As I’m sure many of you know, Monrovia is selling the first zone 4 Japanese maple that isn’t a cross with Acer pseudosieboldianum. It is Velvet Viking, Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Monfrick.’ These are grafted trees and I wonder what they use as rootstock in order to ensure survival in zone 4. I happened to pass by some at a garden center yesterday that have sprung growth from below the graft union and I took a couple photos. I wonder if anyone can tell me what it is - palmatum? Pseudosieboldianum? Something else? Grafting is not in my knowledge base so pardon me if any of this is unclear or erroneous!
Funny, 'Monfrick' is about equal to "mon fric" meaning "my cash" in French. :) It's reasonable to wonder why the rootstock is also good to zone 4. I've had times when the rootstock was more tender than the graft. The rootstock froze, the graft was fine. How many times will that happen here? -E
I appreciate everyone’s contributions, and I share Emery’s concerns. On the one hand, I do hear a lot of comments that JMs are less likely to freeze outright than they are to be damaged by wind, winter sun, or late frosts. So the confidence (hubris?) in using palmatum rootstock would support that notion. But I worry slightly about it jeopardizing an otherwise wonderful advancement, especially it is marketed as Zone 4, not just 4B, where the source tree originated (Minneapolis metro). I will certainly keep the forums updated in the coming years, as I have two in my yard, new this year.
I heard/read that the plain Acer palmatum species can withstand temperatures of at least -25°C when in the ground. They're probably more fragile when potted and need some winter protection where you live : a friend of mine spent 2 years in Minneapolis and from what he told me, winters can be pretty harsh there...
It’s gone. I bought three and all had trouble, whereas I successfully kept Inaba Shidare and Tamukeyama alive in Zone 4B. That said, I’ve seen Velvet Vikings get planted in the neighborhood since and they’ve done well, even without winter protection. One JM specialist grower (I’ll keep them anonymous, but a known name on here) wondered if Monrovia and/or local sellers were over-fertilizing the initial crops to try to get enough inventory out. Now that the initial rush is over, they may be grown a little more sustainably, hence the success of recent specimens.
Oh @ijsnyder that's really awesome about your Inaba Shidare surviving in zone 4! How big is it? I think Inabe ShidAre is quite hardy. I have some Inabe Shidare surviving in zone 3 in my area. Do you provide any winter protection for your Inabe Shidare? Sorry to hear about your Velvet Viking. I am hoping to get some to try next spring. Sadly they don't get very tall.
@MomijiCanuck Zone 3? Tell us your ways, Sensei! I make a fence from chicken wire or a sort of green mesh and then wrap a burlap screen over it to block wind and winter sun. Generally, it has seemed to work best using a neighbor’s house to block winter sun too. Although (knock on wood) I have an Aureum in total exposure that has been happy for 4 full years. FWIW, Minneapolis has recently been upgraded to Zone 5. Here is the Inaba Shidare - It’s 5 years old, grown from a 1 gal from Diana Smith. Maybe 2.5 feet tall now? I think this cultivar has a really nice H/W proportions:
The picture of your Inabe Shidare is amazing it, I like it, looks very healthy. All I been doing is piling snow on top of it and it seems to insulate it enough. I like to know more about your Aureum.... Do you mind sharing a picture of that? Do you think Aureum is pretty hardy then? Do you winterize it? How cold does FWIW, Minneapolis get ? -30F ? Thanks
