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

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 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 differen­tiated 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 morpho­logical 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

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,

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‘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. campanulatus and edged in pink and are greenish near ‘Howito’, ‘Iwa-shidare’, ‘Kisoji-no- E. perulatus. Its size and habit is more the sepals, but it is rather inconspic­ haru’, ‘Kuchibeni-nishiki’, ‘Pagoda’ similar to E. perulatus and only the uous from a distance. (possibly a corruption of the common reddest forms of E. campanulatus rival n ‘Summer Hill’ name, pagoda bush), ‘Red Beauty’, its red flowers. The corolla of f. rubens Selected from a chance seedling, this ‘Ruby Glow’, ‘Shidare-beni’, ‘Sinsetsu’, is unique in that the widest point is near the middle and the distal ends of the petals curve inward, giving the flowers a rather globular shape, as opposed to the bell-shaped flowers characteristic of the genus. Enkianthus cernuus f. rubens is less hardy than the species, and most of the other species in the genus, in central Belgium. Cold winters have killed young plants of this forma and left older plants with major stem damage from frost. It therefore requires a protected site

Ron Rabideau Ron Rabideau in such climates. Nevertheless, the performance of established plants Enkianthus cernuus Enkianthus cernuus f. rubens has been mostly impressive. ➤

June 2011 81 genus profile

Botanical Garden, E. chinensis, originally collected during the 1980 Sino-American Botanical Expedition (as SABE 1311), has prospered and flowers generously (Wharton et al. 2005)

Enkianthus deflexus This species is widely distributed in forests at 1,000–3,300m in China,

Ron Rabideau Bhutan, northeast India, Burma, Nepal and Sikkim. It forms a shrub

or a small tree 1.5–5m tall and the Clark Tom The narrow leaves of Enkianthus cernuus ‘Yanagiba’ leaves are 2.5–8 x 1.5-4.5cm (Stevens The multicoloured flowers ofEnkianthus chinensis 1971). Bean (1973) stated that the n The cultivar ‘Yanagiba’ has small flowers appear in June, but Ruizheng to other species through breeding. spherical flowers that are deep red. & Stevens (2005) note that flowering However, it is the narrow leaves stretches from April to July. Enkianthus perulatus (white giving a feathery effect that make One variety, E. deflexus var. enkianthus) ‘Yanagiba’ one of the most distinct­ glabrescens, has been described – it This species favours rocky slopes in ive enkianthuses; at first glance it has has leaves that are glabrous on both southern Honshu, Shikoku and the appearance of a cut-leaf Japanese surfaces while in var. deflexus they are Kyushu in Japan, and in northern maple. Selected and named in Japan, hairy on both surfaces. Plant hunter Taiwan on the margins of Fagus it was introduced to North America EH Wilson thought highly of hayatae forest. It is readily identifiable by Brian Upchurch of Highland E. deflexus, calling it ‘one of the in mid spring since the flowers appear Creek Nursery, North Carolina, and commonest and most beautiful before the leaves. Sir Rutherford Ted Stephens of Nurseries shrubs in western Szech’uan’ Alcock, the first British diplomat in Caroliniana, South Carolina. (Sargent 1988). Lancaster (1989) Japan, discovered this species in noted that the autumn colours were Nagasaki in 1859, but its introduct­ Enkianthus chinensis superb on the upper slopes of Emei ion did not take place until ten years A shrub or small tree between 2.5 Shan in Sichuan and that E. deflexus later by Messrs Standish (Bean 1973). and 8m tall, E. chinensis colonizes ‘was the most brilliant of all’. Enkianthus perulatus is the second the forested and mountainous areas most common species in cultivation. of central and southern China at Enkianthus nudipes At a distance its flowers are of little 900–1,200m, exceptionally reaching A Japanese endemic restricted consequence, but up close they are 3,100m (Ruizheng & Stevens 2005). to central Honshu and Shikoku, Slightly smaller than those of E. nudipes colonizes open areas at Enkianthus deflexus E. deflexus, the leaves are 1.5cm wide 400–1,000m (Iwatsuki & Boufford and 1.5–2.5cm long (Ruizheng & 1993). It forms a shrub 1–2m tall, Stevens 2005). The flowers, striped with leaves 1–2.5 x 0.5–1.5cm wide with yellow, orange and red, are (Iwatsuki & Boufford 1993). 7–10mm wide and the autumn Flowering occurs between mid May colour is early and superb. and mid June. The 4mm long, Enkianthus chinensis is rare in private convallaria-like flowers are held on gardens and only encountered exceptionally long pedicels, giving an infrequently in arboreta and botanic effect of delicate earrings. gardens. A plant acquired from Curiously, this species is poorly Esveld nursery in the Netherlands represented in gardens for unknown Philippe de Spoelberch is usually the last of the species to reasons. It deserves further flower at Arboretum Wespelaar. At introduction and evaluation, and the University of British Columbia the long pedicels may be imparted

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Epstein’s death the 1m wide specimen was auctioned and transplanted to a private Connecticut garden. Another venerable specimen approaching 1m tall and 1.3m wide thrives at Wave Hill public garden, New York. ‘Tsukumo’ is another dwarf selection. Enkianthus quinqueflorus This deciduous species can be easily recognized by its 1cm wide, translucent, pearly pink flowers and prominently raised leaf veins. Reaching 1–2m in height, this species inhabits hillsides and mixed forests in south China and north

Tony Aiello Vietnam at 600–1,500m (Ruizheng & Stevens 2005). Indeed, plants were observed by one author (E Hsu) The autumn colour of Enkianthus perulatus ‘J.L. Pennock’ (above) and the flowers of the species (below) in dry, rocky terrain in Hong Kong. autumn display is outstanding both Bean (1973) praised this species as in colour and in its exceptional ‘unsurpassed among enkianthuses in longevity. The colour begins as deep the size and beauty of the individual purple two weeks before other flowers and the clusters with their individuals of the same species and attendant pink bracts give a charm­ consistently peaks as bright red. ing effect’. Symbolizing good fortune, Rick Lewandowski and Paul Meyer large bunches of E. quinqueflorus were selected and named this cultivar once harvested and forced for floral from a cultivated research collection arrangements celebrating the at the Morris Arboretum of the Chinese New Year in late January

Ron Rabideau University of Pennsylvania in the or February (Metcalf 1942). It was 1980s and patented it in 1994 a common practice in the Qing (Lewandowski et al. 1994). The dynasty (1644–1912) to place the original plant is a compact shrub, cut branches in temples as deity attractive and daintily elegant. The broader than tall, and at more than offerings (Abel 1818, Goody 1993). habit is variable, becoming either a 50 years is less than 3m in height. However, this practice ceased when loosely upright to rounded shrub or a Dillard (2003) provides detailed the species was placed under tightly mounding, spreading shrub. propagation information. Two small protection in 1925 (Jarrett 1932). The autumn colour is splendid and, specimens of ‘J.L. Pennock’ at Not surprisingly, its beauty, early at its best, is a brilliant red or a Arboretum Wespelaar, given by the discovery, and prominence in glowing yellowish orange. This Morris Arboretum, are rated highly Chinese culture meant that it was excellent autumn colour and its for their autumn colour. the first Enkianthus species to be adaptability to heavy pruning, even n ‘Compactus’ brought into cultivation in the West. shearing, makes E. perulatus a logical This exceedingly compact cultivar It was introduced to North America substitute for Euonymus alatus in has been in North American gardens in the early 19th century and by 1835 parts of northeast USA where the for decades, but remains rare. It had it was being successfully grown latter is invasive and threatens a prominent presence at Larchmont, alongside camellias in the natural ecosystems. New York, the garden of the late conservatory of Colonel TH Perkins n ‘J.L. Pennock’ plantsman Harold Epstein where it near Boston, Massachusetts The flowers of this cultivar are grew for more than 50 years and (Teschemacher 1835). Its lack of typical of the species, but the reached scarcely 0.6m tall. After hardiness and need for glasshouse ➤

June 2011 83 genus profile protection in frost-prone climates Enkianthus serrulatus Arboretum (now J.C. Raulston has prevented its widespread Like other Chinese species, Arboretum) imported and distrib­ cultivation. However, hardiness E. serrulatus is a large shrub or small uted cuttings to various gardens and trials could reveal hardier clones. tree between 3 and 5m tall. It is nurseries. Gossler et al. (2009) n ‘Pink Chandelier’ native to mountainous forests at remark on its good performance This cultivar was recently imported 800–1,800m in southeast and under part-shade conditions, from Japan by Ted Stephens of central China (Ruizheng & Stevens especially its healthy green foliage Nurseries Caroliniana and has been 2005). The elliptic leaves are 5–10 x and good autumn colour. propagated by semi-hardwood 2–3cm and have finely toothed cuttings. A containerised plant has margins that differentiate E. Conservation survived -10°C without damage serrulatus from other species. It has Ecological studies of Enkianthus (Stephens 2010). It flowers between white flowers, similar to those of E. are rare; therefore the conservation mid March and early April. It is not perulatus but larger. status of most species is not known. clear how this cultivar differs from Enkianthus serrulatus is rare in However, heavy grazing by Sika the species since published cultivation, although JC Raulston deer has affected populations of descriptions are not informative. of North Carolina State University E. campanulatus, a species considered

references Abel, C (1818) Narrative of a journey in Jarrett, VHC (1932) The protection of Proceedings 39: 558 the interior of China and of a voyage to wild plants in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Ruizheng, F & Stevens, PF (2005) and from that country in the years 1816 Naturalist 3(2): 99–105 Enkianthus. In: Flora of China Editorial and 1819. Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme Judd, WS & Kron, KA (1993) Committee (eds) Flora of China. Vol. 14 and Brown, London Circumscription of Ericaceae (Ericales) (Apiaceae through Ericaceae). Science Anderberg, AA (1993) Cladistic as determined by preliminary cladistic Press, Beijing, and Missouri Botanical relationships and major clades of the analyses based on morphological, Garden Press, St Louis Ericales. Pl. Syst. Evol. 184: 207–231 anatomical, and embryological features. Sargent, CS (ed.) (1988) Plantae Anderberg, AA (1994) Cladistic Brittonia 45(2): 99–114 Wilsonianae. Vol. 1. Dioscorides Press, analysis of Enkianthus (Ericaceae) with Kron, KA & Chase, MW (1993) Oregon notes on the early diversification of the Systematics of the Ericaceae, Stephens, T (2010) Innovative options Ericaceae. Nordic J. Bot. 14: 385–401 Empetraceae, Epacridaceae and related in plant selections for southern gardens. Bean, WJ (1973) Trees and Shrubs taxa based on rbcL sequence data. Ann. www.ipps.org/southernna/2010papers. Hardy in the British Isles. 8th edn. Missouri Bot. Gard. 80: 735–741 htm (accessed March 2011) London, John Murray Kron, KA, Judd, WS, Stevens, PF, Stevens, PF (1971) A classification of Cappiello, PE & Littlefield, LE Crayn, DM, Anderberg, AA, the Ericaceae: subfamilies and tribes. (1994) Woody Landscape Plant Cold Gadek, PA, Quinn, CJ & Luteyn, JL Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 64: 1–53 Hardiness Ratings. Maine Agricultural (2002) Phylogenetic classification of Teschemacher, JE (1835) and Forestry Experiment Station Ericaceae: molecular and morphological Horticulture near Boston. Hort. Reg. & Technical Bulletin 156. Orono, Maine evidence. Bot. Rev. 68: 335–423 Gard. Mag. 1(3): 106–108 Dillard, S (2003) Propagation of Lewandowski, RJ, Meyer, PW & Wharton, P, Hine, B & Justice, D Enkianthus perulatus ‘J.L. Pennock’. Dillard, RJ (1994) Enkianthus perulatus (2005) The Jade Garden. Timber Press, The International Plant Propagators’ ‘J.L. Pennock’. United States Plant Oregon Society Combined Proceedings 53: 488 Patent Number 8,901 Yang, J-F, Liu, X-Y, Zhang, S-Z & Dirr, M (2009) Manual of Woody Metcalf, FP (1942) Flowers of the Huang, Y-X (2009) Tissue culture of Landscape Plants. 6th edn. Champaign, Chinese New Year. Arnoldia 2(1): 1–8 Enkianthus quinqueflorus Lour. J. Trop. Illinois Nicholson, R (1983) In: Alexander, J Subtrop. Bot. 17(4): 383–387 Goody, J (1993) The Culture of Flowers. & Koller, G. New plant forum. The Yoshino, Y, Maeda, M, Yamase, K Cambridge University Press, Cambridge International Plant Propagators’ Society & Ueyama, Y (2005) Studies on Gossler, R, Gossler, E & Gossler, M Combined Proceedings 33: 493 conservation of endangered species (2009) The Gossler Guide to Best Hardy Ohwi, J (1965) Flora of Japan. Smith­ Enkianthus campanulatus, 1: Shrubs. Timber Press, Oregon sonian Institution , Washington, DC Distribution of habitats and growth of Hsu, T-Z (1982) Classification, Palibin, JV (1889) Revisio generis Enkianthus campanulatus in Hyogo distribution and phylogeny of the genus Enkianthus Lour. Bot. Zap. 15: 1–18 prefecture (Japan). Bulletin of the Hyogo Enkianthus. Acta Bot. Yunnan. 4: 355–362 Rogers, C (1989) In: Alexander, J. Prefectural Technology Center for Iwatsuki, K & Boufford, DE (1993) New plant forum. The International Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Flora of Japan. Kodansha, Tokyo Plant Propagators’ Society Combined Forestry Section 52: 1347–7749

84 June 2011 PlantsmanThe endangered in Japan (Yoshino et al. good protocol to follow. Propagation Europe. The latter is not as cold 2005). It is likely that Chinese by cuttings has met with variable hardy as E. campanulatus and is species are suffering from success at Arboretum Wespelaar, slightly less common. Despite their deforestation and development. even when the cuttings are taken ornamental merits, E. deflexus, from young wood. E. chinensis and E. serrulatus are less Propagation Tissue culture of Enkianthus in common than the previous three. Fortunately, unlike other plants commercial quantities has so far Wild origin seed of E. chinensis and uncommon in cultivation, Enkianthus been limited to E. quinqueflorus, with E. deflexus has appeared recently in are not difficult to propagate from some success (Yang et al. 2009), and the RHS Rhododendron, Camellia seed. Cuttings can be a bit more of a E. campanulatus ‘Showy Lantern’ and Magnolia Group seed list. challenge. (Rogers 1989). The remaining species are little The seed capsules are beige to known in cultivation, but worthy of dark brown, 6–19mm in diameter, Cultivation introduction, if only for ex situ cons­ and ripen in the autumn (September Like other ericaceous genera, ervation and horticultural evaluation. to October). Between three and five Enkianthus grow best in full sun or The genus does not suffer from dust-like seeds are produced in each partial shade in moist, well-drained, the serious pests and diseases that capsule. They do not require pre- acidic soils. Established plants can plague Rhododendron and other, germination treatment, prompting tolerate periodic drought, although more commercial, ericaceous genera. Dirr (2009) to liken them to sowing may be sunburned when fully In northeast USA Enkianthus also beans. The fine seeds can be exposed. Where soil conditions are resist grazing by white-tailed deer. germinated in the same manner as suitable they are readily transplanted Arboretum Wespelaar in Belgium seeds of other ericaceous plants— as containerized specimens or field- has reported scale insect, especially surface sown on grown, balled-and-burlapped plants. on E. campanulatus but fortunately it a free-draining compost or milled In North America, E. campanulatus is not a common problem. sphagnum moss. Supplementary is the most adaptable species and is light, although not essential, does grown in much of the eastern third The future promote good growth and stocky of the US and milder parts of the Although the Japanese have made a seedlings. southeastern and maritime Canadian concerted effort to select and name Cultivars or fine forms of any provinces. On the West Coast it is variants of their native species, no species should be propagated successfully grown from parts of concentrated breeding program asexually. Cuttings taken in late British Columbia southward, exists, despite the diversity and spring or early summer and treated primarily west of the Cascade availability of germplasm available with rooting hormones root with Mountains, to northern California. in private and public collections. good success. Some nurseries prefer Cultivation of any Enkianthus in the Breeding efforts should focus on to leave rooted cuttings undisturbed continental interior is greatly limited imparting greater hardiness to the in rooting cells or trays in a cold by low temperatures, dry climate or showier, but tender, Chinese species frame or cold glasshouse over their high soil pH. However, a few clones such as E. quinqueflorus. Selection first winter. These are then potted of E. campanulatus are hardy to USDA should also focus on expanding the up before they resume growth the Zone 4 (-28°C to -34°C) as revealed flower colour range to deep yellows following spring. This is probably a by studies at the University of Maine and oranges, and selecting clones (Cappiello & Littlefield 1994), and for reliable autumn colour and acknowledgements the existence of decades-old plants compact habit. Thanks to Jack Alexander, Tomasz thriving at The Fells, a historic Anisko, Timothy M Boland, David Boufford, Philippe de Spoelberch, garden in central New Hampshire. William Flemer III, Paul Halladin, Enkianthus campanulatus­ is widely Th o m a s Cl a r k is Collections and Brian McGowan, R Wayne Mezitt, cultivated in Europe, growing well Grounds Manager at Polly Hill Seamus O’Brien, Ron Rabideau, where the soil pH allows ericaceous Arboretum, Massachusetts Brian Upchurch, Judith Warnement, genera to prosper. Er i c Hsu is a Research Associate at Adam Wheeler and Emily Wood for Enkianthus perulatus and E. cernuus Polly Hill Arboretum, Massachusetts their assistance and for generously are the only other species regularly Ko e n Ca m e l b e k e is Director of sharing their knowledge. cultivated in North America and Arboretum Wespelaar, Belgium

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