They came up naturally around the mother tree from seed :-)
I see you are 8b...In my opinion any seed producing maple germinates easily. But if you live in warm climate that doesn't get hard freezes and snows. I can see where that would be a problem. You may have to germinate these in the fridge. These seeds like to go through a cold winter.
I send this info when people buy seeds from me:
Germination Tips:
Most seeds can be stored in the refrigerator, and can withstand cold treatment. Annual flowers and vine seeds usually germinate without any cold treatment. Although there are many Annual seeds that benefit from cold treatment (like Impatiens capensis and pallida) Very tiny seeds (like snapdragons) can be sown right on top of the growing medium surface for germination. Hard coated seeds can benefit from being nicked and soaked in water before sowing. For example, Morning Glory seeds germinate faster when soaked before sowing. Seeds that benefit from cold treatment are usually Cold Hardy Perennials. They can be winter sown in the ground or prepared indoors.
Keep in mind when sowing seeds indoors the key is: You are trying to duplicate how germination occurs in natural conditions for that particular plant. For preparing indoors, place seeds inside a small bag, or container with vermiculite, add water. Just enough to wet the vermiculite and squeeze any excess water out the baggie, then seal it shut. Then place the ziplock bag/container in the freezer (very cold hardy plants) or in the refrigerator (semi-cold hardy plants) for 6-12 weeks until ready to sow. Therefore they will already be cold stratified and ready for sowing indoors. Always use good seed starting medium (or vermiculite) when trying to start new seeds.
Note: Seeds can germinate in the Baggie in the refrigerator. So keep an eye on them after a few weeks.
