Red maple or red maple (Acer rubrum) is one of the predominant tree species in the eastern United States and Canada. This type of maple is - compared to others - very adaptable and is suitable for various surfaces. The ornamental tree also impresses with its very intense autumnal leaf coloring, which is part of the famous Indian summer in its homeland. So it's no wonder that this maple is now also popular in German gardens.
How much does a red maple cost?
Red Maple Prices vary depending on the size and age of the tree. Larger specimens, around two meters high, can cost between 200 and 300 EUR, while seedlings are available for a few euros. Red maple bonsai are particularly expensive due to their rarity and long development time.
The bigger the tree, the higher the price
There is only one drawback: Since the red maple is (still) quite rare and, like so many other types of maple, is comparatively difficult to grow from seeds or cuttings, such a specimen naturally costs a lot of money. The larger and older the specimen, the more expensive the price. A larger, well-developed solitaire with a height of around two meters can cost between 200 and 300 EUR! Seedlings, on the other hand, can be had for just a few euros, but they do not always develop into a stately tree as hoped.
Red maple is quite expensive, especially as a bonsai
Red maple bonsai in particular are very expensive, after all, this type of maple is rarely trained into a miniature tree and is therefore very rare. This is not necessarily because the red maple is particularly difficult to train or care for - but it does take a long time to develop from a young tree into an attractive specimen of bonsai. On average, enthusiasts have to plan for between 10 and 15 years of intensive care and activity to create a miniature work of art from a blank.
Grow red maple cheaply from seeds – instructions
If you are interested in a red maple but are afraid to spend on a finished specimen, you can grow one yourself from seeds. The seeds are available in specialist retailers and in many online shops, although of course you have to be very lucky - maple seeds do not germinate for a particularly long time and so some seed deliveries can turn out to be sterile. Otherwise, remember that the red maple is a cold germinator and its seeds must be stratified before sowing. The best way to do this is to pack the seeds in a tightly sealable bag of moist sand and store a few of them (about four to six) in the vegetable drawer of your refrigerator. The seeds can then be sown.
Tip
In view of the prices, it is of course an even greater loss if the freshly planted red maple leaves its leaves hanging within a short period of time. You should plan the planting carefully, especially with regard to the location and the soil conditions.
