A few weeks ago a friend of mine ran across scions of a cultivar labeled as Koshimino Nishiki and gave me two of them. At first, I thought this was a mislabeled scion. After getting Vertree's 4th edition in the mail and finding it listed in the "other maples not yet studied" section, I changed my tune about this cultivar. I ended up grafting these scions and the buds on these two grafts are about to burst open. Does anyone know anything about Koshimino Nishiki? Do you know how tall it gets or what distinguishes it from Hagoromo?
Thanks chimera, I was thinking something along those lines... maybe something similar to Hazeroino. Nishiki aslo means brocade or rough according to the 4th edition, so it definitely has my interest. I can't wait to see the tree leaf out and watch its characteristics. Tim
I have been waiting and hoping to see something that would distinguish 'Koshimino Nishiki' from 'Koshimino','Hagaromo', or 'Momenshide'. Thus far I have not found anything. Here are some pictures of the grafts in July. They have looked similar all year long. Maybe in a few years they will destinguish themselves like 'Hazeroino' or maybe 'Nishiki gawa'. I'll keep you updated. Note* I have been hesitant to post these in the picture gallery as a new cultivar because of the likelyhood this could end up being synonymous with 'Koshimino'.
The old form Koshimino was affectionately called Fish tail. The old form plant was pretty much left on its own roots for many years. Was not grafted at all until the mid 80's. No need to graft it as the old form plant from Japan yielded seedlings pretty much true to type. Even many seedlings that came about from grafted parents on matsumurae and palmatum rootstock pretty much retained the leaf size and shape of the old form Koshimino. Depending on the amoenum rootstock used there could be some variability in the leaf sizes and leaf shapes that were not so readily seen with matsumurae and palmatum rootstocks. There have been some seedlings from old plants that did not have the same growth habit as the old form plant which is pretty much an upright growing tree, usually a lanky, single leader with short in length lateral side shoots. The old form plants did not grow very wide at all much of the time. A good sized plant might be 9-12' tall and about 2-3 feet wide - I've seen many in this size frame. We grew seedlings pretty much as giveaway plants (at no charge) to collectors and specialized Asian motif landscapers that wanted them. The seedling plants were never were offered to the public for resale otherwise. Grafted plants on the preferred matsumurae rootstocks were offered for wholesale and retail sales however. It was conceivable years ago that this Maple could have variant forms of which a nishiki form, in this case a form that is more compact in its growth habit and perhaps more twiggy and wider growing than the old form could have come about. I've seen some seedlings from an old parent plant on its own roots do this whereby they could be 9 feet tall at maturity and be 4-6 feet wide and be even shorter and more compact than this. In Japan a hime dwarf form was selected out years ago and I believe a nishiki form came into the US in the early 70's but was not called Koshimino nishiki at that time. What may be fun for someone to play with is to take Hagoromo seed from a parent tree on its own roots or from a one generation (filial first generation) grafted Maple and use these seedlings as a rootstock for Momenshide, Hazeroino and Koshimino and see what you come up with in time. I do know some attempts to yield more red coloration in Koshimino, Hagoromo and Hazeroino have been conducted using Burgundy Lace seedlings and even rooted cutting rootstock that yielded some interesting colored seedlings from those grafted trees. I see no real problem posting this thread in the photo gallery. By the looks of the last photo this is not your typical Koshimino by the top growth and leaf color shown in the photo. An added note: yes, there was a Pine Bark Maple that was also a member of the ribbon leaf group but it was not a Nishiki gawa. Inasmuch as Koshimino, Hagoromo, Hazeroino and Momenshide may not have true ribbon leafs, they were placed in the ribbon leaf grouping at one time due to their very short in length petioles and the fact that whorls of shoots can be seen emanating from single, compound buds at the terminal tips, just like true form and now so very rarely seen ribbon leafs. Even some true thread leafs were also considered to be ribbon leafs at one time as well due to their very short petioles and terminal tip whorls. Look at Mr. Yano’s photo of Yori ito and tell me what you see from it - a throwback to the old ribbon leafs with a latilobatum shaped leaf - fascinating plant! Jim
Wow. Thanks for all that good info Jim. Great stuff. This is Tim's brother and I am glad to learn more about this cultivar. Very good post. Thanks, Matt
Jim, Thanks so much. I am enamored by the ribbon leaf type maples and you just made my day. I have been trying my darndest to figure out more about these trees. I appreciate you taking the time to share. I may have to try some experiments similar to those that you mentioned. Tim
