Recently got a 1 gallon Hubb's and while reading up on the cultivar online, I'm seeing a lot of conflicting information. One site describes it as an "unusually vigorous" grower, reaching up to 12 feet in 12 years, while another describes it as slow-growing and reaching 6-8 feet at maturity. I know these sort of conflicting descriptions are not uncommon with rarer cultivars, so I'n hoping for some firsthand experience. Does anyone actually have one of these in their garden? Any pictures and/or comments about the actual growth habit and size?
Notwithstanding the controversy about the name I have a couple 'Hubbs Red Willow' bought 5 years ago. A 1 gal was ~4' is now about 6' and a 5 gal was ~5' is now about 8'. Some photos scattered throughout the Cheering ourselves up with Maples thread as well as at links below Acer palmatum 'Hubbs Red Willow' Beni Otake vs Hubbs Red Willow
Wow -- they put on only 2 and 3 feet, respectively, in 5 years? That is certainly not what I'd call vigorous growth, particularly for an upright cultivar.
The growth rate, to a large extent, will depend on how vigorous a rootstock the scion is grafted to. Both 12 feet in 12 years and 2 feet in 5 years are equally possible from the same scion material depending on rootstock and other cultural factors.
Local Oregon nurseries are less exuberant than the first and closer to your second site mentioned. Buchholz & Buchholz Wholesale Nursery | Plant Page Hubbs Red Willow (Acer palmatum ‘Hubbs Red Willow’ ) | Whitman Farms
