| Where can I buy two shantung maple trees? Why are they so hard to find in Northern Virginia? |
| Acer truncatum or Shantung Maple or Purpleblow Maple is sometimes recommended as a substitute for the elegant Japanese maples in situations where growing conditions are overly harsh for the Japanese maples to thrive or survive -- relative heat, cold and drought tolerance are among A. truncatum's attributes. In your area, where Japanese maples and many other smaller ornamental trees usually do quite well, the need for a substitute is not such a priority. Also, these trees are fairly unusual in any case. Too, the selection in the fall is often less broad than you will find in the spring season. Your local nurseries might be planning to stock some in the spring or might be able to special order the trees for you if you specifically need them. If not, they should be able to suggest suitable substitutes. Alternatively, Forestfarm in Oregon offers at least one variety in their catalog at http://www.forestfarm.com/ or you may request a paper catalog. Good luck with your new trees. |
