The History of Buchholz Nursery

The following article appeared in the Maple Society* Newsletter, spring 2021:

“I don't know where I'm going, but I'm on my way.

Voltaire

The Editor of the Maple Society Newsletter, Hugh Angus, asked me to present a history of Buchholz Nursery, and he suggests that it “would be good and more importantly enjoyed by members.” Honestly, I groaned at the assignment, probably less optimistic about what you members will enjoy! Furthermore, I'm sure that Mr. Angus holds an off-kilter imagination about my nursery when he describes it as “one of the biggest and best nurseries in the USA.” It is neither, by far. To assist me, the Editor offers eleven topics that my article could include. Let's take a look at each of these:

When did you start the nursery?

In 1979 I bought 25 acres of good soil with a miserable little house, hot in the summer and freezing in the winter.

What did you focus on in the early years?

I focused on financial survival. I had a mortgage and no money to invest; and really a nursery “business” was a necessary evil, as a means to collect and observe plants, all of which would have been more simple and far less stressful if I had been independently wealthy. To pull it off I worked full-time for the Dutchman's nursery and the neighbor's start-up nursery for the first six years while getting my company off the ground.

When did maples become important to the nursery?

From before the beginning. Since the early 1970s I worked at a large wholesale nursery that produced thousands of “plebeian” plants – Alberta spruce, Mugo pines, hybrid Rhododendrons and the like. That company also grew a smattering of red-laceleaf maples, probably Acer palmatum 'Ornatum', and at the time I was unaware of the concept of a “cultivar,” and that there was a plethora of other cultivated selections of maples. When I discovered the 1978 Timber Press publication of Japanese Maples by J.D. Vertrees it changed my life forever. What a coincidence that Vertrees was from Oregon also, and even more remarkable was that his sister and her husband owned the 25 acres that I had recently purchased. Perhaps I was destined, then, to grow maples.

How many maples do you now produce on an annual basis?

These days we produce about 30,000 - 40,000 each year. Some are raised from seed and are sold as seedlings, such as seedlings from Acer palmatum 'Mikawa yatsubusa' where about 25% display the short internodes of the mother tree. Those that are more-normal palmatum-like become rootstock. Other varieties are produced via rooted cuttings under mist in summer such as Acer palmatums 'Goshiki kotohime', 'Emerald Lace' and 'Orange Dream'. We graft approximately 30-35,000 named cultivars onto seedling rootstock in July, August and September. Understand that not every seed germinates, nor does every cutting strike root, and certainly not every graft “takes” (i.e. is successful). Just as well, for we are always behind dealing with the ones that do make it.

Acer palmatum 'Beni sazanami'

How many different cultivars do you sell.

About 300, maybe more, but it wouldn't really matter if it was 200 or 500. Some I keep around as old friends, where I produce only 25 every two or three years, such as Acer palmatums 'Omato' and 'Beni sazanami'. There is no valid commercial reason to do so, however.

Acer palmatum 'Purple Ghost'

What is the process of selection for sale?

There is no formal “process” in my case. Perhaps there should be. I try to not have too many or too few, but my crystal ball faded out at the beginning. If I like a cultivar, then that is usually good enough. But not always.

Colobanthus quitensis

Davidia involucrata 'Lady Sunshine'

Pleione x confusa 'Golden Gate'

What other plants do you specialize in?

We grow three groups of plants: 1) maples, 2) conifers and 3) everything else. The third group is probably the most interesting as it ranges from Pleione orchids to variegated Davidia cultivars to alpine plants. Buchholz Nursery grows plants from all seven continents – yes, Antarctica too (Colobanthus quitensis) – and our company motto is Plants From The Best Corners Of The World.

What are your aims – quality or quantity?

Again, quantity doesn't matter to me at all. As for quality I would give my nursery a “B” grade, and it's a hell of an effort to keep it at that level.

Acer palmatum 'Shishigashira'

What sort of sizes do you sell, best sellers?

That's two questions. For sizes we sell plants in small pots from $1.25 each (about 1 Euro) up to a $10,000 tree. For best sellers...hmm, I don't know how to answer that because it always changes.

Flora Wonder Arboretum

The importance of the arboretum to the nursery?

For my employees, the “arboretum” is an unnecessary black hole of the company profit, and the funds would be better spent on employee raises. For me, every plant member of the Flora Wonder Arboretum is my family. I don't love every plant equally however, and if one gives me trouble I can always kick it off the ark. I am the arboretum and it is me. At some point I will go cold turkey and never tend to a plant again. I look forward to freedom from my beautiful prison.

The Buchholz Family, 2012

The next question – will your girls take on the nursery eventually?

I have four daughters, and I can answer for all of them: “No way.” “Hell no.” “Are you kidding?” “Pops – you're losing it.” My one son already has a better-paying career, so not him either. Perhaps someone in the readership would like to take it on.

*Visit www.maplesociety.org and become a member!