Bonsai Potential: Green-leaf Japanese Maple 3 (Acer palmatum) in 9 L Air-Pot Container

Family: Sapindaceae (includes maples, lychee, and horse chestnut)
Genus: Acer (the maples)

Botanical/Binomial Name: Acer palmatum
Meaning of Name:
Acer, from Latin acer (‘maple tree’); and
palmatum, from Latin palmātum (neuter singular of palmātus, ‘hand-shaped’, ‘palm-leaf shaped’)

Common Names: Japanese Maple

Botanical Characteristics: Woody | Perennial | Deciduous | Frost hardy
Propagation: Seed | Air layering | Grafting

Item Description:
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I’m pretty sure this is from a seed I sowed in 2014. Last year the top two-thirds died, I think because it was poorly-potted and the roots were struggling. When this was confirmed by spring this year 2024, I repotted it in November 2024 into the 9 L Air-Pot ® and cut it back to the second node above the uppermost live node — to make it clear this part is dead — early December 2024.

The trunk to the cut end is about 310 mm.

Dimensions of the 9 L Air-Pot ®:
Inside diameter: 233 mm
Outside diameter: 269 mm
Height: 275 mm

The top two rows of cones are closed and act as a water reservoir.

Plant Description:
This green-leaf Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) has great bonsai potential with a trunk about ten yers old. I have very good reason to believe this tree was grown from seed in 2014, but am not 100% certain.
The top two-thirds has been cut back to two dead nodes above the uppermost live one for a total trunk height of about 310 mm.

Air-Pot containers create dense fibrous root balls as in the photos — these are not of this tree but of another maple grown in a 3 L Air-Pot container.

Bonsai enthusiasts love these containers for this very reason, and we have a dedicated range of bonsai training pots here.

The reason this particular maple is not in one of those is because its root ball was better suited for this deeper container in which to develop further.

Growing Information:
Japanese maples grow well in a pot or the ground, and can handle from full sun to shade, though their native habitat is as understorey trees in shady woodland.

These trees grow well all over Australia, including more dry regions providing they have enough water. They are frost hardy temperate trees, and will survive winters colder than is typical of most places in Australia. I would not recommened these for tropical regions as they would not get strong enough signals to trigger winter dormancy.

Acer palmatum makes both a stunning bonsai as well as a striking landscape tree. The autumn colours of its leaves are wonderful to behold as it prepares to enter winter dormancy.