There is more than one kind on the market. Most forms are more or less short and dumpy ("leaning haystack"), of the C. japonicum 'Pendulum' type. If you get instead the taller growing C. japonicum 'Morioka Weeping' (sold in the past as C. magnificum 'Pendulum' and perhaps still so labeled at some outlets) you get a tree that has a leader, builds itself up into a much more spectacular specimen in time. Perhaps the two cheaper, "spindly" ones were examples of this selection. If so, unless in poor condition those would be the kind to get.

Unless you would rather have the small mushroom head (C. japonicum 'Pendulum') type. One I have here has grown to become almost like a table over the years, with extremely little upward progress.

So good to know! I didn't even check if they were different varieties. So do you think if it doesn't have much lower branching that's O.K.?

Thanks, Eileen

Some sold are either top-grafted, with the weeping cultivar perched on a section of non-weeping stem, or have been trained up a stake to produce a non-weeping trunk. You would not want one of these to have branches coming out of the trunk.

If you see this message three times, I apologize!

I think I'll take some pictures at the nursery tomorrow and you can educate me! I was ready to go buy one in the morning, but now I'm not sure of what I'd be getting.

The tag at the nursery said it would get 15-10 feet tall and about 12-15 feet wide. That obviously must be the "leaning haystack" variety and not the taller one you mentioned.

Thank you,

EIleen

If you post another reply "too soon" site won't let you unless you change the title.

All stock encountered should be labeled with cultivar names. You can write these down and look for them on the internet after you get back to your computer.

There's also a variety called 'Tidal Wave'. This is a tremendously fast grower so a smaller, less costly one will soon catch up in size to other varieties. The only drawback I found with it is that autumn color is not good unless it's sited in nearly full sun. This, however, may not be true in all areas.

I went to the nurseries today and both nurseries had 2 trees. At one place, both were Morioka variety--the very expensive one was short and very full, but I can't imagine it would get much taller since it was so strongly drooping already. The other was tall, with two sparse "antennae" sticking out the top. The leaves didn't look healthy at all.

At the other nursery, both looked healthy and were about 7 feet tall, but one was broken off at the top, and the other I was told would need to be staked to grow any taller. They were both just marked "Pendulum". Even though it's not Morioka, would the staking keep it from getting the haystack look?

If not, I'm maybe leaning now toward a paperbark maple.

Tree decisions stress me out,
Eileen

For for interest, bboy, I got a tiny C. japonicum 'Morioka Weeping' from Forestfarm in 2004 (its leaves are quite small compared to standard Katsuratree). It's healthy & vigorous, 12' tall w/a 3" caliber, but still completely upright. I hope the branches will spread out & begin to droop at some point.