Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Acer with both red and green leaves.

gilham.homegilham.home Posts: 5
in Plants
I have a well established acer in a very large pot. When I bought it red leaves appeared. With time green leaves appeared from new growth at the base. What is going on? Is it to do with grafting?
«1

Posts

  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    It may be the graft if the  green is coming from lower down.  A picture would help. 
    AB Still learning

  • gilham.homegilham.home Posts: 5

  • gilham.homegilham.home Posts: 5
    ta da!
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    The green is coming from the rootstock, below the graft.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • gilham.homegilham.home Posts: 5
    I think the graft is just visible and yes the Green is growing below it. So who will win, Red or Green?
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I would cut the green stem at its base and rub out any new shoots that appear from there, otherwise it will grow much more strongly than the red leaved scion and take over. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • gilham.homegilham.home Posts: 5
    Thank you for your advice.
  • pinutpinut Posts: 194
    edited April 2023
    Instead of chopping off the sucker growth and discarding it, why not air-layer it instead.

    Next year, when the air-layered branch has rooted, graft onto it a branch taken from the main portion of the tree with the red leaves (the scion). Do that around mid February.

    Once the graft has fused (around August time), separate the air-layer from the tree.

    You will have then propagated your own tree which is a genetic clone of the mother plant.

    You can do this to most trees in your garden.


  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    I would keep that as it is personally and try to prune back the green stem to stop it from becoming dominant. It makes for an interesting plant and the contrast is lovely.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    There's one not far from me which has done the same thing and the owners have left it - or don't realise what's happened. It looks a bit odd, but it'll be interesting to see how it grows on. I rarely go that way for a walk though, so I've not seen it for a while.

    The red part is such a good shape [and more preferable IMO] so I'd be inclined to remove it, especially as it's potted, but it comes down to personal taste. The one I saw is in the ground so it's easier on the plant re moisture etc   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Sign In or Register to comment.