Cunninghamia seedling

[Dogwood87]

Hi all,

I have this Cunninghamia seedling
which was bought from a nursery which looks to be coming along nicely.

What’s more is there looks to be 4 other smaller seedlings growing around the base, which I’m assuming will be more Cunninghamia. Just wondering what this is likely to be? Is it that the nursery may have sown several seeds close together which must have germinated after I’ve received it? Don’t suppose it’s possible that the roots have thrown up these as suckers? I’ve ruled out that they could have dropped in on the wind as one of the other pots around it have them.

hoping I’ve got 4 plants here for the price of one!

 

[Shibui]

You may need to be more specific about what you have. When I search cunninghamiana the only results are Casuarina cunninghamiana but the half photo you've posted doe not look anything like casuarina.

I agree that the seedlings do look like the larger plant but time will tell if they really are.

 

[Dogwood87]

You may need to be more specific about what you have. When I search cunninghamiana the only results are Casuarina cunninghamiana but the half photo you've posted doe not look anything like casuarina.

I agree that the seedlings do look like the larger plant but time will tell if they really are.

Ah yes my bad. They are Cunninghamia Lanceolata or Chinese Fir!!

 

[Shibui]

That's one of the things I can mark as learned today. Never heard of that genus before so can't offer much.
I must admit being perplexed as to why there would be new seedlings in a pot with older plants unless:

• some seed germinates slower than others (would not normally be germinating that far away from the original though?)
• the pots were kept under a tree of the same species and new seed fell in there.

Keep a good eye on those little ones. There is a common weed of nursery pots that looks a little like that but spreads quick and seeds prolifically. If you see them putting out runners or flower stalks get them out before they can produce more plants.

All the best with your Chinese firs

 

[penumbra]

China Fir is a striking conifer but requires a bit more subtle climate than we have here in my area, though I have seen it established in a streetscape that offered some protection. Needles are longish but not terribly so, just under 3 inches. Bark exfoliates when older revealed orange underneath. Can have an untidy appearance in landscape as it tends to hold onto dead foliage for years and needs to be cleaned out.
I believe it is the #1 timber tree grown in China.

It is unlikely that the seedlings in the pot are China Fir unless it was growing under a large seed bearing specimen.

 

[Dogwood87]

Thanks for the responses. Any keen golfers might recognise the China Fir as it is the name of one of the holes at Augusta National golf course, i.e. the home of the Masters. This is the why I got 1 (or maybe 5) as I want each of the plants that the 18 holes are named after, the ultimate goal is to have a Masters bonsai collection in the (distant) future.

Anyway back to this plant I’ll keep an eye on the smaller seedlings and see how they develop. Hopefully not just weeds, but we’ll see...

@penumbra - do you have experience with this species? They aren’t that common here and material online is sparse. Just want to make sure it/they continue to thrive. When the seedling arrived I just slip potted it into a bigger pot with fresh compost and keeping it well watered. Seems to be doing fine with plenty new growth at the moment.

 

[Crazy Diamond]

Its a pretty cool species, they seem to bud-back very well from old wood and grow relatively fast, in the botanical garden of Puerto de la Cruz here in Tenerife growa one nice tree, I collected some seeds of it and I hope to sprout them

 

[penumbra]

@penumbra - do you have experience with this species? They aren’t that common here and material online is sparse. Just want to make sure it/they continue to thrive. When the seedling arrived I just slip potted it into a bigger pot with fresh compost and keeping it well watered. Seems to be doing fine with plenty new growth at the moment.

No, not much experience except that stated from 50 years of a nurseryman.
My comment about the seedlings is based upon my own experience. I have native Virginia pines coming up in seed flats all the time that I didn't plant. When they come up in a flat of pine seedlings it is a nuisance.

 

[419419419]

I have several small saplings collected from my neighbors CL tree. The small ‘seedlings’ you mentioned, my guess is they are suckers, as this species suckers quite readily/easily. Just a guess, fun and very different conifer.

 

[Potawatomi13]

Keep a good eye on those little ones. There is a common weed of nursery pots that looks a little like that but spreads quick and seeds prolifically. If you see them putting out runners or flower stalks get them out before they can produce more plants.

1000% agree IF this eventuates. However seeing tiny seed leaves on one think may not be certain insidious weed mentioned. Funny these look much like Ariacariacae but are not. Be prepared for "painfully" spiky leaves soon.

 

[rustygarden]

Here is mine . I have just been doing clip and grow . Not trying to make it a Bonsai really , but to enjoy something different . This started as a rooted cutting .

 

[Potawatomi13]

Here is mine . I have just been doing clip and grow . Not trying to make it a Bonsai really , but to enjoy something different . This started as a rooted cutting .

Does not look healthy. Color is normal?

 

[rustygarden]

Yes . For the winter it goes purple , brownish then back to green in spring .