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Botanical leaf guide prunes5/18/2023 Eventually the wild trees were cultivated by the native population. Interestingly, these trees are evergreen and retain their foliage in warmer climates. In the wild, Japanese plums tend to grow at higher elevations. It does well in regions with mild temperate to subtropical climates. The Japanese plum is originally native to central China, but has been grown in Japan for over 1,000 years. The sweet scented flowers and bright fruit catch the senses and make it a wonderful addition to any home or garden in temperate to tropical areas. ![]() Today, Japanese plums are the most commonly sourced in the United States for the use of fresh fruit. It’s a plum species with a history deep-rooted in the Asian continent and botanical discovery. This tree or shrub has many uses, simply as an ornamental garden variety or as a source of fruit and even tea. If you need help identifying your tree, take a look at our Bonsai tree identification guide.The Japanese plum is a plant much loved by gardeners. It's also well-known and popular for its very attractive yellow, orange, and red autumn colors, orange and red maples being the most popular. The young shoots in spring have yellowish, orange, or even bright red leaves. Red leaved varieties (often referred to as simply a red maple) include the Deshojo and Seigen. The Japanese Maple trees are very popular as ornamental shrubs like Kiyohime, Kashima, Shishigashira, and Arakawa. About 500 cultivars of the species are known, many with special leaf colours or shapes, dwarf growth or interesting bark textures. The fruits split into two winged seeds, shaped like a paired winged nut that floats to the ground like propellers when they drop. The reddish flowers have five petals and appear in clusters in May to June. The bark of young trees is green or reddish and smooth and turns light grey with age. The maple is also known and loved for its attractive autumn colours in all shades of yellow, orange and red. In spring the new leaves have a yellowish or orange to bright red colour, depending on the variety or cultivar. The opposite leaves are divided into five to eleven pointed lobes, with toothed edges. In nature the green palmate maple grows shrub-like or as a slender tree and can become up to 15 m tall. For an interesting case study, check our article making a Maple. Palma is Latin for palm, as in the palm of your hand. It owes its botanical name to the hand-shaped leaves with five pointed lobes (but more lobes are possible). The Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum) belongs to the soap tree family (Sapindaceae) and is originally from Japan, China, and Korea. General information about the Maple Bonsai tree Continue reading about pruning Bonsai trees. Remove the largest leaves, closely spaced leaves, or the leaves in the strongest areas of the tree. As the name suggests, partial pruning does not require you to remove all the leaves. Partial leaf pruning is a more gentle and less stressful pruning method, so it can be done every year. When pruning, remove all the leaves, but make sure to leave the leaf-stems intact. It should not be done every year because it puts quite a bit of stress on the tree. Leaf pruning is the removal of all leaves during the growing season to encourage a second and often finer flush of growth. This method weakens the tree in the long run and should be applied specifically and thoughtfully. ![]() After the first leaf pair has unfolded, remove the soft little tip of the shoot between them to prevent the twigs from thickening. ![]() Mature Bonsai with a delicate ramification can be pinched in order to keep the twigs thin. New growth should be pruned back to one or two pairs of leaves. ![]() The Maple is particularly vulnerable to some fungal infections and diseases. When pruning thick branches we advise using a cut paste product to prevent fungal diseases that can enter through pruning wounds. Strong branches should be pruned in autumn or summer, when callus growth is quick, to prevent excessive bleeding. Trimming shoots and twigs can be done year-round.
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