Chicago area or inexpensive mail order source...

Looking to get some JM's. Would like to see before I buyso if you know of an Chicago area source with a good selection I'd really appreicate it! Alternatively, if you know if a good mail order source which sells inexpensive (less than $20 a plant) that would be great. They can be small, I'm patient...

Hi, hostamomma (hope you are also on the hosta board...see ya there!),

I would be doubtful that you would find JMs at that price. I buy very small JMs from one of my local nurseries and for a named JM, I pay about $29 to $39 per tree. That is about a 1 gallon size pot. You may be able to get a seedling (unnamed/unknown) variety for that price, but if you are looking for a certain look and size, you risk not getting what you want. Now, if you just want a few nice red or green maples that will fill in some space in your landscape and give some nice fall color...maybe that is no problem. In that case, you may wish to ask around among friends or family in your area and see who may have some volunteer seedlings potted up that just grew in their yard. You might be surprised, and the price is probably FREE!

If, however, you are looking for a collection of colors and leaf styles in certain sizes to fill in some nice spots in your garden, my advice is to buy them one at a time, and get the largest size you can save up for. I had four of the baby trees last year that I overwintered in the ground and in pots. Of these, I lost one altogether to the cold, and another lost half its branches. I think if I had purchased older trees, the chances of this happening may have been less. I don't know...but I bought one for about $129 this spring and it is still in its pot, so we shall see. That one is not going into the ground for a couple of years yet, as it will be near a deck and that deck does not yet exist. I would not risk damage to it.

Good luck on your hunt!

Laura

Laura,

I'd gladly take seedlings, problem is, I'm the only gardner in my group. Family doesn't garden and deer eat all of friends plants (I've got some area's fenced in).

I'm just starting with JM so want to see how they do in my area and am reluctant to shell out big bucks until I know they will thrive. I've got a few micro-climates I'm taking advantage of, I'm in Zone 5a and have gotten Zone 6 perennials to come back.

If anyone on the board has seedlings to trade for ? Let me know. I make a mean fudge.

The biggest problem I see is hardiness of new or 1 year old grafts. For the $20 range you would only be getting very young trees which might not handle the winter here. I kind of agree with Laura. Get one or two larger sized plants which are known to be hardy in our area and start from there. You can overwinter the very young stuff in an unheated garage if you pot them up to a larger sized pot for the winter and only water lightly when it is warmer out. You can try http://nurserygirl1.tripod.com/index.html (my new favorite mail order maple place). Also try http://www.mountainmaples.com/WS4D_Cookie=1.26.05_10,50,54_6/index.html and http://www.japanesemaple.net/japanesemaple.htm and
http://www.greergardens.com/acers.htm
and try http://www.richsfoxwillowpines.com/ for a local place.

You can also look at some previous threads http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/579491/ which list some of the hardier varieties.

Welcome to the Japanese Maple addiction.

Bill