which is the max age of acer palmatum subsp.palmatum in cultivation? which is the maple that live more than another maples?
I don't know what the oldest palmatum subsp. palmatum is Alex, but you might like to see the examples of iroha-momiji pictured on this Japanese website some of which are reputed to be over 500 years old. Scroll 2/3rds of the way down the page and see this one for example:
Gee, very interesting, they kind of make the older ones seen here look like slivers. Interesting photos looking around that site, which seems to still be getting updated at times. Thanks maf. Not sure how long A. macrophyllum can live Alex, would be nice to know. Have seen some at least 2-2.5 m. trunk diameter trees in Maple Ridge, B.C., which was named after the maples. Apparently one in Oregon, U.S., has a trunk diameter of near 3.75 m. {12'}. Maybe somebody on the forum or from U.B.C. would have an idea of the age of trees that large.
Yes it is a very interesting site. Respect is due to the author, Hajime Hayashida, for building it up over the last eleven years. Here is the homepage for anyone who is interested: Maples and Japanese Culture. (There is a link in the UBC Maple Resources on the Web page, but it needs redirecting and a proper title would help). There are also some examples of other Acer species that are several hundred years old in the Gigantic Trees and Noted Trees page.
Native American maple species are not as long lived as their Japanese cousins. Silver Maple and Sugar Maple can live to be 200+ years old, but tend to fall apart as they get up there in years. Red Maple is even less - perhaps 100 years.
There is also a 700+ year-old Sango Kaku pictured on the back of a Maple Society newsletter from last year... truly an impressive tree. edit - amazing pictures on that mohsho link!
This is the oldest Sugar Maple I've been able to find a picture of. 500 years. http://empressofdirt.blogspot.com/2008/07/oldest-sugar-maple-tree-in-canada.html
It isn't ;-) The Canadian flag shows a stylised maple leaf, deliberately designed to be not identifiable to a particular species, so as not to favour maples from one part of Canada over those from any other part of Canada.
ohoh this reply is very interesting!because in some book is write that is Saccharinium,in another is Saccarum... thanks Michael ciao
i return in this thread, about the maple on the Canada flag any another news?this question is very important for me !
Yes, Sam, it means some of our maples will outlive us - and for those of us in our 60's it is likely "many' not "some" and I am fine with that - it is grand that beauty persists. I love to germinate Japanese maples and as I watch them grow their 1st year I often smile in awareness that they be alive when I am not. It makes me feel a little more "eternal" and humble. HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011 to all my forum colleagues!!!
