Japanese maples

[treeseer]

What is the average lifespan of Japanese maples?

How well do they resist decay?

 

[Elmore]

Lifespan? That's a tough one. I have seen a reference to one that is 500 years old and is now apparently dead. I would guess that 300 yrs or more would be an exception. I suppose a lot depends on the conditions that the tree is exposed to. Also the species. Not all Japanese Maples are Acer palmatum. I don't think that they resist decay any better than many trees but a healthy, well grown and vigorous tree tends to compartmentalize fairly well.

 

[treeman82]

The oldest living jap maples in this country are somewhere around 250 years old.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I agree with Dan, A. palmatum has problems with diseases up here, and the few old A. japonicum did little better.

A. ginalla and campestra have a similar mature size, do better for decay, but have nowhere near the aesthetic value the "japanese" sp. do.

I'm thinking of putting in a 'bloodgood' for mothersday this year.