Ken, Here's a pic before I staked it: This is it almost exactly a year ago from pretty close to the same camera angle but much closer up (you can tell how much the foliage has increased by the sheer # of leaves): There are two main leaders at this point, both suffering from the same top-heavy problem and leaning in the same direction. So I used two 6' plastic stakes about 2 feet away and twine+velcro straps to pull them upright and slightly separate them. How long do you think I should expect to leave it staked? I'd rather not do it for long if I can help it . . . just long enough for the branches to strengthen. It didn't have this problem last year but I'd say it has >3 times the foliage now. It's definitely a JM but I can't guarantee how true to bloodgood it will be. It grew up under a mature bloodgood at my dad's house, presumably from seed? Either way I'm expecting it to be large for a JM . . . its parent tree is probably 15' high with an 8-10" trunk, and is at least 15-20 years old. This one is in a spot where that size would be fine, so I'm not worried about its growth potential . . . I just don't want abnormally fast growth to keep it from being the beautiful tree it has the potential to be. Thanks again.

As you can see, I'm in even a colder zone...I have had a Japanese Maple planted directly in the ground for 5 years, it has always come back like a charm. Very slow grower, but I don't mind because it's just off my front stoop...someday, perhaps it will shade the stoop gracefully, but I'm in no hurry. I do have hostas growing in its territory, but then, my whole front yard is maple tree territory, as I have 4 HUGE maples across my property. Unknowingly, I planted a hosta garden all the way across the front of the house, right under and just off the maple dripline. The hostas directly at the dripline did diminish on about the 5th year, as did some lilies. However, the ones 8 feet from the dripline are doing just fine. I'm not moving the garden or changing it. I just keep putting young ones in there and watering. When I have my garden plant sales (to pay for this habit), I pull the med sized hostas right out of that bed for the folks. It works pretty well, actually. I guess you could just call it my nursery! And a pretty one, at that!

Hi.I noticed no response to your question so I thought I'd give a response however I'm no maple expert and I'm not really familiar with Perth climate.I don't have a canadian maple but do have a few Jap maples.From my experience maples prefer a sheltered position from any hot,dry winds and regular water to help avoid damage to leaves in summer.Unfortunately I think you might not get good autumn colour as they need some cool nights in autumn to promote colour and being on the coast I feel the temp might not get cool enough.I've read that tapering off the water starting late summer can help colour so you could try that.The jap maple is not a large tree and is a nice tree even if autumn colour doesn't happen for you.I think the Canadian maple would grow into a larger tree than the jap maple.Give them a go however as you won't know unless you try.Good luck,hope this helps, C.N.

My remark about the misapplication of the USDA hardiness zones was directed at this comment: "Even an older tree in 8b may only have fleeting variegation early upon leafing out and then go green." The one condition has nothing to do with the other :-) Not all higher zones have excessive summer heat and/or humidity.....they only share a similar winter low temperature range. Even up here in the far north with low sun intensity, very cool summers and virtually no humidity, this is a mostly shade selection. And if grown in all day dappled or light shade, will retain heavy variegation with almost no green showing all season long. There are various reputable JM websites that will list cultivars recommended for hot summer climates with high humidity and even those that will tolerate almost full sun in these locations. But Ukigumo is not on any of them......sorry. Nor are many other variegated or reticulated forms. They just dislike that much heat.