At that price I would be willing to bet it is just a species JM - straight Acer palmatum. Named forms typically go for about 3 times that price (or more) for a similar size.

You can keep it in that container until later this season but I would plant it in fall rather than late winter. I would keep it out of direct sun (provide some afternoon shade) check for a need to water frequently and yes, fertilize occasionally. Any plant grown in a container will need periodic fertilizing.

Regardless of the variety, it's gorgeous! If you lived in my area, that would be a steal for size/price.

I'd fertilize weakly, about 1/8 to 1/4 of the recommended dosage at each watering, rather than dump a whole bunch in at once. I don't know about Cosco, but most are cared for by people who know next to nothing about plants.

You don't want to fertilize too late in the season, as fertilization will promote a new flush of growth that will not have time to harden off before winter and will die off.

I give my potted maples a weak solution before and after they leaf out, then mulch with leaf mould (partially decomposed leaves) and that is about it.

An alternative is to dose with a CRF like Osmocote once a season in late spring after leaf out. That should get you all the way through the growing season without any need for additional fertilizing. This is the program I follow with my maples, all of which are container grown.

I haven't bought Osmocote since they took the Ca/Mg out of the Osmocote Plus. :(

gardengirl, may i ask how many JM's you have and why you dont have any in the ground?

Gardengal....how about some pics of your maples? Would love to see them!

Great. I didn't know there was a generic Japanese Maple species.

I'm in the process of acquiring a couple of more JM's. Is $400 a reasonable price for an about 12 foot tall bloodgood JM in a 32-gallon wood container? That's the biggest Bloodgood at my local nursery. It looks really nice. I wonder why it hasn't been sold as it's been there for a while. The person there told me that I could plant it right away as it's been under full sun for a while. They have unlimited warranty, which would really help in my case as I'm new to this. I also really want a Coral Bark, but the only shady area around my house is along the garage where there is a very big palm tree with a very long root system. So I don't think the soil there would be good enough for a Coral Bark? My only option would be to plan it in full sun. However, I don't think Coral Bark like full sun. Could someone confirm that a Coral Bark would be out of question in my situation?

Coral Bark can take full sun. In my area I see Coral Bark's planted in full sun.

"I didn't know there was a generic Japanese Maple species."

Like any plant, there is always a native generic species that is the source for any named forms (cultivated varieties).

A couple of words of caution: Larger, more mature trees are always harder and longer to establish than younger, smaller ones so keep that in mind when planting your big Bloodgood. And geographical location has a huge bearing on how JM's will do in full sun. Virtually every JM resource without exception will state that if given a choice, partial or dappled shade is a preferred planting location anywhere and this is even more significant in hot and dry summer climates. JM's with light colored foliage - like the coral bark - will tend to scorch in hot, summer sun even with adequate watering. If I was anywhere in CA, I would give it some protection from the most intense afternoon sun.

I just happen to be in Mendocino, California on a mini vacation and talking to the local nursery owners who say that Japanese maples can't handle the wind here. One nursery had just one Japanese maple because of it. I don't recall seeing one Japanese maple at Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens yesterday. I had a wonderful five hours there though!

Mendocino Maples Nursery is located three miles inland and protected from the wind.

Mike