Chinese Juniper identification

[Berra]

Hello,

This $50 Juniper was bought at Ueno Green Club, september 2018. I didn't think of asking the gentlemen selling it what "variety" (kishu, itoigawa, etc) it was.

It had a little sign on it with japanese characters for shimpaku. I have seen a couple of blog posts comparing foliage but they leave me no wiser.

I realize it might be hard or impossible to say for sure, in any case im happy to think of it as just mr/ms shimpaku, but it would be fun to know if it was kishu or itoogawa or something.

What it looked like 2018 before winter:

What it looks like now after 3 years in another climate and in the hands of a beginner.

Please let me know if I need to take better pics of the foliage

 

[dlquick]

I'd bet 100% Kishu Shimpaku. See this article. https://nebaribonsai.wordpress.com/2011/12/10/much-ado-about-shimpakuand-itoigawa-and-kishu/

 

[ShimpakuBonsai]

I'm pretty sure it is (standard) Shimpaku and not Kishu or Itoigawa.

 

[Berra]

Thanks for your feedback. Here are some more recent photos of this Little tree

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Judging from the light green and relatively open foliage, my guess is itoigawa.

 

[PA_Penjing]

I would guess itoigawa before kishu just based on the color alone. But if it wasn't specified it's probably just the straight shimpaku "ecotype" or whatever it is. the foliage is pretty open but that could just be a result of lower light. If it's one of the two specific types you'll know for sure in a year or three

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Itoigawa

 

[Colorado]

Looks like itoigawa to me.

 

[Berra]

Follow up question. Is this little yellow thick (top right part) something to worry about? Haven't seen this type of growth on it before since 2018.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

View attachment 441119
Follow up question. Is this little yellow thick (top right part) something to worry about? Haven't seen this type of growth on it before since 2018.

It's a female flower. It will either turn into a berry or drop off.

 

[erich_raudebaugh]

Itoigawa. Color is distinctive, with very fine foliage.

 

[Kevin1968]

Can someone help identify these junipers, was at store yesterday and seen them in #5 pots thought about getting them but the pot just says juniper nothing else

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Can someone help identify these junipers, was at store yesterday and seen them in #5 pots thought about getting them but the pot just says juniper nothing else

First picture looks like a grey owl variety of juniperus virginia. Second like a media/pfitzer variety. The latter will give you a nasty rash if you touch the needle foliage a little too much with softer skins like the inside of your arm.

 

[Kevin1968]

Thank you

 

[Mike Corazzi]

Google sez:

What is the difference between Itoigawa and Shimpaku?

The bark of Itoigawa has less of a red hue than Shimpaku. The foliage is very bright sea-green in color. It is naturally less compact by comparison, reverts to juvenile foliage after heavy pruning, which is slightly bluer, but still soft.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Google sez:

What is the difference between Itoigawa and Shimpaku?

The bark of Itoigawa has less of a red hue than Shimpaku. The foliage is very bright sea-green in color. It is naturally less compact by comparison, reverts to juvenile foliage after heavy pruning, which is slightly bluer, but still soft.

Google stole my photo.

Much ado about Shimpaku…and Itoigawa and Kishu Juniper

These three popular regional varieties of Juniperus chinensis are discussed often, but rarely are their features compared. A few good articles exist that describe them, including Brent’s site, as …

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