Buchholz Plant Introductions (Part 1)

Please allow me to introduce myself,” or at least some of my plant selections. The word introduction is from Latin introducere, “to lead in, bringing,” from intro meaning “inward, to the inside” and ducere “to lead.”

Sciadopitys verticillata

Sciadopitys verticillata

In the worlds of botany and horticulture it refers to making known to science or commerce the existence of something previously unknown. As an example, the Japanese conifer Sciadopitys verticillata (maki) was first introduced (I) as a single plant by British explorer Thomas Lobb in 1853, “later more successfully by both Robert Fortune and J.G. Veitch in 1861,” according to The Hillier Manual of Trees and Shrubs (2019). Of course Lobb, Fortune and Veitch didn't introduce anything new to the natives of Japan, but rather to the scientific community of Europe.

Sequoiadendron giganteum

Sequoiadendron giganteum

The “Giant redwood” of California was first described by John D. Matthew in August 1853, and he referred to the trees as Wellingtonia (incorrectly, it turned out), and it was William Lobb, Thomas Lobb's brother, who collected specimens (living trees) and rushed them back to England and the scientific establishment in December of 1853. While once considered a member of Sequoia sempervirens (the “Coast redwood”) it was J.T. Buchholz, botanist at the University of Illinois, who argued for reclassification in 1939 as a distinct genus which he named Sequoiadendron giganteum. His successful assertion appeared in the American Journal of Botany 26(7): 535-538 entitled The Genetic Segragation [sic] of Sequoias. Naturally I am attracted to this botanical trivia due to my enthusiasm for everything Buchholz.

Strix occidentalis

Chief Sequoyah

But the Learned in London were not documenting anything new to the native denizens of California who knew of the trees centuries before, as at least three Native American names for the species were already known. My favorite is the Miwok tribe who called it Wawona,” but it's not certain if that was their name for the mammoths, or for the hoot of the “spotted owl” (Strix occidentalis), a bird considered the trees' spiritual guardian. I would have preferred if old botany professor Buchholz had christened the Giant redwood as Wawona giganteum.* Today's generic names of Sequoia and Sequoiadendron at least honor an American native, Chief Sequoyah (1776-1843), but the Cherokee leader never set eyes upon the giants, and unfortunately he passed away before he was subsequently honored.

*Keep in mind that “Wawona giganteum” would be nomenclaturally illegal today, illegal ever-since the 1950s, because two different languages cannot be employed for a plant name. But because J.T. Buchholz proposed his new scientific name in 1939 – which was accepted – the later rules had not yet been established.

Acer palmatum

Acer japonicum

Acer platanoides 'Princeton Gold'

Acer platanoides 'Princeton Gold'

The Hillier Manual provides the date of introduction (I) to the west for a species of variety – if the date is known – after the general description. “Where no date of introduction is known, the earliest date of cultivation (C) is often included.” Thus: “Acer palmatum Thunb. Japanese maple. Generally a large shrub or small, often multi-stemmed tree with a low, rounded head. Leaves 5 or 7-lobed of a bright green. Japan. E. China, Korean peninsula, Taiwan. I 1820.” And for an unknown date, an example is Acer buergerianum: “Small, bushy tree with 3-lobed long-persistent, glaucous-backed leaves often red or orange in autumn...C 1890.” For Acer platanoides, Hillier describes “Norway maple. A handsome, fast-growing tree of large size...Long cultivated;” so, no (I) or (C), just “long cultivated.”

Acer palmatum 'Ikandi'

Acer palmatum 'Ikandi'

In my career I fell short of discovering or naming any genus or species, but I'm vain enough to admit that I would have loved to bask in such glory. In the annals of horticulture my biography can be described as a bit actor's enthusiasm for his role in selecting, introducing and promoting variations (cultivars – cultivarients) of already established species. There seems to be no restrictions on what we cultivarists invent for the names of our introductions, hence we have to live with 'Berry Exciting', 'Ikandi', 'Fat Albert', etc. One is also able to side-step any “registering” procedures, as any published name takes precedence.

Acer japonicum 'Ed Wood Seedling #1'

An important concept concerning plant introduction is the fact that you may be the party responsible to introduce it, but that does not neccessarily imply that you are the one who first discovered it. For example, the late plantsman Edsal Wood discovered/selected a seedling from the already established cultivar of Acer japonicum 'Aconitifolium'. Unlike the mother tree with its broad upright habit, the seedling he gifted to me displayed a low, spreading form with leaves even larger and more highly dissected than the parent. So, Mr. Wood was the finder, but he did nothing to further it other than to give it to me. I was impressed enough with his findling that I chose to propagate and simply labelled it as A.j. 'Ed Wood Seedling #1', along with a sister seedling that I called 'Ed Wood Seedling #2'.

Acer japonicum 'Ao jutan'

Acer japonicum 'Ao jutan'

The #1 seedling was kept in containers throughout its early years where it spread vigorously. Eventually it was planted out in the original Display Garden and it's now nearly 20' wide by only 5' tall. I requested that my Japanese wife, Haruko, give #1 a real cultivar name, something catchy or interesting, and she suggested 'Ao jutan' which literally means “blue carpet.” Why blue?...I protested since the foliage was clearly green. “Yes,” she replied, “but blue and gree are kind of the same thing.” Well, not to this German, and “Why do you have to be so confusing. Blue is blue and green is green,” I insisted. Haruko had no desire to contend with me, but explained that in old times – as in Japanese poetry – the colors were blurred to describe mood or atmosphere. Red and yellow are similar in the spectrum of mood, as is blue with green.

Acer japonicum 'Ed Wood Seedling #1'

Did I ever sell or give away an 'Ed Wood Seedling #1' before it became 'Ao jutan'? Probably so, and at the same time I was propagating other plants with temporary code names. The late J.D. Vertrees, author of Japanese Maples, Timber Press, warned us to not be extravagant (irresponsible) with naming seedling selections willy nilly without sufficient observation to determine if they are truly unique and worthy of introduction. He pleaded for order in the horticultural world – he was a professor of bugology at Oregon State University – and he privately suggested to me that about 20 years should be a minimum period before a cultivar's introduction. But alas: this nurseryman and most others are not so self-constrained.

Acer japonicum 'Ed Wood Seedling #2'

As to the fate of Acer japonicum 'Ed Wood Seedling #2', I determined that it was an upright non-event tree, or at least a non-event in terms of naming and introducing it. The leaves were large and very colorful in autumn, but then so are most Acer japonicums. I sold the original tree about 20 years ago but I don't remember who got it. So I forgot about it completely for two decades until I saw it listed in a large Oregon nursery's catalog, then also a year or two later at Munn Nursery in Oregon, but sadly still saddled with the old code name.

Keeping track of plant identification in a wholesale nursery collection is difficult. It involves a lot of plant labels, a rigorous inventory system and employees with a strong commitment to the process. Sadly, without my ceaseless vigilance we would be far worse than we currently are, and I think that my gray hair was caused more out of frustration and disappointment than from old age.

At a presentation entitled Buchholz Nursery Maple Introductions, the following paragraph stirred up some pros and cons about my approach:

Acer palmatum 'Japanese Princess'

Included in this program are maples that Buchholz Nursery has introduced, as well as some selections that we will possibly introduce. I have come to believe that the best system – for me – is to have a cultivar name firmly in place whenever something new will be propagated. It saves a lot of confusion in the long run. Afterwards we may or may not continue with the selection, and I have dropped some in the course of my career. Have I introduced too many plants? Probably so. But for me maples are like pretty girls, and who tires of another one? Would you reject any from the following?

Acer palmatum 'Scolopendrifolium'

Acer palmatum 'Fairy Hair'

Acer palmatum 'Fairy Hair'

Acer palmatum 'Fairy Hair' was the first maple I discovered, propagated, named and introduced. It originated as a seedling from Acer palmatum 'Scolopendrifolium', the mother tree which was growing in the garden of plantsman Dr. Corbin of Portland, Oregon. Fortunately it sprouted in the corner of a seed flat with about 80 other seedlings, for if it was located in the middle it would have died out from competition from its more vigorous brethren. I carefully transplanted it myself, besides I didn't have employees then to delegate the task anyway. It was so tiny and delicate that I was actually surprised that it survived. I first propagated from the seedling at about 5-6 years of age, and the photo with me is the first graft, now the largest 'Fairy Hair' in the world, about three times the size of the original.

Acer palmatum 'Fairy Hair'

I propagated as many as I could, and did so for 6 or 7 years – with the code name of 'Scolop-Corbin', or some such tag – before I dreamed up the 'Fairyhair' name. When my selection was included in the J.D. Vertrees/Peter Gregory Japanese Maples 3^rd edition, the author (or editor) changed the name from my one-word 'Fairyhair' to a two-word 'Fairy Hair'. Even though my name took precedence, I relented and changed it to avoid confusion.

Acer palmatum 'Fairy Hair'

Acer palmatum 'Fairy Hair'

To date, A.p. 'Fairy Hair' has never reverted, and it doesn't push out vigorous shoots with more palmate-like leaves as does the myriad of other linearlobum selections such as Acer palmatums 'Kinshi', 'Koto no ito', 'Hubbs Red Willow' etc. My brief website description claims that it “prefers sun/partial shade in well-drained soil,” and certainly 'Fairy Hair' was put to the test when specimens planted in full sun withstood 116F (47C). Obviously the intense ordeal sucked some of the chlorophyll from the thin leaves, but overall 'Fairy Hair' endured and bragged, “Go ahead, give me the heat!” Additionally, I find it a biological wonder that the thin delicate leaves are transformed in autumn to brilliant orange-red in color.

Acer palmatum 'Red Cloud'

Acer palmatum 'Red Cloud'

Most extraordinarily, in the very same seed flat that yielded 'Fairy Hair', one other of the 80-or-so seedlings that germinated displayed red, narrow leaf-lobes which intrigued me for its vibrant red foliage. It was potted up at the same time as the 'Fairy Hair' seedling, then set aside in the nursery's limbo situation. Keep in mind that I have never endeavored to discover and advance plant selections, let alone to actually introduce them into commerce, but rather that's a predictable outcome for plant's people actively engaged in their profession. The red linearlobum – the sister to 'Fairy Hair' – also prospered and was propagated and eventually released as Acer palmatum 'Red Cloud'. In hindsight, I would opine that it is a commercially better selection than Acer palmatums 'Red Pygmy', 'Atrolineare', 'Beni otake', 'Scolopendrifolium Rubrum', 'Ginshi' and many others, but not as good as 'Pung Kil', and 'Hubbs Red Willow' which we now produce in the greatest numbers. Honestly I propagate only a few 'Red Cloud' each year – for old time's sake I guess – but the old selection still garners a following with some of my long-time customers.

Acer palmatum 'Geisha'

Acer palmatum 'Geisha Gone Wild'

I'll conclude this blog with my introduction of Acer palmatum 'Geisha Gone Wild', a provocative selection from about 15 years ago. It originated as a branch sport from a New Zealand company's introduction of Acer palmatum 'Geisha', a fun, wildly-colored selection that I still grow (a few only). 'Geisha' itself is an unstable wimp that will not prosper in most Oregon gardens, but it is a spectacular collector's plant that can survive in a coddled environment, such as in my greenhouses. At it's worst 'Geisha' could display purely pink or cream-white foliage that would fry in intense sun, or could go the opposite way with broadly palmate leaves that resembled the well-known 'Bloodgood' maple.

Acer palmatum 'Geisha Gone Wild'

Even though Acer palmatum 'Geisha' is a problematic cultivar, one of my plants shot out a 3' branch sport that was also vibrantly colored, and the name 'Geisha Gone Wild' was coined when first propagated. I guess you could say that it occurred as a reversion, but where the reversion itself seems to be stable. It is a strong grower that can withstand brutal summers in full sun; and I can remember when I had three rows with about 50 trees each in the western hills at Flora Farm, and the backlight from the evening sun presented a rosy glow that elevated 'Geisha Gone Wild' above all the other maples in the field. It is now one of my most highly requested maples since introduction in about 2003, and in 2019 it was awarded Maple of the Year by the Maple Society.

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Pinus mugo 'Mr. Wood'

Nearing the end of my career, I feel incumbent to document those plants which I have introduced, and I'll provide my honest opinion about their horticultural value. This will not be a sales hype as I never have enough plants for my existing customers anyway. I tell visitors to Buchholz Nursery that we grow plants from three main groups: 1) maples, 2) conifers and 3) everything else, and we have made introductions from all three categories. Allow my indulgence to present an assessment of each plant in the Flora Wonder Blog before my memory totally flags.

So, Part 2 in the near future.