Re: idesia polycarpa

Irene:

Several (many?) of these trees were planting in Balboa
Park in San Diego more than 30 years ago.  I saw them
just last year and they are doing fairly well.  

I, too, am surprised that they are not planted more
and not offered commercially.  Although, maybe the
fact is that they are "functional trees" at best. 
>From what I recall, the trees are little better than
non-descript, with leaves that are "nice",
insignificant flowers, and some okay berries (not
"covered with panicles").  But they grow and do it
neatly.

It reminds me of the Shogun series of trees that
Monrovia Nurseries introduced a few years ago.  None
have really caught on and it is because they are
"functional trees" -- good in city parks and maybe as
public street trees. 

I haven't seen any sources of Idesia since the nursery
at Balboa Park started playing with it 30+ years ago.

Joe
--- Irene Kuffel <ikuffel@cisco.com> wrote:
> Hello all,
> 
>    I was browsing through the new "Dirr's Trees and
> Shrubs for
>    Warm Climates" and came across this rather
> intriguing-looking
>    tree, idesia polycarpa ("Igiri Tree").
> 
>    It's from S.Japan, central/western China, so not
> mediterranean.
>    But, the description says it "Tolerates heat,
> drought, and 
>    substandard soils" which _sounds_ like it would
> do well in
>    mediterranean regions.  It has attractive leaves
> and bark,
>    and a fruiting tree looks quite a knock-out
> covered with
>    panicles of red berries. Also, "Extremely fast
> growing as
>    a young tree. Easily grown from fresh planted
> seed."
> 
>    Given all that, I find it curious that this tree
> is not more 
>    popular than it is - I have never (knowingly)
> seen this tree in
>    California. Have any of you any personal
> experience with this
>    tree? Are there any downsides? Is the "Easily
> grown from ..."
>    sentence a warning that it is invasive? Does
> anyone know if
>    there any sources for this in California?
> 
> Thanks much,
> 
> -- Irene Kuffel
> Napa Valley, California.
> http://www.geocities.com/ikuffel/
> 


=====
Joe Seals
Santa Maria, California --
where the weather is always perfect
and my garden always has something blooming
and birds galore

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