Japanese Acer Seeds, Do they come true?

Hi,

Does seeds from acers come true, i.e. like the mother parent? Or will they grow into their genetic form, i.e. before the parent acer was crossed? Sorry, but I'm no good on the wording for this type of thing.

It's just, I noticed someone was asking on GC how to grow acer seeds and I've seen sellers on eBay selling seeds and I've also got acers that I would like to collect seeds from to try grow. But I've a feeling I've read somewhere they don't grow true.

 

I don't know clum but I reckon @whis4ey will know. Hopefully he will be along soon to help you out.

 

Not many seeds from varieties grow true of any plant.
Its all about genes, but mostly I dont understand them.

Japanese maples are usually grafted in order to maintain the exact growth and leaf shape etc of the original.
That's not so say you wont find anything interesting if you grow from seed, its just not likely to be exactly similar to the parent.

 

No, they do not grow true from seed in normal circumstances
You can appreciate that the little bee who arrives to pollinate the flower on your acer has just travelled from a different acer, so you will get a different plant if you grow from that seed
Experiments trying to isolate the parent tree have had some success with 'true to parent' seedlings, in trying to ensure that the bee that arrives has just come from another flower on the same plant. Not too easy to do in the normal course of events
Grafting is thus the 'way of the pro'
As Pete says .. you might get a lovely and unique new tree though

 

Thanks @whis4ey @pete @Fern4

I thought this was the case and I didn't dreamt it lol. Oh well, if I notice the seeds this year, I'll try it.