Shantung Maple in limestone dirt?

[lou_midlothian_tx]

I can't find anything whether they can grow in heavily limestone soil or not.

If not, I can just get Caddo instead if they're available.

[The Ent]

I'm pretty sure I've heard Howard mention them growing in heave limestone soils.

Caddo's not a bad choice either, if you're more comfortable with that though.

[lou_midlothian_tx]

Thanks. I've already gotten shantung maple to replace lacey oak which wasn't doing well for some reason (no growth on top 2/3, only bottom 1/3 near the ground level). I also got caddo maple that replaced shumard oak that doesn't seem to do much compared to another shumard i have. I remember reading somewhere that if the buds aren't big enough, it probably won't do well in my area so I got rid of it. I wasn't too fond of light green colored leaves either. Both shumard oaks look totally different other than the shape of leaves.

[Drip]

For those still interested, I just planted a Shantung Maple in clay/limestone soils. I did so after watching my neighbor's over the last year.

The neighbor's tree grew so fast, I thought it was a junk maple until fall rolled around and it was brilliant. This tree is doing great. Fast grower, great fall color in less than ideal soil conditions.

[Dirt Doctor]

FYI - in my tests the native bigtooth maple is doing the best. Those natives like the healthy soil.

[Tree Dude]

That what I was thinking- plant bigtooth maple. I think the other two will do well.

Tree Dude

[lou_midlothian_tx]

Dirt Doctor wrote: FYI - in my tests the native bigtooth maple is doing the best. Those natives like the healthy soil.

Hello,

Can you give more details on how bigtooth maple is doing better than others? Thanks.

There's a nursery called Love Creek about an hour west of San Antonio claiming that their big tooth maples can grow 3-4 feet a year with "proper" fertilizer. Anyway, I probably will try and pick one up there in a couple months. The ones I've seen past year in dallas-ft worth area were only a foot tall in one gallon containers. It's a lot easier to find Caddo Maple than big tooth for me...

[Dirt Doctor]

The bigtooth has simply outgrown the other maples. It could be a fluke but I don't think so. The shantung I planted 5 years ago at my previous office has done well but gets some damage on the youngest growth during the heat of the summer. They don't maintain that complex organically. There is a southern sugar maple at the Discovery Gardens at Fair Park that looks really good. It would also be be worth considering if it can be found in the stores.