Has anyone else in the U.S. seen any maples at Costco this spring? My local Costco had some gorgeous Sango kaku in 7-gal. containers, each around 4' tall, at $49.00. I wonder who their supplier is... As much as I wanted to buy one, I passed since I already have two Coral Bark maples. Last year I recall seeing some nice Butterfly maples at Costco, too. Happy Easter! Kevin in KC
Indoors. They never last long, however, as many landscapers come in and snatch them all up! I might add that I have bought other live plants, mostly perennials, from Costco. Not to mention many bulbs in the fall. Their tree and shrub prices are practically impossible to beat. Kevin in KC
I saw some Crimson Queen 3 gallons in Aldi last spring. I didn't purchase one since I already have three in my landscape but they were nice looking trees and priced well (I think $24.99).
I've seen smaller Crimson Queens at Aldi, too. They were in quart or gallon containers for $15. I bought two several years back. One is still growing, the other I gave away. Can't wait to see if we get some larger trees like yours this year! May is the time to look, from what I recall. Kevin in KC
Had to go to Costco for a few things yesterday and they had the Garden Center open. A lot of JMs, mostly Bloodgood, high-grafted 'Dissectum' (which of course could be anything), etc. There was actually a Shirazz 15g there with a very, very nice form for $120. A good price for that size and visual quality of tree but SO much other stuff there - boxwoods, bougainvillea, leyland cypress, various other plants, herbs and veggies - was completely bone dry, wilting and or already dead (or very close to it). At least at our location, I'd be wary of buying anything given the lack of care and watering.
We don't have the "garden centers" at Costco stores around Kansas City. Must be too far north. They bring smaller quantities indoors near the check out. Stuff is usually sold out within a couple days, so they don't worry about the lack of sun. I've also seen lots of arborvitae, boxwoods, rhododendrons, azaleas and yews in the past. Given the early spring, I expect to see live plants on a regular basis there rather soon :-) Kevin in KC
Was doing our weekly shop today at our local Morrisons supermarket, they have a small garden outlet which only opens basically for the spring and summer months then shuts, so it was open today when we went so i just thought i would have a quick look (as you do) and was amazed to see this beautiful Sumi nagashi for £8 so bearing in mind i already had a £5 money off coupon from last weeks shop i bought this lovely branched 3.5ltr Acer for a total of £3 !!! ... it cost me more later for two cups of coffee in the cafe. How can you not buy any Acer tree for this price? Bought a Ryusen for roughly the same deal last year re potted it and this is the same tree today (pic 2) coming on very nicely and will be planted out later in the year, was also in another garden centre last week and the same size of Ryusen there would have cost £24 big difference you will agree. Pays to shop around although limited for choice , but we all love a bargain !!!
Yes I like a bargain for sure Roebuk.Nice Suminagashi there...looks like mine's finally died after being cut down by half 2years ago by pathogen.Capable of nice true red fall colours though. You spurned me on to visit my local Morrisons today.Only had Orange Dream & Beni Shichihenge left in the 3l size,both on their own roots which is OK by me,but already have these cultivars.May have to revisit incase they have more in :)
Houzi... Here's another cheap Acer, Pal Aoyagi bought this in a Marks and Spencer's food hall in leeds of all places last year for only £12, they only had two Acers for sale the other was a Orange dream so how this came to be there who knows? (didn't bother me) but again you can't turn down such decent looking plant for such a low price, this is a pic from today and it's about the only one of a handful of trees that's starting to leaf out at present. The Morrisons near to where i live had some absolutely cracking Acers last year at such low prices, if you are just starting out and need a few decent plants you can't go wrong,plus if one or two don't make the cut in later years your initial outlay is minimal , where as if you go to a specialist grower it tends to sting a bit if they die off later in the seasons especially when you will have had to pay relatively high prices.
Cracking find Roebuk and as you say,not the most common of cultivars.I hate supermarket shopping but may have to force myself to go around them all off peak and see what's about...wonder if Sainsbury and Asda are getting in on the act too...
At my local Costco, they only carry Bloodgood and Red Dissectum (not even label which cultivar!) for $49.99 in a 3gal.
Roebuk.... Congrats on the bargains! I found a Sumi nagashi at the end of the season several years ago and it's a fast grower here. The red fall color is stunning! I also love the long, pointed leaves. Its seeds are also very showy come fall. Kevin in KC
Went back to Morrisons to get a few £2 ferns,also picked up this lil' Momoiro Koyasan....I'll give it a bit of sun to see if it'll colour up like your lovely example Roebuk.
Nice looking tree Houzi must admit i called again myself today just on the off chance of something different but only beni schichihenge, orane dreams and atropurpureums , the sumi nagashi from last week had all gone though. Hope you like this it's a joy.
Been hearing reports of bargain £10 maples at Homebase so decided to check them out. Were they grafted?.....indeed they were. Were they a decent size?....yes they had 1/2" trunks,not grafted yesterday! What cultivars did they have?.....haven't the foggiest ha ha. This was the worst case of mislabelling I've ever seen. The 'Atropurpureums' were actually grafted but of mastumurae form,why bother? The 'Shin deshojos' looked more like Bloodgoods than many Bloodgoods I've seen, ...and the 'Emerald Laces' were palmate leaved,possibly amoneum. I realise most customers just come in and grab a tree because it looks pretty with total disregard for the name,but why bother with all this?
Was at 'Aldi' yesterday and to my amazement they had four shopping trolleys just literally stuffed with JM, all in 5ltr pots all the usual cultivars you can think of and more all for £10.99 ,but the thing which suprised me the most and i have never seen this before on any potted Acer anywhere is a two month money back guarantee !!! worth a punt if you don't no much about JM.
Heard you the first time Roebuk :)....dunno how they produce 'em so cheap.Used to be that you'd impulsively pick up a chewing gum or throw a chocolate bar in your basket at checkout....now it's...oh I'll just grab a maple or two ha ha.
LOL ... Bought a 'Diana' and an 'Atropupureum' and an 'Akane' at Homebase (£18.99 each) Grand looking plants and good size for the price. Looked at a 'Shindeshojo' for under a tenner ... queried it with the young helper. He hadn't a clue, but it certainly did NOT look anything like a 'Shindeshojo' to me. Might buy one and see what it turns out like :)
Here we go again.... Morrison's as usual a lovely 80cm x 35cm 'Going green' at £8.00 less my £5.00 money off coupon, so £3.00 for this plant you cannot just walk past these Acers in this condition and at this price it's just impossible for any JM enthusiast to walk past and not buy one? I dare any one, i tried and failed !!!
My Akane looked something similar to your own. It will take a year or so to settle and I will comment then :)
OK peeps ... here is my Akane just after planting and after leafing out this year. Also a pic of Diana. Both planted in a sheltered spot after advice received here. It seems to have worked, as it looks brill to me at this stage :)
