Atypical Growth A.p. 'Geisha'

Discussion in 'Maples' started by mjh1676, Apr 28, 2005.

  1. mjh1676

    mjh1676 Active Member Maple Society 10 Years

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    Just thougth everyone might be interested in my experience with Geisha so far. This is my second year with the tree and it is about 5 years old. Last year there were two very large atypical leaves on the upper most branch. It is a tall graft and is poorly branched, but characteristic in habit I believe. Figuring that the atypical would settle down this year, I did nothing. This spring the atypical has spread to encompass the entire upper branch, with just the lower two large leaves showing typical characteristics on just the outter lobe. I took photos today and checked the branch and it is growing vigorously, while the remainder of the tree is still leafing out.

    So the question: anyone seen anything like this? Shall we call it atypical or reversion? I would say it might be reverting, but the fact that the leaves are red makes me wonder. Also, the fact the the growth rate of the suspect branch far exceeds the tree as a whole gives rise to concern.

    Michael
     

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  2. Acer palmatum 'Crazy'

    Acer palmatum 'Crazy' Active Member Maple Society 10 Years

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    Hey Michael,
    I must say the spring color of 'Geisha' is nice. That is really strange having the branch continue reverted. I guess we will continue to learn, that is one nice thing about growing them out from 1-2 year grafts. We will know our plants well.

    I have a green strap leaf, cant remember name at moment, that had huge palmate leaves on new growth, but this year that growth is the typical strap shape. I am noticing alot of the more variegated/lightly colored cultivars are more complex. I will be interested to see how the branch continues. Do you have any new apical growth from the standard 'Geisha' branches and is that growth normal.

    Its always something with variegates and colors other than standard red/green. Its to high a fertilization, to much wind, to much/littlle sun, etc. Between all of that and then trying to sort out juvenile growth, they can be quite complex individuals.

    My 'Goshiki Kotohime' looks very healthy, but its new growth doesnt have quite what i would call variegated. I imagine alot on the market are really 'Kotohime'. I keep hoping for the growth to show some variegation, but after seeing some real variegation on a 'Goshiki Kotohime' at a nursery, i am started to label mine 'Kotohime'.

    Keep me informed. It's a gorgeous tree, wish i had gotten the scions you sent to me to take. But that was one of my early tries, LOL.

    I will email you about the order i recieved this weekend, overall i was very happy.

    Mike
    Acer palamtum 'Crazy'
     
  3. mjh1676

    mjh1676 Active Member Maple Society 10 Years

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    Hey Mike,

    The color is quite spectacular, I had not seen this one in spring until this year, but it certainly stands out as unique. The best what to describe the color is a deep orange-pink.

    I have veriegated maples changing all over the place. If I did not have them tagged and in similar spots, I might not recognize them. I suspect one problem might be that if we keep the veriegates in pots, the constant changes in cultural conditions can play a role continuously altering their appearance. They certainly will be best observed if planted in the ground, but I don't have enough shade to find spots for all of them.

    Anyway, with the Geisha, some of the atypical or revelted chutes were beginning to grow strongly and I was worried that they were taking too much of the plant's energy. I supect the entire branch will have to come off, but for now, I trimmed all of the chutes on the branch back to one leaf pair and hopefully I can redirect the growth. I might wait one more spring to see what happens with the branch, as it adds to the overall structure of the plant. If I get another good chute growing in the right place this year, I might cut the branch off in winter. After two seasons, I have very little hope that it will put out any typical foliage in the future.

    Look forward to hearing about your new trees.

    Michael
     

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