I have realised for a while that many of our JM cultivars date back centuries,'Tamukeyama' for example,listed 300 years ago. I was just wondering if any of these ancient trees are still around in Japan.Have our modern descendants changed much from the originals after all these years of grafting and re-grafting or have they lost some of their beauty and attributes for which they were chosen and named? I also wonder if they were grafted,I somehow doubt it even though they may well have known how. Just wondered if anyone has been there to witness the older trees and can see any difference.
This link was posted on a similar thread a while back, it has photos of some incredibly old Japanese Maples: http://mohsho.image.coocan.jp/acerph01.html
Thanks for the link Michael.It may not have exactly answered my question but you know what?...it doesn't matter.Although all my plants have turned out exactly as they are supposed to,seeing these majestic great trees has made me realise something....I may not know what cultivar they are,but as long as I look at a tree and it makes me smile,it doesn't matter if it's true to form or even an anonymous plant.What matters is it'll be my tree and I love it,I shall never concern myself about this issue anymore...thanks:)
Houzi, the old trees are AMAZING! I have looked at a couple photo sites in the past and "wow" is all I had to say. Even thought what a shame for the earthquake and tsunami to be tearing up such a beautiful land. Oh well. There is something to be learned from the older cultivars. I hope my plantings are given a chance to get half that age and have some beauty to them. And yes, I hope my purple trees are still mostly purple and the variegated ones still variegated lol.
With all of these so-called 'new' varieties and the multiplicity of 'new names' being given to these trees by many garden centres and nurseries etc I am beginning to take exactly that view myself Four years ago I made up my mind only to purchase those well established plants which have appeared in the older 'lists' and to ignore the newbies I have now gone further and am planting out my own seedlings to make a little Japanese maple 'woodland' Like you, I just want to enjoy the natural beauty of a magnificent plant irrespective of its name :)
I agree Mark,looking at those grand ol'ladies made me think we should just take in and enjoy the spectacle as a whole thing. Well it is nice to be able to look up a cultivar and know what to expect,especially if you don't have ideal growing climate or you have a specific requirement....and collectors will always be collectors,wishing to add to their collection constantly,and that's ok,I know how addictive collections can be. How often have we passed a tree,thought WOW! but never really known what it was? I remember a lovely pink tree at a garden centre,everyone used to stop and stare,but the centre didn't know the cultivar.I saw another elsewhere and it turned out to be a 'Beni-Schichihenge',different enough from my own for me not to recognise it.I now have both 'forms?' of this plant but surely only one is identical to the original? Obviously I chose,as we all do,my cultivars based on information gained,and as I said,they've all 'done exactly what it says on the tin'.However,now I'm with you Whiskey,if they turn out a little different,well maybe that's a good thing,as long as I'm happy with it,it'll be my tree.I'm patiently waiting for seeds to germinate in the fridge,a mixed bunch so we'll see. My only regret is that I know I'll have to get rid of them,one by one as they get bigger,I just don't have the room.....and that I won't live long enough to see them in their full glory ha ha.
