Bought as Enkianthus Campanulatus var Sikokianus,this 10 yr old shrub is completely different from any of our other E. Campanulatus, or any web images we've found. Can anyone help to identify it?
Looks like same I have seen over here. You didn't find anything on it searching internet? http://aoki2.si.gunma-u.ac.jp/BotanicalGarden/HTMLs/kainansarasadoudan.html Listed as a cultivar by M. Dirr: "'Shikokianus' (var. shikokianus)--Considered by Nicholson, Amer. Nurseryman 166(6):83 (1987), the darkest flowered Enkianthus; unopened flowers are maroon with violet undertones; when open the color is dark brick red with shrimp pink streaks."
Thanks for your help Ron B.We've looked at many images on the web but none we've found show the long [4in] 'racemes'.The site you recommended showed exerted styles which ours don't have and the leaf shape is very different. The new image gives an idea of its length.[Sorry flowers no longer at their best.]
The photos match the description for Enkianthus sikokianus (syn. E. campanulatus var. sikokianus) => http://foj.c.u-tokyo.ac.jp/gbif/foj/detail.php?output=detail&r8=1596 and this photo => http://yikflower.sakura.ne.jp/kainansarasadoudan-taharashi1.jpg (I suspect the photo linked by Ron has been wrongly identified. To me it looks like E. cernuus f. rubens. )
Thank you Pedalada.We think you've cracked it. We struggled with a magnifying glass [a microscope would have helped!] but our plant seems to fit the description given in your web link, especially the awns on the anthers.The image also looked right. It is really good to know that we have the correctly named plant for a change. We are waiting for our 7th E cernuus f Rubens to flower, the other 6 turned out to be E campanulatus! I get a real thrill from this site where people from all over the world take the time and trouble to help plantaholic amateurs like us. Thanks again Sheila
Yes, I wondered if the plant shown at that Japanese site might not be right. Depended on how the var. (or cultivar) was distinguished, sounds like it definitely didn't fit the bill. Presumably it was a habitat shot, perhaps even taken on Shikoku.