Tuesday, April 09, 2013

Touched by The Dutch

Thankfully the snow on this plant has melted many days ago and I was finally able to take photos of it without that white stuff all over....


Mahonia 'Soft Caress'
What am I talking about? I had planned to write about this plant a couple of weeks or so ago but we had heavy snowfall then that hindered me from doing so. Fortunately all of that snow has melted seemingly ages ago and that snowy episode is nothing more now than just a distant memory (and may it not return till next winter!).


Oops! Soft Caress smothered by snow...
The plant I am referring to of course is the beautiful Mahonia 'Soft Caress'

I love the beautiful and tactile foliage of this plant, as well as its graceful habit and delicate appearance. It's very unique too compared to most Mahonias that you can readily buy here, in that the leaves are spineless, slender, and relatively dainty. And as the name suggests the leaves are so soft to the touch, almost inviting anyone who sees it to run their fingers through it (something you'd never do in other types of Mahonias, ouch!). An elegant plant that is both a pleasure to look at as well as to touch.


Now that's better! Same plant without the snow
I first heard about this plant a few years ago when it started to make the rounds amongst a few nurseries and enthusiasts across the pond. And it has been sporadically featured before on other gardening blogs based in the US. The moment I saw the photos, it was love at first sight. But alas, none seemed available here and the only way to get them then was to buy it in the US and get papers sorted so it can be shipped here. Too much hassle then, I'm sure it will eventually make its way here and I just needed to be patient.

Then last year I spotted this gorgeous (and significantly larger) specimen in one of the nurseries we visited:



Could it be? The knowledgeable and friendly owner of this nursery thinks it probably is. Not a hundred percent certain as when the plant was gifted to him it was already a big specimen (not too far off from what it looked like in the photo) and it came with no label, just a little tale of provenance.



What a gorgeous plant! Sadly it was the only one and certainly was not for sale. But if it was indeed a larger, more mature Mahonia 'Soft Caress' then it has given us a preview of what it could look like after a few years of growth. I only ever saw photos it as small plants before so to see something relatively big (and in the flesh) was a nice surprise. And I do like it grown like that, as a single trunk specimen looking like a palm or a parasol.

Speaking of 'not a hundred percent certain', if the plant above is not a 'Soft Caress', what else could it be? Apparently Mahonia 'Soft Caress' is a selection from plants identified as Mahonia eurybracteata var. ganpinensis, so there's a possibility that the plant above is actually the latter and not exactly the former. If that's the the case then the ID is almost but not quite....

But then again it could actually be a 'Soft Caress' (am I confusing you now?)....

From then, fast forward to October of last year. As we entered a general garden centre near us there it was, proudly featured by the main doors, a pot of Mahonia 'Soft Caress'. We were both speechless when we saw it, totally unexpected. Then inside there were loads of it, so many! After waiting for years, of what seemingly was a very rare plant there they were, pots and pots of it in front of us. In a general garden centre!

I read the label and saw where they came from. This plant has been touched by the Dutch...

By the Dutch tissue culture and plant mass production industry. And that's why it was there, loads of it in a general garden centre. And we spotted more of it in other garden centres we visited in the following months.

Did it matter to us that suddenly, a plant that was rare and elusive to us before was suddenly very available? Not at all, we couldn't care less and was just happy enough that it was finally available here, mass produced or not. We took home two pots right then and there and would be happy to buy more in the near future. We just absolutely love this plant. 

Eventually it was featured on the The Garden Magazine, which is a monthly publication of The RHS, as well as on television via Gardener's World (and rightfully praised by Carol Klein).

What about its hardiness? Well several gardeners in the US Pacific Northwest region have had it for years with very good reports. We've only had it for one winter and both pots were left outside, exposed and unprotected and they have both sailed through this winter looking unflawed. So far so good.


Mahonia 'Soft Caress'
And looks like this plant is destined to be popular this year and the coming years to come. The Dutch plant mass production industry has its share of issues and controversies on how it affects smaller and local plant nursery business. But I won't expound on those issues, and on this occasion just regard that at least this plant, something so beautiful is now readily available for more gardeners to enjoy. I have however also heard one or two people commenting on how their regard for this plant have lessened now that it is readily available, which I personally found really odd. Surely if you find this plant beautiful in the first place then that should matter the most and not let its commonality diminish your enjoyment of it.

Get over thy snobbery, beauty before rarity!

Mark :-)

[Update: May 2013 - This plant won plant of the year at the 2013 RHS Chelsea Flower Show]

24 comments :

  1. Your patience paid off. I find that something to celebrate. Let the plant snobs move on, while you enjoy having scored a pair of stunning plants.

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    1. Yes it sure did Ricki. It was great to see the plant in the flesh last year (the large one was not for sale) but then even better when it turned up at the local garden centre. We initially selected the plant from the display when we spotted it only to find a bigger selection inside.

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  2. What a stunning plant! I've never seen it over here in California but I'll keep an eye out for it. It would add a lot of texture to our backyard patio.

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    1. I do hope you find one Gerhard, would love to hear how it does for you.

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  3. Hi Mark, you guys are truly plantsmen in the very best sense of the word! I appreciate when I feel that someone is really in love with a plant and can get excited about it like a kid in a candy store. There is so much joy to be found in the world of plants, isn't it? And by the way Mahonia 'Soft Caress' is a beauty! I am happy for you guys that you could finally get your hands on it!
    Christina

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    1. Christina, you are so right in that there can be so much joy, and this one sure gave us plenty when we found it for sale.

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  4. Sadly, there will always be those who only care about a plant if it makes them feel like they are part of some esteemed elite. Rubbish, I say...a plant's value isn't in it's novelty...if so, how sad. Enjoy your find...I've seen a few around town here in Portland and they seem to overwinter as well as other Mahonias.

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    1. Indeed there is Scott, some of the most common plants can be some of them most special too

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  5. Hi Mark, you always write so well, to my envy! And I am so awed that a plant that beautiful can withstand piles of snow without any harm, amazing plant. The scientist in me wants to know the characteristics or the composition inside its cells, how they differ from the susceptible! Oh so lovely to think about these. And congratulations for getting whatever you fancy!

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    1. Its a beautiful plant indeed, and looks so delicate and far more tender than it really is.

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  6. Wow that large specimen plant is quite handsome!

    My 'soft caress' has branched, which I'm pretty happy about. I still would like another though, you were smart to buy two.

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    1. I suspect a third may make its way into our garden at some point. I'd like to grow one as a standard like the larger one above.

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  7. It looks so elegant! I am happy you found it. I don't understand plant snobs either...Jeannine

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  8. I really like that plant. Very exotic. Looks like what we would have as a houseplant up here.
    Cher Sunray Gardens

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    1. It is much tougher than it looks. Im looking forward to seeing how it develops for us

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  9. Very interesting guys. I love the scent of Mahonia, will it produce a similar flower to the kind that are readily growing and available here in the UK?
    Paul

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    1. The flower does look similar Paul, which may be a little disappointing to some.

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  10. Glad to see what was under all the snow. What elegant foliage. I love the thought of a mahonia without spines and will certainly look out for this. Agree strongly with your last sentiment :)

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    1. Thanks Anna, yes it is elegant indeed. I suspect it will need to be managed and trimmed carefully from time to time to ensure it stays elegant. If it got out of hand it may lose that elegant appearance.

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  11. I'm fond of this plant too. I've had mine for several years and it's sailed through a number of rather extreme witers (for us anyway) with no damage at all. Beautiful!

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    1. Great to hear that Peter, very promising indeed!

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  12. Oh, I am now seriously excited! I saw this on Gardener's World and fell in love, but assumed it was rare and expensive. I didn't even bother to google it. Now I am off to hunt it down, such a beautiful plant...

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    1. PS Crocus sell it, for heavens sake, and say it is fully hardy! And will grow happily in sun or shade! it just leaped to the top of my wishlist...

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