How to Harvest Maple Tree Seeds for Planting

Maples are plentiful in most areas of the United States and Canada. Samaras, commonly known to children as "helicopters," are the fruit of the maple tree and contain a single seed. The fruits fall naturally as soon as they are mature. The time of year when they fall--late spring for silver maples and early fall for most other varieties--corresponds to the appropriate planting time.

Things You'll Need

• Resealable plastic bags
• Planting pots
• Growing medium

Instructions

1. Collect the seeds. Do not harvest samaras directly from the tree. Wait until they fall and gather them from the ground, leaving the entire fruit intact.

2. Store the seeds. Seeds that will not be planted immediately should be kept in a cool, dry place in a resealable bag.

3. Stratify the seeds. Stratification occurs naturally during the winter, so you can plant freshly harvested seeds immediately in pots to take advantage of the natural process. Seeds should be planted 1/4 inch to 1 inch deep (see Tips).

Tips & Warnings

• The exact time for maple seed stratification will vary based on the variety of maple, but always involves the following: soak the seed in warm water (110 to 122 degrees F) for one to three days; store in a damp planting medium such as peat for two to four months at about 70 degrees F; then store in the same manner at a cold, above-freezing temperature, between 33 and 40 degrees F, for no longer than four months. Try to duplicate the length of the fall-winter-spring cycle of your area for ideal stratification.

• Some varieties, such as the Japanese red maple, may not germinate for two to three years after planting.

References

• Germination of Tree Seed
• How to Grow Japanese Red Maple Trees from Seed
• "Japanese Maples: Momiji and Kaede;" J.D. Vertrees et al.; 2001