included. Laceleaf is the only seller of Pink Lace that I have seen. A supposed seedling of Viridis that is more vigorous and has pink in its spring and new growth color. The sale of that plant has always tweaked me as I think it is illegitimate as a variety name--heck most of the seedlings of Virids exhibit those qualities. Anyway, not to detract from your purchase. Your Beni otake photos also looks like their plant. I also think Rob at nishiki is getting a bit much for his plants. They used to be quite large and worth the money, now with his increase in sales, the plants are going out before they have adequate size on them. Instead of separating himself from everyone else, he is selling small plants for acution prices to keep up with the demand. Truth be told, all of the auction trees have gotten pretty small. If I buy and auction tree, I try to stay below $15 and below $20 if I really want it---they are just to small to pay big money and buy sight unseen. MJH
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It's definitely not Beni Otake - that is a linearlobum type with very narrow, bamboo-like leaves. In fact, the name translates to "red bamboo" :-) Did you plant the tree or did it spring up on its own? That would make a difference but generally, with very few exceptions, cultivars of Japanese maples are extremely difficult to ID. The differences between individual cultivars can be very slight and even JM authorities are hesitant to assign specific ID's. I can tell you that based on the current growth habit and the spacing of the branches with respect to trunk diameter, this will grow into a good sized tree, probably 15-20 feet, perhaps more. Looks a bit like a Bloodgood clone/seedling.
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It could be Bloodgood. It could just as easily be Emperor I. Or Fireglow. Or Moonfire. Or one of a number of other common and popular red leafed Japanese maples that are virtually identical in appearance. Certainly far too similar to be able to determine from just a couple of photos. As Mike says. without a grower's label to confirm - and even that is no guarantee - it is just a red leafed Japanese maple :-)
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With nearly 1000 registered cultivars, many with almost imperceptible differences, it is virtually impossible to accurately ID a Japanese maple other than those that are extremely unique. Even JM experts are not inclined to assign specific cultivar ID's. And a great many grown and/or sold are seed grown so no identification beyond just the species exists. It would certainly help to see a photo of the tree in its entirety but I'd suspect this may be a laceleaf full moon maple, Acer japonicum 'Aconitifolium' - the leaf is not very characteristic of any Acer palmatum. Did the tree not come properly tagged and identified?
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User
Original Author
8 years ago
Not sure if the green trunk is a signature of the tree, or just a result of the young age. It's about 3 ft tall.
User
Original Author
8 years ago
more online research.... maybe Suminagashi?
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years ago
Your little tree is neither of the cultivars you mention :-( Beni Otake means 'red bamboo' and reflects the very narrow, bamboo-like foliage it presents. It is a also a red-leafed form (all season). Shuminagashi is also a red-leafed form with quite large, 7 lobed leaves.

Can you identify a graft union on your plant? I'd suspect it is just a seedling tree - a lot of so-called Bloodgoods are grown as seedlings rather than grafted from known stock and less ethical growers and cut rate purveyors like the box stores, etc. have no compunction about selling them as named forms. Seedlings are not named forms nor can they ever be, regardless of their parentage, as they can be extremely variable in size, habit and appearance.

That does not mean a seedling grown tree - just a straight generic species Acer palmatum - cannot develop into a lovely tree. Most do. Just not a recognized named form.
User
Original Author
8 years ago
User
Original Author
8 years ago
User
Original Author
8 years ago
thanks gardengal!

so what you're saying is that this tree is the horticultural equivalent of a rescue dog? if so, that's fine... nothing wrong with a mutt. curious to see how the tree develops over time.

all the similar sized trees with the same labeling looked like a classic bloodgood (and matched the ones at the real nursery i patronize as well). i picked this one out since it was an oddball..... and not a big fan of the super-lacey, bushy jap maples. this one is a nice compromise. i needed something upright since there's a hydrangea, dwarf gardenia, and camellia nearby.

i don't see any evidence of grafting in above pics.

the sticker on the container says grown for Thrive Wholesale in Boring, OR.

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