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coniferjoy

Cristate forms (part 2)

coniferjoy
10 years ago

A little while ago Zsolt shows us his find of a cristate form in a Larix decidua 'Krejci'.
I also found such mutation on the same cultivar here at my nursery.

March 2013
This way I discovered it at first.

December 2013
Same mutation, one growing season later.

December 2013
Same specimen, also this year's growth continued with a big cristate formed branch.

I'll not give it a name now, first I want to watch if it will be stable for the next couple of years...

This post was edited by coniferjoy on Sat, Dec 7, 13 at 8:53

Comments (21)

  • jinxz5
    10 years ago

    Edwin, If 'Krejci' as a cultivar has a habit of developing cristate growth (as in these two examples) then would new plants from these be a different cultivar? Jay

  • coniferjoy
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    Jay, all depends if the cristate growth will be stable or not.
    If stable, it will be a differend cultivar.
    If not, it's just 'Krejci'

    Another very important thing is that also it's descendants must have the same cristate growth, it may not revert after a while.
    This whole proces will take at least 5 years.

  • jinxz5
    10 years ago

    Thanks, These cristare forms are cool so I hope it stays so. Jay

  • jarpe
    10 years ago

    These forms are really fascinating. Is there any known older speciments of this kind? It would be thrilling to see what these forms grow up to be like.

  • coniferjoy
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    Jari, last week I discussed this with a friend Dutch nurserieman and he told me that he comes across it every once and a while in his grafted 'Krejci' specimens, but he never had one which showed it also in it's second year.
    Mine is showing second year cristate growth, but it's still too early to say it's stable...

    This post was edited by coniferjoy on Sun, Dec 8, 13 at 5:33

  • coniferjoy
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    Recently ago I discovered another cristate branch, this time in a Pinus sylvestris.
    I saw it as a dark spot up in the top of this tree and thought at first that it might be a witches' broom.
    But luck was at my side, the photo camera showed this very rare mutation.

    Photo taken from the sunny side

    A differend angle

    A close up of the cristate part, look at the many buds situated in a strange setting

    This post was edited by coniferjoy on Sun, Dec 8, 13 at 4:59

  • jarpe
    10 years ago

    This is amazing, I have never heard of such form of Pinus sylvestris.And this is our most common species in Finland. That branch differs quite dramatically from looks of normal branch, thick and full like squirrels tail with buds all alligned. How would such be propagated. Would you use one bud or whole shoot?
    That must be most extremely rare form! I quess cultivating it forward would be matter of highest importance.

    Is there a possibility that some insect or fungus is at work there?

  • coniferjoy
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    Thanks Jari, I know Pinus sylvestris is very common in Finland, that's why it's very strange for me that you never find such a mutation in this species.
    The same counts for Picea abies, wouldn't it be nice to find a cristate branch for that species as well?

    There are a lot of possibilities for you as a forester to find such rare mutations.
    The only thing you've to do is to keep your eyes wide open, good luck! :0)

  • coniferjoy
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    Last winter my buddy Erik spotted a cristate mutation in a Picea abies in a forest nearby his home.
    It was completely harvested and succesful propagated.

    Picea abies 'Mighty Magic'
    This way it caught his eye

    Closer view

    Side view

    Stable cristate growth for the last 3 years.

    This post was edited by coniferjoy on Tue, Dec 10, 13 at 7:09

  • jarpe
    10 years ago

    Itôs like it was from space, most peculiar looking. it seems to make new branches some of wich have cristate form and some not.

    Is the mother tree that this was harvested from still there? Is there change that it has tendency for buds to mutate this way. Like `Krejciô. Maby it should also be grafted.

    I hope i find something similar some day.(search-mode activated).

  • PRO
    David Olszyk, President, American Conifer Society
    10 years ago

    'Mighty Magic' is the most fantastic picea freak-show I have ever seen. Have the new grafts shown any sign of continuing this growth form?

    If this mutation is stable, it absolutely must somehow find its way into my garden.

    ~Dave

  • sluice
    10 years ago

    Nice! Very interesting to see on the picea.

  • mirek_l
    10 years ago


    Unstable.
    Several times I met.

  • clement_2006
    10 years ago

    Some years ago, I found A cristate branch on my Picea abies "Barry"

    I grafted some :

    But unstable !


    Picea abies "Vivier" (Barry mutation)
    Clement

  • coniferjoy
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    Mirek, from where did you obtain your cristate branch, did you find it on the species Picea abies in a forest is is it from a Picea abies cultivar?
    How many times did you graft it for how many years did you observe it before you came till the conclusion that it was unstable?
    Did you also try to propagate it from cuttings?

    Clément, how many years ago did you take that last photo?
    Did it make cristate growth in the meanwhile?
    Is the original mutation still in the 'Barryi' (not 'Barry')
    Did you ever try to propagate it from cuttings?

  • mirek_l
    10 years ago

  • mirek_l
    10 years ago

  • mirek_l
    10 years ago

    Edwin, on the species Picea abies in a forest.
    All the shoots grow normally.
    It seems to me that it is sucking pests.

  • coniferjoy
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    Next year in fall I can tell more if the 'Mighty Magic' is stable or not...

  • clement_2006
    10 years ago

    Now my plant are around 10 years old ,planted in nursery.


    Picea abies "Vivier", not cristate branch,little pendulous.Strange plant only.

    Picea abies "Vivier" buds.
    Clement

  • coniferjoy
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    Thanks Clément for your pics!
    Is the original cristate mutation still in the tree?

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