Acer palmatum 'Milligan'

My Milligan a couple of days ago.

 

A few quick pictures of Milligan this morning.

 

April 4th 2022 and my Milligan is just leafing out. Very green compared to N @D97x7 specimen. But we will see how it develops over the next week.

 

I still can't get over how different my Milligan is to D's @Acerholic

 

Completely different N , I think I've lost mine. Yours is a picture of health and so I will enjoy your photos.

 

Oh no that's a shame.

 

Yes very annoying, I'm trying to find a replacement as we speak.

 

24th May 2022 and I'm so pleased my replacement Milligan is able to take part on the thread.

 

Nice one D, can anyone tell me what the growth habit of this one is please? I staked mine last year but I've recently removed those as it seems to want to be more spreading then upright in
Edit
Thought I'd add a couple of pictures of what I'm affectionately calling Dr Octopus at the moment.

 

This is spreader N, have a look at @Jaybee63 posting #14
Your Octopus wants to spread it's tentacles!!!! Lol.

 

Cool, I'll just let it do it's thing then from now on, thanks D.

 

Joining the crew...

 

1st July 2022 and I'm pleased to announce that my replacement Milligan is exceeding expectations. Soooo happy.

 

Milligan spreading itself out a bit now I've unstaked, is that a word, it.

 

A couple of August updates, it seems to have weathered the recent heat pretty well, it is in a lot of shade though now, also the reds have given way somewhat so looks more like others specimens.

 

It has weathered the heat very well indeed N. Looking so very nice when there are crispy leaves everywhere this year.

 

Milligan spring 2023

 

Pictures taken today of Milligan

 

29th May 2023 and I'm pleased to show that my replacement Milligan is doing well.

 

12th April 2024 and my Milligan has come into leaf.

 

Loving this thread on Milligan. It's the closest cultivar to a "ghost type" maple I've seen in the UK. I had the pleasure of visiting Barthelemy's on a road trip recently and managed to pick up a few young Milligan trees. The variation of colour and reticulation this tree displays throughout the year is incredible. The leaves can actually be different colours than eachother at the same time. I've planted a couple next to my polytunnel and really looking forward to seeing this one grow. I'd say it has the same growth habit as Ariadne, branches grow wide and in random directions. I love it.

 

Mine didn't show much, if any, reticultion this year, just a reddish colour. Don't think I have any pics. Hopefully it was just a blip and will be back to normal next year...

 

I think that's the nature of variegated/reticulated maples. Take for instance, Ukigumo. One year it will have near enough all white foliage with the odd dot of green here and there, then the following year the leaves will all be green with hardly any variegation. There's a lot to take into consideration. Also if it's in too much sun the variegation doesn't come through with as much contrast. How old are your ones? Better variegation also comes with maturity.

 

I have had my 'Milligan' since summer 2022 and think it was a two year graft at that time, so about four years old. I reckon it will be good again next year, just a blip year this time. I have never seen any proper reversions on any of my reticulated JM's so not worried about that possibility at this stage.

More generally with variegated maples I think they fall into two categories, those that can switch on and off and back on again like 'Ukigumo', and those that show permanent reversions and can only be maintained in the long term by aggressively pruning out reverted shoots and branches (eg. 'Beni komachi').

 

Ahh okay, did you get yours from Barthelemys as well? It's been a strange year weather wise this year. I didn't get as much seed on my trees as usual either.

Talking of reversions, I've got a few Rainbows and they seem to send out a few reverted shoots but the variegation is still strong. Looks amazing. Pink on the trunk as well.