Florida Red Maple Bonsai

Water daily but keep good drainage to prevent root rotting.

Florida red maple bonsai. Florida red maple acer rubrum is one of the most traditional color changing trees we can grow in central florida. Every fall the leaves of these trees erupt into a blaze of yellow orange and red putting on a show that lasts several weeks. Red maples are naturally found in wet areas but will grow in other locations if they receive adequate irrigation. He lives in tallahassee and is intimately familiar with native southern species for use as bonsai particularly red maple and bald cypress.

The japanese red maple prefers wet to moist soils. So make sure you have the space for this beauty to grow. As you would guess by its common name florida maple acer saccharum subsp. The red maple as bonsai by jim lewis introduction jim lewis is a frequent contributor to the internet bonsai club.

It does prefer moderately moist to wet soil. This species acer rubrum is locally abundant in the fakahatchee which is far south in the everglades so a locally sourced one will do great in any part of central fl. Let the water absorb from the holes in the bottom of the pot. More bonsai die due to improper watering than any other cause.

A japanese red maple bonsai is a living miniature tree and not a house plant. Floridanum grows well in florida. Unless irrigated or on a wet site red maple is best used north of usda hardiness zone 9. Bw the species acer rubrum is commonly known as the red maple swamp maple or florida maple.

In january the tree bears tiny red flowers followed by conspicuous bright red winged samaras or keys which remain on trees for several weeks serving as indicators of spring. The florida grown stock do not need cold temperatures to stimulate flowering but out of state stock does and should be avoided. Read more about the red maple on gardening solutions. The leaves appear in late spring as the maple seeds mature small showy red flowers begin to bloom in late winter or early spring second week in february in northern florida and bloom through march.

Therefore your bonsai must be maintained in a cool cold environment during the winter season. Also japanese red maple is a common name for certain acer palmatum and acer rubrum just red maple in the latter case. The vibrant red fall foliage is eye catching and come spring red maple puts on a show with beautiful red flowers and samaras dried fruits. As a guide around thanksgiving day it is time to prepare your bonsai for its winter dormancy period which should last approximately three 3 months.

Florida there is a variety with consistently 1 5 inch leaves that is mostly 3 lobed possibly trilobum variant and has a generally dull yellow leaf color in fall. This maple provides beautiful fall colors in muted yellows and oranges and older trees have attractive ribbed gray bark. It is a tree to 90 feet plus 30 m usually smaller. Red maple has an oval shape and is a fast grower with strong wood reaching a height of 75 feet.

If you ve been yearning for great fall color check out our native red maple acer rubrum.