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midwestguy33

Japanese Maples - Dead?

midwestguy33
10 years ago

I planted two Japanese maples last spring and I fear they may not survive the winter. Here are pictures:




I've already lost one JM so if these don't survive I may have to rethink what I plant. Thanks in advance!

Comments (11)

  • gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
    10 years ago

    Welllllll........Japanese maples are iffy in your area to begin with and the winter you experienced might have been enough to push them over the edge. However, I wouldn't give up hope quite yet. There looks to be some die back on each of them but there also looks to be some healthy wood and quite possibly, viable buds.

    I'd give it another month or so. Anything that looks gray and dry is dead wood and can be removed. If nothing looks to be happening in the way of buds enlarging and leaves appearing by the middle or end of April, you may want to rethink this choice of plant.

  • midwestguy33
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    Thanks! Any idea of something else I could plant to replace them? I'm trying to get a red/purple and yellow (I like the contrast).

  • gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
    10 years ago

    How about smokebush, Cotinus coggygria? There is both a deep purple ('Royal Purple') and a gold leafed ('Ancot', tradename Golden Spirit) cultivar. Hardy enough for your area, never gets excessively large, can be cut back in early spring if desired. Handsome plants all in all and no worries about cold winter dieback :-)

  • propman1983
    10 years ago

    Do you know what variety Japanese Maple it was? There are quite a few varieties of Japanese Maples that should be plenty hardy. I live in a solid 5a in NW Connecticut and I have no problems at all with Maples, in fact I collect them.

    Knowing the variety you planted, you might be able to switch it out with a hardier variety. I think these might be just fine though. Just give them time. That's what mine look like at this point.

    DAN

  • midwestguy33
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    Thanks. I checked and I have "Emperor One" and "Sangakaku" planted now that I bought from Home Depot.

  • propman1983
    10 years ago

    I have both of those varieties growing at my house currently and they seem to do quite well.

    Good luck

  • marcindy
    10 years ago

    The Sangakaku is most likely a mislabeled Sango Kaku. It is NOT hardy in our zone 5b gardens, no matter what nurseries tell us. I lost three over the years until I finally realized that fact. And that was in more "normal" winters. This last one surely did yours in, unless it was in an extremely protected spot, or covered with snow. Sorry to break this news, but I wish the nurseries would stop selling it around here.

  • midwestguy33
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Thanks! What would be a good, hardy, yellow-leafed substitute for the Sangakaku /Sango Kaku?

  • whaas_5a
    9 years ago

    Prop, where in CT? The coldest zone is 5b from what I can see. With the majority of the state 6a/b with almost an equivalent of 7a as what I see with 5b. Your state is not representative of the dry winter winds in the midwest.

    Sango Kaku is a solid zone 6 plant. Mine even croaked in an extremely mild zone 5 winter last year.

    Try Acer shirasawanum as a step up from A. palmatum. 'Moonrise' is a good yellow leaf variety that is more sun tolerant than 'Aureum' and 'Autumn Moon'. 'Jordan' is supposed to be another sun tolerant gold leaf variety.

  • midwestguy33
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Thanks Whaas! What about the red. If the "Emperor One" doesn't make it (looks like there are few, if any buds on it), is there a better substitute red for my zone?

  • midwestguy33
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Just wondering if anyone had suggestions for a replacement red JM for the "Emperor One" for zone 5b. I'd like to place an order today. Thanks and have a great weekend!

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