I like the grouping of photos N. Griseum is wonderful as it comes into leaf. Mine is a good two weeks away yet.
I didn’t see any other type of flowers on this tree, D. Also, I did not see any dried seeds from last year hanging from the branches. Interestingly, the tree seems to have lighter bark color than two others in the area (picture 1). It is also the healthiest of the three, without any dead branches. The second tree (picture 2) is only about 20 ft away in the same little courtyard, it is just leafing out and the flowers are almost showing. The bark seems somewhat darker and there are several dead large branches. There are seedlings under both trees, but they most likely come from this tree. The third three (picture 3) is maybe about 300 ft away and there is a large building between it and the other two. It is much further along and there are already developing new seeds on it (picture 4, blurry photo because I couldn’t get close enough because of some construction going on). It has the darkest bark of the three, many seedlings underneath (it is actually the mother tree to all my seedlings) and it is the least healthy of the three. One of its two main branches is (almost) dead. There isn’t much peeling bark on that one, all the shreds have fallen off, presumably because that side of the tree is not growing. I noticed that @emery has mentioned previously in this thread that old age and dry and hot weather causes lighter bark, but I am wondering whether some trees that don’t bear seeds or have empty seed might for whatever reason also have lighter bark. I have also seen saplings of the same age growing close to each other having quite different shades of bark color. All of these trees appear to be at the same age and they are of similar height. They must have been planted after one of the neighboring buildings was completed in 1991, and I imagine they probably were at least 10 years old at the time. So that makes them at least 40-45 years old.
Photo 3 griseum is awfully close to the building. I wonder how it's being affected by this location. Re shades of lighter bark, again it could well be down to it's sighting near the buildings, but I'm not sure!! I have found with acers over the years that they don't behave in a regulatory way. The slightest change in weather can and will give a totally different appearance in leaf,seed quantity, bark colour etc etc from a previous year. I don't recall any scientific study on why!!? I think it would be too difficult to monitor. I think this is what makes them fascinating to so many of us.
The oldest Acer griseum in the Morris Arboretum is magnificent. And it seems to be in such a typical setting for the species, among many other tall trees. It is on the very edge of the arboretum, about a yard from the fence.
Here are two Acer griseum that I photographed at Westonbirt Arboretum on 17 May 2024. The first is in the old arboretum area and apparently is grown from the first ever importation of A. griseum seeds to the West by E.H. Wilson in 1901. A younger one planted around 54 years ago. This one is only just leafing out, clearly well behind the older tree above, and is absolutely full of flowers.
Remember both from our visit a few years ago. Great to see photos of these wonderful griseum's again. Thanks M.
They are both gorgeous! Thank you for sharing the pictures, @maf ! All my observations of old and young specimens seem to suggest that lighter colored bark on the main trunk is indicative of good health and longevity… I don’t believe it’s the other way around, i.e. old trees turn lighter. I have ho evidence to back it up though. Many thanks again, they are wonderful!
I was wondering if someone could tell from this photo if there is anything to worry about with my Acer griseum. It looks to me as if it is losing lower branches because they are too shaded. They leafed out then dried up and there are quite a few smaller twig-like branches that are just dried up sticks. Otherwise it seems to be okay. It does have some areas where large sheets of bark on the main trunk are rolling up to show greenish bark underneath. I have had it about 5 years and it is about 10-12 feet tall. It was about 8 feet when we planted it. Thanks!
It looks perfectly healthy to me. Nothing to worry about. The green bark showing underneath is a sign of robust growth. Lower branches dying off is the natural way it should grow in a forest (or in the shade of surrounding tall trees). It really is lovely.