(Copied from the Texas Forum)
Since there is no Japanese Maple Forum and since there are only just a few Japanese Maples that grow in Texas heat, was wondering who grows them in Texas?
This year a light bulb went off in my dense head. I had 2 JM's that do so well in pots. I can leave them out all winter, snow and all, and they come back and grow every spring. I keep them in morning sun only as I was warned our heat can hurt them badly. I have a dozen mature trees, oaks, pines and elm in the back yard. They take up most of the water I give the yard. So pot-growing is a good thing. I am using my JM's as colorful understory, giving us something to look at at mid range instead of tree trunks. I bought 3 this year alone. I don't think there are many more I can buy that will survive?
The first JM I got as a "stick" at the local arboretum sale about 23-24 years ago. I planted it in the ground and moved it 3 times in as many years due to poor performance. Finally, I put it in a pot and told it, "Do your thing, I am tired of moving you around the yard!". It stayed in that pot until this year and flourished. It is green with small leaves. The pot deteriorated and I had to give it a new home.
The second I bought for $9.99 at Aldi 5 years ago. I think we have determined it to be Bloodgood Orangeola. It was 3 ft tall twig in a little 1 gallon pot. I have slowly repotted it each year into a just slightly bigger pot and it has grown well for me.
Early summer I fell in love with a Shishigashira while looking for a Red Leaf JM. I had a hard time finding the more common Red Leaf variety when I came upon this little gem with it's naturally curly mini leaves at a mom and pop nursery. Only 2 feet tall she has a big 1-1/2" diameter trunk. A Dwarf variety, it will only get to 8 ft. tall and will take it's time growing.
I did find the Red Leaf JM at a far away Lowe's. I like it mostly for the leaf color. But it seems to be picky about being in the morning sun. It is the only one that I have a little trouble with finding the perfect place of sun and shade. It gets brown leaves more than the others. I wonder about it. I think I have to move it again for more shade.Today I was told Monrovia out of Cali grows the best JMs. I have 3 from Monrovia that are doing splendidly. I am sure the one from Lowe's is not from Monrovia.
And of course the Coral Bark Maple that I had been searching for was found locally this summer. I passed it up once but made my wish come true today. I will be excited to see the leaf color change, something we have little of in South Texas and look forward to brightening the yard in the winter with it's bright red branches.
Texas has such intense, long-lasting heat. Except for one more, Red Dragon, I think those are the 6 JMs recommended for Texas? Anyone else find a JM that grows well here?
