Question
I read much about growing from seed, but no mention at all as to where the seeds come from.  I mean they must come from the mother plant, right, but how and when and where exactly do they emerge? I have read your piece on propagating from stem cuttings and would like to know if the slanted cut is made above or below the V of the two stems?  It sounds like the cut goes below, leaving the V in tact and that is where the few slices are made for roots to emerge, would that be correct? I have a gorgeous 3 or 4 yr. old dwarf weeping lace leaf Japanese maple, possibly crimson queen, about 3 1/2 feet tall, with 2 main branches off the top, one to the left and one to the right.  I would love to have more!

Answer
Hi Melzie,
Thanx for your question.  Many deciduous trees have inconspicuous flowers in the spring and on these flowers, the seeds develop.  The Japanese maple like other maples has winged seeds but they are very much smaller.

Here's a picture of the flower.  They're often hidden amongst the leaves.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/Acer-palmatum-flowers.JPG

Eventually, the flowers give way to miniature versions of maple seeds we often referred to as "helicopters" when we were kids by the way the rotated as they fell to the Earth.

Maple seed pictures.

http://classes.hortla.wsu.edu/hort231/List04/Acer.html

I have attempted to root Japanese maple cuttings with no success.  Everything that I have read advises not to try it because it seldom works and with some cultivars WILL NOT work.  Many Japanese maples are grafted onto stronger woods stock and I have no experience with grafting.  Most references advise to grow from seed.  Japanese maple seeds are notoriously stingy about germination.  So, use lots of seeds.  Bear in mind that most Japanese maples are hybrids and the resulting seedlings will not directly resemble the parent plants although you will get some nice looking plants.  The seed needs to stratified (given a cold treatment) at 40F or below for 60-90 days.  Put the seeds in a wet paper towel and put inside a plastic baggie. Place the baggie inside the fridge and keep it there for 60-90 days.  After that treatment, plant the seeds in a pot of potting soil about 1/2 in deep and keep warm.  Germination will occur sporadically over the next few weeks.  Keep the pot under 40watt shop lights and when the seedlings are large enough to handle, gently prick them out and plant them in separate pots.  Don't put them outdoors until there is no danger of frost.  Put them in the shade first to acclimate them to the outdoors for about 10 days and then plant in a place where they will receive afternoon shade.  I hope this helps.
Tom