sweet auburn | 2024 volume II
The fourth tree is fantastical enough that it looks like something out of a Dr . Seuss book . In addition to being rare and impossible to find in the nursery trade , it has an extraordinary snake-like branching habit that borders on contortion . This is Styphnolobium japonica ‘ Pendula ’ ( Weeping Pagoda Tree ), seen at right . Ironically , although the name would suggest that it comes from Japan , the species is actually native to western China . It was brought to Japan long ago and was often planted at Buddhist temples . The standard Pagoda Tree is popular for its prolific flowering during the summer months , when few other trees are in bloom . But such is not the case with the weeping form . It doesn ’ t start to produce flowers until it is 30 – 40 years of age . Our oldest , on Western Avenue , is now 85 years old . Two other specimens ( including an accession from 1972 ) can be found on the grounds . I can venture a guess why the public isn ’ t demanding this tree from nurseries : maybe nobody wants to wait around for 50 years to see what they will eventually look like . This is unfortunate because it is truly worth the wait . I ’ ve been hunting for suppliers of these trees for the past 30 years and have yet to find anyone selling them , with the exception of the Quercus dentata ‘ Pinnatifida ’. There are certainly challenges in propagating them , and we have tried a few different methods in the past . So far , grafting and airlayering have not succeeded , but we are gearing up to make one last attempt to grow them from cuttings in 2024 – 25 . In the case of Styphnolobium japonica ‘ Pendula ’, we will try growing it from seed . Although rare genetic mutations in plants that become cultivars generally don ’ t “ come true ” from seed , comments that I found in an obscure article suggest otherwise for this plant .
Our new greenhouse facility ( now 11 years old !) was deliberately designed to give us more plant propagation capacity . It has a room that is equipped with heated benches , a misting system , and automated temperature / shade controls , which makes it much easier to produce plants from seeds or cuttings . Our intention was to use this capacity to grow plants that are either not available from commercial nurseries or are prohibitively expensive , and we are making inroads . For example , in the past year we started an ambitious project to grow the notoriously difficult Lady Slipper Orchids in a collaboration with Coastal Maine Botanical Garden . Following a fairly new propagation protocol developed at Longwood Gardens , we can grow hundreds of individual plants from a single seed pod . These plants currently sell for nearly $ 100 in the local retail market .
With any luck , the four rarities discussed above will be found at Mount Auburn in greater numbers in the future . If we are successful in our attempts to propagate new specimens of them , it will help develop the confidence needed to attempt similarly difficult propagation projects in the years ahead . In the meantime , if you haven ’ t seen them yet , why not enjoy the few specimens we now have ? You might discover you have some new “ favorites ”!
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