Red-leaved Japanese Maple (Acer Palmatum Atropurpureum) 10 seeds (#457)

The beautiful and ubiquitous Japanese maple is a small, deciduous tree native to eastern Asia. Its popular cultivar 'Atropurpureum' features deeply lobed, palmate (hand-shaped) leaves which emerge reddish-pink in spring, deepen to deep burgundy-red in summer, and turn fiery tones in fall. In winter, the stark gray branches will add to any garden or landscape. It prefers sites with rich, well-drained soil and part sun to part shade. 'Atropurpureum' is versatile in the landscape and may be grown as a feature plant, in a mixed border or in a container.
Of easy cultivation, it succeeds in most soils preferring a good moist well-drained soil on the acid side and partial shade. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Chlorosis can sometimes develop as a result of iron deficiency when the plants are grown in alkaline soils, but in general maples are not fussy as to soil pH. Requires some shelter in the cooler areas of Britain and protection from cold drying winds. Plants are hardy to about -25C, but spring growth is subject to damage by late frosts. A very ornamental tree, it is a polymorphic species and there are many named varieties. Grows well with rhododendrons. Most maples are bad companion plants, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants.

Genus - Acer
Species - Palmatum
Variety - Atropurpureum
Common name - Red-leaved Japanese Maple
Pre-Treatment - Required
Hardiness zones - 5 - 8
Height - 25'-35' / 7,60 - 10 m
Spread - 25'-35' / 7,60 - 10 m
Plant type - Tree
Vegetation type - Deciduous
Exposure - Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
Growth rate - Medium
Soil PH - Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil type - Loam, sand, well drained
Water requirements - Average Water
Landscape uses - Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier
Bloom season - Spring
Leaf / Flower color - Burgundy, Dark Red, autumn - Red, Orange, Gold, Burgundy, Dark Red / Red

GERMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
1. Start the cold stratification process one month before the beginning of spring.
2. Place the seeds in a glass bowl and cover with room temperature water. Allow the seeds to soak for a minimum of 24 hours but no longer than 48 hours.
3. Hold a handful of sterile peat planting medium under a running faucet until the peat is soaked. Squeeze most of the water out of the peat, leaving it moist but not soggy. Place the moist peat into a zip-lock plastic bag.
4. Remove the seeds from the bowl of water and rinse them off under clean running water. Place up to three seeds into the plastic bag containing the peat. Use more peat and plastic bags if you want to germinate more than three seeds.
5. Push the seeds into the peat and seal the plastic bag. Shake the bag to distribute the peat so that it covers the seeds completely. The seeds must be buried in the moist peat in order to germinate.
6. Place the sealed bag in the bottom of the refrigerator. This will serve as the cold stratification. The seeds need to be kept at +2-+4C for a minimum of 60 days, but not longer than 90 days.
7. Open the plastic bag periodically to make sure the peat is still moist. Add water as needed to restore the moisture.
8. You can plant the seeds outdoors if all danger of frost has passed or in pots inside. Sow ~5 mm deep. Keep the soil moist until the seeds sprout.