Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
Is It possible to grow Japanese White Pine in South Carolina, or more precisely; has anyone had success growint Japanese White Pine in South Carolina?
White Pine in South Carolina?
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Dav4
Drop Branch Murphy
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Vance, we have JWP bonsai here in the Atlanta area....I routinely work on several nice older ones at the Smith Gilbert Gardens in Kennesaw http://www.smithgilbertgardens.com/at-the-gardens/bonsai-garden/. They do ok here but are not nearly as vigorous as JBP, JRP, or the native Virginia pine. Mind you, the metro Atlanta area is at a thousand feet elevation or higher...the further south and east you go, you lose elevation and the climate becomes more mild-winters are shorter and less cold, and summers are longer, hotter and more humid...I don't know anyone successfully growing JWP south of Atlanta. I'm sure folks in the mountainous parts of NC could grow JWP, but as you move east and south into the piedmont it would become increasingly difficult. I feel very comfortable that they would be 100% no goes at the coast.
sikadelic
Chumono
The part of SC that I'm in (most SE point) has winters in the 30-40s for about 3 months. I am not sure how much of a dormant period they need but it is relatively short compared to most places. The sun is very intense and long so it can be good for some species. I haven't tried pines yet but will start this year since im moving to a place with normal winters.
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Dave, agreed. Our club has 3 JWP that have lived at least a few decades here in AL. My Zuisho has done fine here for the last 7 years, a couple bonsai friends keep them here, and Brussels has them in Memphis. I blame the one I killed on their muddy excuse for soil...fine in the controlled environment of a greenhouse, bad out in our rainy climate.
Long/short, I probably won't seek out another JWP, plenty other species do so well, that I prefer to avoid the hassles of babying a potentially sensitive tree. Mugos are in the same category...none are anywhere near here, and those little pincushions are like Christmas trees...cute and fun for about a month.
What I wish I could grow is a pumillo mugo...closest thing I've seen to JRP, but better bark than a nursery mugo could ever hope for and a great scent.
Long/short, I probably won't seek out another JWP, plenty other species do so well, that I prefer to avoid the hassles of babying a potentially sensitive tree. Mugos are in the same category...none are anywhere near here, and those little pincushions are like Christmas trees...cute and fun for about a month.
What I wish I could grow is a pumillo mugo...closest thing I've seen to JRP, but better bark than a nursery mugo could ever hope for and a great scent.
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
I don't understand: How is a Pumillo Mugo from one special unknown source better than a Pumillo Mugo from a nursery source? I have several of them. I am not trying to be argumentitive I just want to know what the difference is. I find all the Mugos to be fragrant and after a few years growing in a container they start forming some really nice bark.
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Eric Group
Masterpiece
Yeah along the coast, especially if you are out on the Marsh islands or right along the beach, it is pretty much Semi Tropical around here... Further inland we get a little more winter, a true dormancy for all my Maples and Pines...
I did own a tree that the owner told me was a JWP once here in Columbia, but it was struggling when I got it and didn't last long unfortunately... Not sure if it was the previous owner's care, my care or the climate in general that did the tree in, but it didn't do well for me. That was about 10 years ago though, and I haven't had one since...
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
You are only trying to be argumentative. Reread my post, I was comparing varieties not sources.
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
Read my reply again: How is a Pumillo Mugo from one special unknown source better than a Pumillo Mugo from a nursery source? My original question paraphrased. In other words how is a Pumillo Mugo from a nursery different than it would be from some other source you have not identified? I am comparing varieties, what variety did I specifically mention other than a Pumillo? I mentioned that I had some Pumillo Mugos all obtained from nurseries.
What you mentioned and I quote: What I wish I could grow is a pumillo mugo...closest thing I've seen to JRP, but better bark than a nursery mugo could ever hope for and a great scent. Your words? Your comment here seems to demean nursery Mugos in general while only accepting the variety Pumillo as an acceptable tree. I was simply asking in the short version; according to the way you seem to have made your determination; Pumillo Mugos are great but not from nurseries? So what source do you recomend? What source is acceptable?
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JudyB
Queen of the Nuts
Not to stick my neck out....but....
Vance, what I believe the intent was to say that pumillo mugo has better bark than the regular variety that you find at a regular nursery. Nothing sinister that I sniff going on...
Vance, what I believe the intent was to say that pumillo mugo has better bark than the regular variety that you find at a regular nursery. Nothing sinister that I sniff going on...
Dav4
Drop Branch Murphy
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Vance, you're seeing things that just aren't there. Brian made no assertions concerning the source of the tree, but only mentioned the variety, his desire to grow it, and the reasons why. Honestly, there is no great conspiracy to demean mugo pine as bonsai material, nursery bought or otherwise, in this thread. There is either good mugo material or bad mugo material, regardless of the source, and you can either live in a climate where it will grow and thrive, or not. It really is that simple, or at least it should be.
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
That's not what he said.
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
Come on Dave I can read and I know you are just trying to defuse what seems to be a budding disturbance but, you can't convince me that Brian did not say what he said or did not mean what he said.
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Thanks Judy and Dave. This is exactly what I meant.
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
A question asked like that deserves no answer.
Dav4
Drop Branch Murphy
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No, I think Brian meant every word that he said, but I think you and I are interpreting it in different ways. I choose to see it as a compliment to a certain mugo variety that Brian clearly likes and wishes he could grow in Alabama...nothing more.
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
What I meant to point out was that Pumillo is available from a nursery. Your statement seemed to indicate that "No nursery Mugo" could produce the kind of bark a Pumillo does.
I was asking if there was a difference between nursery Pumillos and some other kind of pumillos from some other source, understanding that nursery Mugos are in your judgement inferior. If you did not mean this then say so, we all misspeak once in a while.
At this point I find it difficult to believe that you are unaware that Pumillo Mugos are obtainable from the nursery trade. Your statement that "Pumillo Mugos have far better bark than nursery Mugos could ever hope of having" seems to suggest that the Pumillo Mugos are not really Pumillo Mugos at all. I'm sorry that this has taken the turn that it has, I did not mean for it to go here.
Smoke
Ignore-Amus
There is nothing more pleasing than taking a break from repotting and finding a thread with the word "sinister" in it....
Thats good reading....
Thats good reading....
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
I have a problem with the concept that Brian seems to need a translator.
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
I have been thinking about changing my on line name to Snydly Whiplash.
