Toyo Nishiki Improved Forest

[fredtruck]

I’ve been working with Brent Walston’s Toyo Nishiki Improved, a cultivar that exhibits the red, white and pink flowers of the classic Toyo Nishiki all on one branch, with no grafting required. This cultivar seems to have some other advantages, as well. For one thing, the flowers, or most of them, seem a little smaller than the classic ones. Additionally, the Improved seems to ramify more easily.


This particular composition is still in progress. I decided from the beginning that I didn’t want to do a clump or a single-trunk. What’s left? A forest.


Of course, it’s a forest meant as a display frame for the flowers. But I worked hard to make it interesting. The view from the front has potential, even if it is not the standard way to view a forest. Take a look at those flowers in front!


The name of this planting is Combine, after the early works of Robert Rauchenberg. The pot is Yamaaki, 22” long and 6.375” wide.

 

[sorce]

Real nice tray!

Every now and then it's nice to walk into the street and get hit by a Fredtruck!

Sorce

 

[thumblessprimate1]

I'd have to water that 20 times a day in the summer

 

[LanceMac10]

Looks like a fun little planting! Light and whimsical!
And the container is great and really unique!

 

[fredtruck]

I'd have to water that 20 times a day in the summer

In mid-spring, almost everything I have gets watered 3x a day, automatically. When it gets to 90 or so, I often have to water everything myself. It depends. It's just part of the routine.

 

[fredtruck]

Here are some more flowers. To me, these are more interesting than straight red, pink and white. This first one is really really red, right down to the anthers and filaments:



And here's a more or less white one with red flecks, but also shaded pale pink.

 

[GrimLore]

Here are some more flowers.

I really like that variety more then most. Obtained my first one a few weeks back in a 2 1/2 gallon container and it is loving full sun and lots of water. Hoping it Winters ok so I can work it a bit. Thanks for posting!

Grimmy

 

[mcpesq817]

Hey Fred, very nice! I bought a couple from Brent, but so far, mine have all flowered straight pink without any of the differentiated colors/patterns yet

 

[fredtruck]

I had that happen the first couple of years with other cuttings than you see here. But these cuttings last year were mostly white with one pale pink. This year, it's been a different story. Hang in there and I think next year's will most likely be different. Every year its different with this cultivar.

 

[thumblessprimate1]

Fred, nice color. Do you notice any differences besides floral color in the improved and the regular?

 

[fredtruck]

Thanks. Yes, I do notice differences. First, the Improved ramifies more quickly and better than the Standard. Second...it seems to me that the Improved is finer boned than the Standard, which is more coarse. This is just based on 2.5 years of observation, but I would not make a generalization out of my perceptions. A lot longer period of observation is required.

 

[fredtruck]

The forest of Toyo Nishiki Improved trees is coming right along. The flowers are small which helps keep some semblance of reality alive. I've never had flowers so low on a tree before.

 

[MACH5]

The forest of Toyo Nishiki Improved trees is coming right along. The flowers are small which helps keep some semblance of reality alive. I've never had flowers so low on a tree before.

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Very nice Fred! Against black is quite interesting. Did you use Raunchenberg's "combine" concept to inspire the use of different materials for this presentation? Or is the concept more related specifically to the planting itself?

 

[fredtruck]

Boy! I didn't see your post, M5, until just now. Well, the concept is something I picked up from Bill Valavanis, when he was describing a quince from Kokofu. He said it was a forest of individual trees and not a clump. So, I thought I could make a start along those lines with these cuttings of Toyo Nishiki Improved from Brent.

 

[fredtruck]

This year, the flowers have just started opening. So far, just a white flower with some pink markings, but a number of red flowers are on the way. Also, the quince grew well, so there are a few more branches and the form is beginning to fill out.

 

[fredtruck]

Here's a closeup of the one white-with-pink markings. The flower isn't completely open, but I really had to get a picture of it now!

 

[thumblessprimate1]

Thanks. Yes, I do notice differences. First, the Improved ramifies more quickly and better than the Standard. Second...it seems to me that the Improved is finer boned than the Standard, which is more coarse. This is just based on 2.5 years of observation, but I would not make a generalization out of my perceptions. A lot longer period of observation is required.

I notice growth is finer on mine, like you. Flowers are smaller. Yours has more colors than mine. I have only gotten some red. Not red that looks like yours though. Your red reminds me of Its Utamaro or Crimson and Gold.

 

[fredtruck]

I notice growth is finer on mine, like you. Flowers are smaller. Yours has more colors than mine. I have only gotten some red. Not red that looks like yours though. Your red reminds me of Its Utamaro or Crimson and Gold.

The colors didn't appear right away. It took a few years. Also, it seems that the number of flowers has increased, year by year, and that improves your chances for good color variation.

 

[Carol 83]

I have one from him scheduled to be delivered in April. Love what you've done.

 

[fredtruck]

Some interesting things are happening with the flowers.