Spirea Japonica “magic carpet”

[Hartinez]

Thought I’d start a thread of this little spirea I picked up in spring. Early may to be exact. $23 I think. It’s development has been swift and has been very pleasing to watch. The new leaf to mature leaf contrast is just lovely and the first set of flowered are beginning to set. I was initially trying to stop the tree from flowering, but an article on B4ME suggested I let it flower then cut hard. That’s currently my plan. Next year I will bare root and find a more suitable pot. I’ve heard also they can experience significant die back in winter so extra protection will be needed.

 

[Pepibom]

Thought I’d start a thread of this little spirea I picked up in spring. Early may to be exact. $23 I think. It’s development has been swift and has been very pleasing to watch. The new leaf to mature leaf contrast is just lovely and the first set of flowered are beginning to set. I was initially trying to stop the tree from flowering, but an article on B4ME suggested I let it flower then cut hard. That’s currently my plan. Next year I will bare root and find a more suitable pot. I’ve heard also they can experience significant die back in winter so extra protection will be needed.
View attachment 385171
View attachment 385172View attachment 385176View attachment 385182View attachment 385183View attachment 385184

Great little tree. When did you cut back those larger branches? I just picked up a small one like yours and am trying to time it.

 

[Hartinez]

Great little tree. When did you cut back those larger branches? I just picked up a small one like yours and am trying to time it.

Thanks Man. Glad you asked. I went looking for my earliest photo and found this one. Taken on May 22, but the cutback was down closer to may 15. Sawed off the bottoms half of the rootball and raked out quite a bit of soil. Though this time of year I would only feel comfortable doing a cutback with no repot. I eventually removed the branch you can see on the left in the attached pic

 

[LanceMac10]

I enjoy your results w/these. Tough/impossible to find trunk caliper such as these around here. Most/all B&B shrubs with landscape price tag.

Great color spring/summer/fall....w/little flower clusters....that's good stuff.

 

[Hartinez]

I enjoy your results w/these. Tough/impossible to find trunk caliper such as these around here. Most/all B&B shrubs with landscape price tag.

Great color spring/summer/fall....w/little flower clusters....that's good stuff.

Same issue here. They are usually just a huge cluster of twigs. No matter the pot size. 1 gal, 3 gal, 10 gal, 20 mil gal.

I Got lucky with this one. It’s pretty.

 

[JonW]

I enjoy your results w/these. Tough/impossible to find trunk caliper such as these around here. Most/all B&B shrubs with landscape price tag.

Great color spring/summer/fall....w/little flower clusters....that's good stuff.

Yeah, really... if @Hartinez ever decides to sell it...

 

[Hartinez]

Yeah, really... if @Hartinez ever decides to sell it...

Neva!!!!! Haha. Really though. I’ve never sold a tree. I killed, yes. Sold, no.

 

[Hartinez]

Thinking about pots for this tree. My initial thoughts are telling me glazed. Maybe a pink or yellow. Or even a green. But I keep coming back to a simple underwhelming unglazed round with a lighter toned clay body. Something with somewhat detailed feet.

maybe something like this?


opinions welcome!!

 

[Hartinez]

Or maybe these???

 

[Hartinez]

Hey @JudyB id love your opinion on how you approach pot choices for your shohin trees. How would you handle a pot choice for a tree like the above one pictured? I know azaleas sometimes go in to unglazed pots, but I also know shohin trees are where you can be a bit more bold with pot choices and colors.

 

[Pitoon]

That little tree has some nice movement.

 

[Hartinez]

That little tree has some nice movement.

Thanks Pitoon. I’m def in love with it at the moment! What type of pot could you see it in? Glazed? Unglazed? Ornate feet or simple?

 

[Pitoon]

Something like the 3rd pot pic you posted glazed or a nice dark chocolate unglazed. Simple feet or no feet would look good too. How big is the tree?

 

[Hartinez]

Something like the 3rd pot pic you posted glazed or a nice dark chocolate unglazed. Simple feet or no feet would look good too. How big is the tree?

Yeah I think an unglazed would really make the colors pop. It’s not terribly big.

 

[Pitoon]

That really is a nice tree. I wish I had a bigger wheel to make a pot for it.

 

[Colorado]

The right pink with the flowers could be pretty dang awesome

I also don’t think it would be crazy to go unglazed!

 

[Hartinez]

The right pink with the flowers could be pretty dang awesome

I also don’t think it would be crazy to go unglazed!

Pink was a def thought, but I’d worry that in such a small package it would actually detract from the show. I’m leaning towards unglazed for sure.

 

[Hartinez]

Not sure how this bio-mimic wizardry unfolded, or if it’s just by chance that a light green legged and pink abdomen spider happened to make its home on my light green leaved and pink flowered spirea. Beautiful sight regardless!

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

The 3rd pot in post #9 would be my choice.

The spider is wild.

 

[Hartinez]

The 3rd pot in post #9 would be my choice.

The spider is wild.

Yeah I like that one too. Or at least something similar. Is it the shape or the color you like about it Leo? Or both?

the spider is totally badass and so coincidental it seems fake.