Nice trees! I wish they could grow in full Texas sun in the summer! I had to settle for Acer Truncatum 'Fire Dragon'. it's like having a japanse maple with larger leaves that turns red in Dallas area consistently which is pretty cool.

Thanks for the tip Lou. Acer truncatum is also recommeneded for the midwest. Sounds like a heck of a tree.

Dax

Lovely pictures, Dax! I just happened to be browsing around and caught this thread by chance... I work at the Nat'l, and the Acer sinense you photographed grows at the top of the section I care for, and has recently undergone a second phase of excavation to expose its long-buried root flare. I hope you enjoyed the trip in spite of our drought-stressed gardens.

I can also vouch for the incredible toughness of Acer truncatum - a young sapling planted near the bottom of the collection in terrible, heavy soil (actually left there from the digging of the Metro) in baking sun is positively thriving. I can understand why it would be a prime candidate for planting in Texas and the Midwest - just so it doesn't become the next invasive exotic species!