Ireena, let me help you to name your pics: #1 Picea abies 'Ohlendorffii' #2 Picea abies 'Rothenhaus' #3 Picea abies 'Cranstonii' #4 Picea abies 'Pachyphylla' #5 Picea abies 'Reflexa' (staked for a while) #6 Picea abies 'Phylicoides' #7 Picea obovata 'Aurea' (?)

Jaro: I just got three of the 'Pruhoniceanas' from Iseli through my local nursery--I think they said they were about 3 feet tall or a bit more, and not cheap. I was told they were the last they had. I think Gee has a few about the same size, and Gee and Arrowhead have small grafts available. I may also try the 'Aarburg' and the 'Rothenhausii'. You are right when you suggest that the 'Pruhoniceana' is somewhat like one end of the range of the variation one sees in the species, but to me it is somewhat beyond the end of that range. In any case, I think many of the regular species NS are outstanding in themselves. Another cultivar of this general type I would like to find is 'Pendula Bohenica." Krussmann has a photo that makes it look something like the 'Pruhoniceana,' but the description makes it sound a bit more irregular. I have been growing for a few years three of the 'Pendula Major.' They look promising but it is too early to tell what they realy are. They are, I think, more like the regular species than the 'Prunoniceana,' but worth a try. Iseli has a photo, but I have my doubts, all due respect to Iseli, that their picture is of a true 'Pendula Major'. If it is, then it is really just like some of the more weeping individuals of the regular species, and worth trying only if you want a specimen NS that has good weeping branchlets. But I suspect it is just a bit more interesting than that. Another P. abies cultivar I am curious about is the 'Pendula Monstrosa.' Krussmann says "similar to 'Pendula Major', but the main branches more pendulous, twigs less luxuriant, needles radially arranged." And one other one that has caught my interest is 'Plumosa'. Krussmann describes it as similar to 'Viminalis', but the long pendulous branches denser. Well, if any of you out there know anything about any of these, and/or know any sources, let me know. --Spruce

I just wanted to clarify the (Weeping)variety that I mentioned as a seedling selection of Pendula Bruns. This plant I believe is still on trial pending a new name and release to the public. As most of us know single descriptive names are not allowed for cultivars. I apologize for the error and not explaining in further detail earlier. I believe that changing names for plants that have been in circulation for potentially 50 years should for the most be left as is - invalid or otherwise. There are 2 or 3 generations of growers and consumers that have grown accustomed and accepted the name and recognize the plant with that name as such. Changing names often leads to more confusion. Growers in my experiences in particular are extremely stubborn in changing their ways. There is no real benefit to them to change the name and some may feel they are at risk of losing customers/sales and only keeping the nit pickers, purists and botanically educated happy. There is a lot of "it doesn't really matter, they still sell" attitude in grower world. New names for plants are particulary challenging now because of the the several languages used to name a plant which most often at some point leads to spelling errors and/or grammatical accentuations being left out because of not using the proper uni-code on computer keyboards. Who would take the time and effort to ensure every variety is properly listed and spelled correctly? English is easy for us here. But what about Slavic, French, and German languages. How many of us here is North America will properly put accents on French names, Umlauts on German names and Slavic characters in their label makers? This issue I'm sure will last forever. There are hobbyists and growers across the planet doing their best to keep the nomenclature accurate but there will always be mistakes. Some will want to change them and others will not. Will Picea omorika (mariana)Karel ever be changed? Everyone I talk to is convinced its mariana. I have bought and imported Picea glauca (abies) Cy's Wonder plants from Canada, US and Holland. I'm completely convinced that my oldest specimen now 18 yrs old is Picea abies not glauca. A colleague that I know very, very well Joe Stupka named a plant Pinus strobus Southbridge Variegated. This plant is not strobus it is flexilis with the possibility that it is strobiformis. An older plant about to cone in Clinton, Iowa should resolve any doubt in the next year. I've asked Joe about it and he just shrugs his shoulders, "I found it in a parking lot with some white pine". But I highly doubt this name will ever be corrected. Many plant cultivars are mixed up with in the genus of Picea bicolor (alcoquiana) and Picea jezoensis. Some of these cultivars belong in the latter but I doubt that will change any time soon. What a lot of it boils down to is documentation, understanding and accurate information from plant collectors, hobbyists and growers. Perhaps the databases of the conifer societies around the world can help with some of these issues. I do feel the onus is on the person or group who found it to always keep some sort of record on their shared or introduced plants to help clarify any future discrepancies. As a plant collector and grower I do my best to be as accurate with my records as a possible as most, I'm sure are as well. There are mix ups in every genre of the flora world. Lilies from pre WWII are being renamed and marketed as new varieties and the list goes on. But the other part of me as a plant fanatic (like many others), whether the name has an "s", parenthesis, genus mixup or not doesn't matter a whole lot at the end of the day because when I'm outside in my arboretum looking at it, I enjoy it for what it is - something very cool that someone found and shared with the rest of the world. Darren

O boy, this is an old topic which started 5,5 years ago... Stephen was right with his info and I think there's only one specimen alive now which is not the one at Wiel's garden, he removed his specimen years ago... Last winter I came acros another specimen of this cultivar here in The Netherlands which was propagated from the one in Wiel's garden, so it's not gone! I cut some nice variegated branches which were grafted so there's a chance that it will be in the trade in a couple of years from now... Picea abies 'Pendula Variegata' This post was edited by coniferjoy on Fri, Sep 6, 13 at 10:48