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sluice

conifers in Taiwan

sluice
10 years ago

Recently returned from a trip to Taiwan. Here are a few conifer pics. Enjoy!

Taiwania growing in the mountains.
There are several conifer types growing in such locations, including Chamaecyparis formosensis, Chamaecyparis taiwanensis, Taiwania cryptomeriodes, Cunninghamia konishii, and Calocedrus formosana.
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Mountain hiking trail.
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Bamboo stand.
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Mountain cottage.
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Taiwania cryptomeroides broom.
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Another view. Spectacular form!
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A couple of Araucaria planted near a temple. Araucaria is a popular landscape tree in Taiwan.
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Comments (19)

  • lemon1111
    10 years ago

    This broom looks unbeliveble!! Great find!! Congratulations for uncommon trip and find :)
    Greetings Wiktor

  • sluice
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    Thanks Wiktor, I'm glad you like the broom!

    Here is Calocedrus formosana in a city park.
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    Another Calocedrus formosana, staked with bamboo.
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    Calocedrus formosana, foliage.
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    This tree seems to be growing in a lot of places, including parks, beaches, and roadside plantings.
    At first I thought it was a pine, but it is a Casuarina. Here, growing along the South China Sea.
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    Pacific Ocean.
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    We stopped at a nursery/bonsai shop. Here is a nice Pinus thunbergiana.
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    Pinus palustris, in the grass stage.
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    A variegated Sciadopitys verticillata graft. The understock is still attached.
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    Variegated Podocarpus macrophylla.
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    More Podocarpus macrophylla (yellow variegated, white).
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    Another Pinus thunbergiana.
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  • maple_grove_gw
    10 years ago

    Very enjoyable pictures one and all. Surely there must be more...

    Cool foliage on Calocedrus formosana! The variegated Podocarpus are very nice too. It would be interesting to see what a larger plant looks like.

    Alex

  • tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
    10 years ago

    Very nice, Nate. Thanks for the trip somewhere I'm unlikely to go.

    tj

  • sprucebud
    10 years ago

    Wonderful pictures of the plants and country.
    Thank you.
    Richard

  • unprofessional
    10 years ago

    I lived in Taiwan for half a year. Thanks for sharing. Wish I had been into conifers back then. I do recall that one of my first impressions, as I rode in a car away from the airport was being amazed at the amount of conifers, as it had never occurred to me that there would be any in a tropical country.

  • sluice
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    Thanks Alex, TJ, Richard, and Jon!

    I too was amazed at the variety of conifers growing there.

    A few more from the nursery.

    Cryptomeria japonica
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    The nurseryman there had a tree book, which helped with the translations.
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    More pinus palustris - fantastic needle length!
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    Pinus palustris bark detail
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    Nursery tag for Pinus palustris
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    Japanese black pine, bonsai
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    More JPB bonsai
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    Chamaecyparis obtusa, the two on the left might be 'Chrimen'.
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    More bonsai, snaky twigs with just a few needles on top
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    Here is a Buddhist temple, with a few Pinus bungeana
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  • mesterhazypinetum
    10 years ago

    Nate,
    its an exceptional adventure.
    Debreczy & Racz (Conifers around the world) studied the taiwanian forests. The conifers from Taiwan over about 3000 meters are hardy in the european continental inner parts, in the UK from less altitudes. You can try them also in the american continent, possibly first in SE states, as Florida.

    A question: is the Taiwania broom found by you?

    Zsolt

  • sluice
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    Zsolt, thanks for that info on hardiness. Lots of variety there, with high mountains (3,952 m, 12,966 ft). It was interesting to see that some plants (e.g. P. thunbergii) can grow in Taiwan as well as in Colorado.

  • sluice
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    Ps - so far as I know, that broom was found by me.

  • mesterhazypinetum
    10 years ago

    Nate,
    try to make business weekly in Taiwan...

    Try to give a name the broom, which is the ever first documented cultivar of Taiwania. Congrats. I guess its easy to graft onto Cryptomerias.
    I hope you left behind a secreary there for scions. I'd rather suggest you to contact the Leu Gardens in Florida for other genuses as Podocarpus. Some guys of Leu are very active here. Thanks to God, sometimes we have infos sometimes of Podocarpaceae and other southern conifers.

    These are world conifer affairs.

    Zsolt

  • sluice
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    Thanks Zsolt. Hopefully someone will be able to propagate that one.

    Here's a roadside Cupressus cashmeriana that we randomly happened upon one day.
    A gorgeous conifer!
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    Cupressus cashmeriana foliage
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    Flower
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  • how393
    10 years ago

    What is the living tempreture for the Calocedrus formosana. Can they survive in hot tempreture like in tropic?

  • sluice
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    The Calocedrus formosana was growing at about sea level in a city near the tropic of cancer. The temperature was hot, with high humidity.

  • mesterhazypinetum
    10 years ago

    Nate,
    the formosan conifers around sea level are not hardy for continental use. Debreczy and Racz brought many formosan conifers to Hungary 10-15 years ago. The conifers from there collected above 3000 meters high are hardy in Z6, also in the continental Europe. We have some controlled specimen, which are living here in good conditions.
    Of course the humidity level is much lower, but they work.

    Zsolt

  • how393
    10 years ago

    I will try to bring back so seeding from Taiwan if there is a chance to go there. Just wonder can they live in such a hot and humid country like malaysia as compare to Taiwan.

  • mesterhazypinetum
    10 years ago

    How,
    I suggest you to visit a malaysian botanic garden. They can take any quantities of conifer seeds from taiwanian Botanical Gardens by the international seed exchange, as all botanical gardens have an Index Seminum. The usual size of seed pockets are 1-2 grams, enough for some seedlings.
    Good luck

    Zsolt

  • sugi
    10 years ago

    Thank's for sharing this nice pics!
    Conglatulation for the Taiwania broom discovery, Taiwania can be propagated by cuttings!
    I grow in France one yellow variegated and one white variegated Podocarpus macrophyllus that are originated from Japan.

    Julien

  • how393
    10 years ago

    thanks zsolt, I will pay a visit there as soon as possible. I really love to have this tree in my garden. : )