The fiery shadings of the Coral Bark maple lend pizzazz to the winter garden. They rings of a deeper red when brought inside at this time of the year, and when I added them to a bouquet of evergreens during the holiday season, I thought that was all I needed. Then they started budding out at the end of their vase life, which gave me an idea to try my hand at forcing a new batch.
Regardless of whether or not it works, they make a finely handsome statement as they are – subtle yet elegant, and the shading of the bark is just enough to ensure that this is more than a bunch of dead branches. If they are good enough to pop into a few chartreuse pom-poms of maple foliage, so much the merrier.
To force branches in the winter (think forsythia or cherry or any early-blooming tree), I usually find a pocket of relatively warmer days (last week’s quick thaw of 50 degree days worked well) and cut off a few prime stems. (If you notice that there are tiny buds ready to swell, that’s an indication they may force well.)
With smaller branches, it’s best to soak them in a large bucket of lukewarm water for a few hours (completely submerged if possible) to rehydrate their system. The branches here were too long and unwieldy to fit into a bucket, so I gave them a shower – literally, in the bathroom – for a few minutes, wetting every inch of them and letting them take in as much as possible before re-cutting their stems and plunging them into a vase.
We shall see if they deign to send forth a few leaves. I do so hope it happens – it would be lovely at such a barren time of the year. Keep your fingers crossed and say a little prayer for this coral-barked beauty.
