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Metro Maples Japanese Maple hybrids.
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Here is
my first Japanese maple hybrid just now putting out its first true
leaves on March 1, 2007. I hybridized this last year by taking
pollen from Moonrise and putting it on Mikawa yatsubusa. I am seeking a
superior eleven-lobe leaf, and/or a more colorful dwarf with the growth
habits of Mikawa. The chance of getting a great new hybrid must be 1 in
1,000.
I picked the seed last November and put it in a plastic bag with a
little moist peat and stored it in my refrigerator vegetable cooler. In
early February I soaked the seed overnight in a glass of warm water and
planted it 1/4 inch deep the next day in my warm greenhouse. On
Valentine's Day I first noticed the seed putting forth the green
cotyledons.
So far I am seeing some spring color on these tiny 1/4 inch unfolding
leaves, which is not characteristic of Mikawa yatsubusa. I also see a
long center lobe which is characteristic of Mikawa. Stayed tuned as I
will show you the exciting new pictures as they occur over the next few
years. |
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Here is
my hybrid just starting to photosensitize on March 11, 2008. There is
some aureum color in the center, surrounded by red, so my hopes for a
new hybrid are up a little.
So far all the plant material was produced from energy stored in the
little seed. Most seedlings in the wild would be eaten, broken by
storms, or suffer from competition from larger plants. I am still
keeping mine in the greenhouse. |
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April 22,
2007 - It is growing slowly but with some colors in the leaves and a
tiny third set of leaves is just starting to appear. My new hybrid was
dropped off a six foot tall bench and shaken-up which undoubtedly has
slowed its growth! |
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May 5,
2007 - Of course I did not just grow 1 seed of my cross of Mikawa
yatsubusa x Moonrise. Here is a different seedling that seems to holding
a yellow and orange color. I expect all the seedlings to grow slowly and
to be a dwarf like its mother. |
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June 6,
2007 - My new hybrid now has 4 sets of leaves and is growing slowly, but
surely. It is holding a yellow-orange color but is not as bright of
color as the pollen parent, Moonrise. |
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July 24,
2007 - Here are the new hybrid seedlings at the end of July. They have
grown several sets of leaves and all have short internodes like Mikawa
yatsubusa. The only color now is green but as they mature, different
colors could appear. Early August they started growing again and the
color of the new growth was nice. |
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Oct 1,
2007 - The seedlings were all potted into 1 gal containers. The tallest
one is about 6 inches with leaves like Kamagata and the others resemble
Mikawa yatsubusa. Fall colors were bright red but it is too soon
to say that they will be so outstanding in the future. |
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March 5, 2008 - The seedlings were kept in the
greenhouse so are beginning to grow. Here is my hybrid #5 showing
lots of nice spring color.
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April 13, 2008 - Only a few of the hybrid
seedlings are holding color this year. Here is #7 which has lots of
color and the growth habit of a Mikawa.
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