Japanese Red Maple Trees are actually quite easy to grow from seed. In this article, I will give you step by step instructions for doing so.
Japanese maple trees produce some of the most beautiful and ornate seeds in the plant kingdom. Known as samaras, the seeds are housed in paper-thin pods that resemble mini helicopters as they twirl down from the trees in fall. Recognizing what Japanese maple seeds look like is key to identifying seedlings in your garden and collecting seeds to propagate new trees.
The Structure of Japanese Maple Seeds
Japanese maple seeds develop in paired winged pods called samaras. Samaras act as natural parachutes or propellers allowing the seeds to be carried away from the parent tree by wind. This aids in seed dispersal.
The samaras emerge green early in the growing season then turn red or brown when ripe Each samara contains a single seed The samaras grow in clusters of 2-6 pods,
In terms of size and shape samaras range from:
- 1⁄2 to 3⁄4 inch long
- 1⁄4 to 3⁄8 inch wide
- Propeller or helicopter-shaped
- Paper thin and may be tinged red or green
The paired samaras are attached at the fattest part of the pod with the wings spreading out on either side at roughly a 45 degree angle. This unique structure allows the samaras to efficiently catch air currents and flutter or twirl to the ground when released.
When Do Japanese Maples Produce Seeds?
Japanese maples flower in spring, with seeds maturing in fall. Samaras will start to turn from green to red or brown in September or October as they ripen.
Once ripe, the samaras will detach from the branches and twirl to the ground. In some cases, they may remain on the branches into winter. Ripe samaras are dry and brittle when crushed.
The best time to collect Japanese maple seeds for propagation is after they have fallen naturally or when the pods detach easily with a gentle shake or tug. Avoid prematurely picking unripe green pods in summer.
Where to Find Japanese Maple Seeds
In fall, keep an eye out for the helicopter-like samaras twirling down around Japanese maple trees in your neighborhood. They accumulate in the leaf litter below the canopies of the trees.
Check for freshly fallen samaras if propagating in fall, as seeds lose viability when overwintered on the ground. You may find stray samaras that traveled farther distances from parent trees tucked into beds and borders.
Leave some samaras untouched under the maple trees to self-sow. Many of these seeds sprout the following spring, resulting in free seedlings!
What Japanese Maple Seedlings Look Like
When maple samaras sprout the following spring, the emerging seedlings have distinct characteristics that make them easy to identify:
- First rounded seed leaves (cotyledons) are bright green and fat.
- Second set of true leaves are shaped like miniature Japanese maple leaves – deeply lobed with pointed tips.
- Stems and leaf undersides often have a reddish or purple blush.
- Fast initial growth while roots establish.
Don’t confuse young maple seedlings with weeds like bindweed. The lobed leaves and red stems set them apart once the second set of true leaves emerge.
Storing Japanese Maple Seeds for Propagation
To save seeds for propagating new trees:
- Collect freshly fallen, ripe samaras or detach from branches after pods turn brown.
- Remove the wings and separate seeds from pods. Discard any that are moldy or damaged.
- Place seeds in an airtight container in moist perlite, peat, or other media.
- Store in the refrigerator or other location with temps around 40°F for at least 90 days of cold, moist stratification.
In spring, remove and sow seeds following maple seed propagation tips.
Growing Japanese Maples from Seed
With their spinning samaras and distinct seedlings, Japanese maples produce some of the most fascinating seeds you’ll find. Now that you know how to identify them, you can collect these winged wonders for growing your own beautiful new Japanese maple trees.
Japanese maple seeds, when properly cultivated, can transform into stunning, fully-grown trees over time. Growing an Acer palmatum from seed isn’t too complicated, but does require some patience.
Here is a brief overview of how to germinate Japanese maple seeds:
- Collect ripe samaras in fall once they are brown and dry.
- Remove the wings and place the seeds in moist media like peat or perlite.
- Stratify the seeds for 90-100 days in cool temperatures around 40°F.
- In spring, sow stratified seeds in pots or directly in the ground.
- Keep soil moist and seedlings in partial shade as they establish.
Even if you make a mistake along the way, don’t get discouraged. You’ll have many more seasons to try propagating Japanese maples from seed again. It’s a gratifying gardening skill to cultivate a maple tree from just a tiny seed!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you pick Japanese maple seeds?
Seeds ripen in the fall and when they turn brown they are ready to be harvested. They will be attached to a wing, but it is best to break the wing off before storing or planting the seeds.
Do Japanese maples drop seeds?
Yes, Japanese maple seeds fall from the tree when ripe in autumn. Late September to October is the time to collect them.
How hard is it to grow Japanese maple from seed?
Full-size Japanese maples, such as the popular red-leaved ‘Bloodgood,’ are very easy to grow from seeds as long as you follow the proper planting and care guidelines.
What do maple tree seeds look like?
The seeds are a winged samara that comes in pairs with 2 seeds fused together. The wings hang parallel to each other. Parallel wings are diagnostic of Japanese maples.
Step Check the seeds for viability.
After you collect the seeds you can spread them out on a table and randomly pick a few seeds from the batch. Place those seeds one at a time on a cutting board and cut through the seed with a sharp knife. As you do this notice what the consistency of the seed is like. The seed should firm, or hard. Not soft and mushy.
Inspect the inside of the seed. The inside of the seed should green or cream in color. The tissue should look firm and healthy with good color. If the seeds are hollow inside or the embryo is brown or brown and mushy, that seed is no good. It’s a good idea to know that your seeds are viable so you don’t waste your time trying to grow them.
If you suspect that you have bad seed, see if you can collect more from a different tree. There are likely all kinds of Japanese maple trees in your town that you may have never noticed. Banks, doctors office, city hall, parks, cemetery’s, etc. And in peoples yards. Always ask permission, most people are happy to let you pick a few seeds.
Step Soaking Japanese maple seeds in hot water.
First let’s talk about sowing Japanese maple seeds outside, in the fall. Japanese maple seeds have a very hard outer coating and the seeds cannot, will not germinate until that outer coating is softened up.
In nature, this is a very slow process and can take up to two years before the outer coating is softened up enough for the seeds to germinate. And of course, that means that germination could occur at any time during the growing season which is really not good. It’s best to have those seedlings germinate in the spring so that by the time summer and fall roll around they are strong enough to withstand the harsh summer heat and sun, and then the freezing weather in the fall and winter.
In other words, we can control when the seeds germinate by soaking them and softening the outer coating of the seed to get the germination process started. Soaking Japanese red maple seeds in hot water.
This step is easy. Simply run hot water from the tap and fill a cup. Not quite boiling water, but hot water. Fill a cup with water, drop in your seeds and as the water cools down simply let them soak.
Remove, break off the wing before you soak the seeds.
The only part of the seed that you need is the part that is opposite the wing. Simply snap off the wing and keep the little round ball part. The actual seed is inside of that little round ball. Soaking Japanese red maple seeds in hot water.
When you first place the seeds in the water they will float. As they soak the seeds will get heavier and drop to the bottom of the cup. Seeds that never sink are probably not viable and can be disposed of.
Keep in mind that propagating any kind of a plant is really a numbers game. The more you do, the better your chances of success. I took this photo just so I could do this article. If I were serious about growing these seeds for myself I would collect and sow hundreds if not thousands of seeds.
Let them soak for 24 hours. If you want to repeat this process and soak them for another 24 hours I’m sure that would be fine and it will to help soften the outer coating of the seeds. Just pour off the water and add more hot water and soak for an additional 24 hours.