Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Showy Lantern’ Enkianthus in cultivation Th o m a s Cl a r k , Er i C hsu and ko E n Ca m E l b E k E provide an overview of the cultivated species and detail the cultivars n k i a n t h u s bring a welcome than fleshy berries, and whorl-like E. perulatus (syn. E. taiwanianus), subtlety to the spring garden. arrangement of toothed leaves and E. quinqueflorus, E. serotinus and ETheir small flowers and leaves branches, differentiate Enkianthus. E. serrulatus. Three are native to contrast with those of their more They are deciduous shrubs or small Japan: E. campanulatus, E. cernuus blousy ericaceous brethren such as trees and flowering occurs in early and E. perulatus. Rhododendron, and they demand less to late spring, April to June in the cultivation attention. The genus northern hemisphere. Taxonomic history contains 12–17 species, augmented The native range of the genus is The genus was established in 1790 by several worthwhile cultivars. east Asia, occupying a broad swathe by João de Loureiro (1717–1791), a from the eastern Himalayas to south- Portuguese Jesuit missionary, Genus characteristics east Asia, and north into China and palaeontologist, physician and The pendulous, umbel-like clusters Japan. China is host to seven species, botanist who resided in Cochinchina or racemes of campanulate flowers more than any other country, four of (now Vietnam) for 30 years. Taking resemble those of related genera which are endemic (Ruizheng & cues from the flowers, he created the such as Gaultheria and Vaccinium. Stevens 2005). These species are genus name from the Greek words However, the dry capsules, rather E. chinensis, E. deflexus, E. pauciflorus, enkyos, pregnant, and anthos, flowers. 78 June 2011 PlantsmanThe Philippe de Spoelberch Ron Rabideau Ron Enkianthus campanulatus flowering profusely in early May. It will eventually form a large shrub Enkianthus campanulatus f. albiflorus section Meisteria (E. campanulatus, has pale yellow to reddish, striated E. cernuus) (Anderberg 1994). Less flowers while those of var. palibinii clear-cut, and still controversial, is are entirely red. A white-flowered the number of species in the genus. variant has been accorded its own Nine species were recognized by form, f. albiflorus. Iwatsuki & Thomas Clark Thomas Palibin (1889) while more recent Boufford (1993) elevate var. treatments vary: 13 (Hsu 1982), 17 sikokianus to species status, (Anderberg 1994), 15 (Kron et al. E. sikokianus, but in horticulture it 2002), 12 (Ruizheng & Stevens 2005). is usually recognized at varietal level. Philippe de Spoelberch It is easily differen tiated from the Species and cultivars other varieties in having longer Enkianthus campanulatus (redvein racemes, up to 9cm, and 8–20 enkianthus) flowers per raceme instead of 10 or Enkianthus campanulatus var. palibinii This is the most widely cultivated less (Iwatsuki & Boufford 1993). species, introduced to the UK from In Europe and North America Morphological and phylogenetic Japan by Charles Maries on behalf this species forms a medium to large analyses show that Enkianthus is a of Messrs Veitch nurseries. Of the shrub, although older plants can be sister group to other ericaceous taxa, endemic Japanese species it has the considered small, multi-stemmed and is the only extant representative widest distribution, ranging from trees. A giant 47-year-old specimen of subfamily Enkianthoideae, one of southern Hokkaido to Honshu and at Polly Hill Arboretum, Massach- the two evolutionary lineages in the Shikoku, where it colonizes open usetts, measured 9.4m tall by 12.2m family (Anderberg 1993, Judd & mountainous slopes. wide in 2010. The autumn foliage Kron 1993, Kron & Chase 1993). Its morpho logical variability is reliably provides a spectacular and Four sections are currently recognized in four varieties; var. vibrant display ranging from yellow recognized within the genus: section campanulatus, var. longilobus, var. to orange and crimson. Individual Andromedina (E. nudipes, E. subsessilis); palibinii and var. sikokianus. The first clones are variable in habit and vigour, section Enkiantella (E. chinensis, three are largely distinguished by but the natural shape of this species E. deflexus, E. pauciflorus, E. ruber); their corolla length (7–8mm in var. is generally upright and taller than section Enkianthus (E. perulatus, campanulatus, 8–9mm in var. longilobus wide in youth, but spreading with age. E. quinqueflorus, E. serotinus, E. serrul­ and 5–6mm in var. palibinii) (Iwatsuki The cultivars of E. campanulatus atus, E. taiwanianus, E. tubulatus); and & Boufford 1993). Var. campanulatus that the authors have been able ➤ June 2011 79 genus profile Philippe de Spoelberch Ron Rabideau Ron Rabideau Ron Enkianthus campanulatus has yielded the most cultivars, with flowers in a range of colours. From left to right: ‘Red Velvet’, ‘Green Shades’ and ‘Faser’s Picotee’ to observe are discussed here. etched with rose-pink veining, late Ed Mezitt of Weston Nurseries. A comprehensive evaluation of the whereas the latter has rose-red available ones would be invaluable flowers that are darker and with even White- and cream-flowered for the horticulture industry. darker venation than ‘Showy Lantern’. cultivars These cultivars were introduced in Some clones of E. campanulatus f. Deep pink- and red-flowered 1990 and originated from a 1980s albiflorus have pure white flowers cultivars breeding program at Iseli Nursery, with no hint of coloured veining and n ‘Akatsuki’ Oregon. They were named for the are particularly elegant. This cultivar produces mid-pink wife of the nursery’s founder. n ‘Renoir’ flowers, echoing its name which n ‘Miyama-beni’ This cultivar has creamy white means dawn. It is one of several This vigorous cultivar has rose-pink flowers with subtly pink-tipped Japanese cultivars imported into flowers. Like ‘Akatsuki’, it was corolla lobes and no veining. It North America within the last 10 imported from Japan by Heritage originated at the Arnold Arboretum, years by Heritage Seedlings, Inc., Seedlings, Inc. Massachusetts, where it had been Oregon. n ‘Princeton Red Bells’ grown from seed received in 1923 n ‘Bruce Briggs’ This is a distinctive cultivar with the from University of Edinburgh, This is one of the darkest red- darkest red flowers of any E. campan­ Scotland. It was named by assistant flowered cultivars. It is a recent ulatus cultivar. It was introduced in propagator Rob Nicholson in the selection from Weston Nurseries, the late 1970s by Bill Flemer III of early 1980s (Nicholson 1983). The Massachusetts, named for a visionary Princeton Nurseries, New Jersey. original plant no longer grows at the Washington state nurseryman. It n ‘Red Bells’ Arnold Arboretum, having been has been listed informally as Weston Do not confuse this with ‘Princeton deaccessioned in 1999. red or Weston red seedling. Red Bells’; it has unremarkable n ‘Wallaby’ n ‘Donardensis’ flowers typical of the species. This cultivar bears creamy white Its flowers are rimmed in deep red n ‘Red Velvet’ flowers and is a dwarf, compact and twice as large as the typical The rose pink flowers are similar to selection with deep scarlet autumn species. It arose as a chance seedling those of ‘Miyama-beni’ and ‘Showy foliage. It is not a vigorous grower at at Slieve Donard Nursery, Northern Lantern’, but it has consistently good Arboretum Wespelaar, Belgium. Ireland, before 1940. red autumn foliage. n ‘Hollandia’ n ‘Showy Lantern’ Variegated cultivars This cultivar bears pale, creamy pink This densely-branched cultivar has n ‘Tokyo Masquerade’ flowers with heavy rose-pink slender, rich rose-pink flowers with This cultivar has medium green venation. It is frequently listed as darker veining and scarlet autumn leaves that are irregularly edged in ‘Hollandia Red’. foliage. Cappiello & Littlefield chartreuse green; the edge colour n ‘Jan Iseli Pink’ and ‘Jan Iseli Red’ (1994) suggest that it is less cold- later fades to ivory white. ‘Variegata’ The former produces dense clusters hardy than the species. It was named is probably a synonym, although of round, cream-coloured flowers and introduced in the 1980s by the other distinct variegated clones, 80 June 2011 PlantsmanThe ‘Venus’, ‘Vesta’, ‘Virgo’, ‘Victoria’ and a weeping form. There are undoubtedly many other selections from various countries, Japan in particular, and some of which are gradually finding their way into North American and European gardens. Philippe de Spoelberch Enkianthus cernuus (nodding enkianthus) Native to the mountainous parts of Honshu, Japan, E. cernuus is distinguished from E. campanulatus The autumn foliage of Enkianthus campanulatus on Mount Sanpokojin in northwest Honshu, Japan by its dissected calyx lobes, smaller including one with white speckled cultivar is noted for its larger leaves, stature (1.2–2.7m), smaller leaves leaves, have been selected, as has strong upright growth, and white (2–4 x 1–5cm) and smaller, white a golden-leaved one. flowers marked with a rich rose-red flowers (0.6cm long) borne fewer band on the apical third of the per cluster (5–12). At least one Other cultivars corolla. The new stems emerge an variety, E. cernuus var. matsudae, n ‘Faser’s Picotee’ attractive reddish colour. It was is distinguished by its narrower, Creamy white flowers with contrast- selected by Mike Johnson of lanceolate leaves, less pubescent leaf ing pink-edged lobes distinguish this Summer Hill Nursery, Connecticut. midribs, and narrower and red 2006 introduction from Rare Find flowers. A second variety, E. cernuus Nursery, New Jersey. The promising We have traced the following var. nipponicus, cultivated in several seedling was named by the late cultivar names in nursery catalogues US arboreta, is considered synonym- nursery founder, Hank Schannen, and inventories of various public ous with E. cernuus by Ohwi (1965). for Mrs Faser, who distinguished it gardens, although none of them have A colour form, E. cernuus f. rubens, from a patch of volunteer seedlings. been observed by the authors: notable for its dark red flowers, is n ‘Green Shades’ ‘Chichibu-beni’, ‘Compactus’, the most widespread enkianthus in The small flowers of this cultivar are ‘Fukurin-beni’, ‘Hiraethlyn’, cultivation after E.