How Are the Crimson Queen Trees Propogated?

Seed

• The easiest method of growing a new Japanese maple is to plant its seeds. Gather them, snap their wings off, and put them in a heat-proof container. Then pour hot water over them and soak for 24 hours. Put them in a plastic bag with moist sand, poke holes in the top, and put in the refrigerator for 100 days, then plant outside in spring. Beware that growing a cultivar like “Crimson Queen” from seed will not usually produce the same plant, but rather the species form (Acer palmatum), which is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 8 as well.

Cuttings

• Cuttings are not as easy to grow as seeds, but it is possible. Carefully cut off a pencil-sized shoot from the tip of a Japanese maple branch in spring. Dip the end of the branch in indolebutyric acid, available at specialty shops, mixed at a ratio of 8,000 to 20,000 ppm in talc. Then mist the cuttings frequently and keep them warm in a greenhouse. You can plant the following spring. Because of the difficulty of the procedure, however, you may wish to stick to planting seeds if you are trying to propagate your Japanese maple at home.

Grafting

• If anything, grafting Japanese maples is even more difficult than taking cuttings, and is probably best left to professionals. Grafting means taking a cutting of the desirable plant and attaching it to a less desirable root stock, such as the species form of Japanese maple. The grafted plant and root stock are both specially slit, wedged together and then wrapped with tape until they grow into one tree. Because Japanese maples are fairly affordable, you are probably better of buying your desired cultivar than trying this.

Culture

• Though they grow well in partial shade, Japanese maples need some light. When growing seedlings, cuttings, grafts or plants in the ground, try to place them in lightly dappled shade, which is their preference. Though generally low maintenance, they do like a regular amount of water, so keep their soil consistently moist, allowing it to dry out slightly between soakings. In hot climates, “Crimson Queen” may scorch if grown in full sun.