PLANT OF THE MONTH
February, 2008
Plant of the Month Feature
by Jeff Rathje
Bickelhaupt Arboretum
Roots Board Member
Pinus strobus
Lasting Beauty White Pine
The definition for Serendipity is an apparent aptitude for making fortunate discoveries accidentally. After years of watching my fellow American Conifer Society (ACS) members, Chub Harper and Randy Dykstra, spot conifer witches brooms at 55 mph, a broom literally spotted us, Pinus strobus (Lasting Beauty)! Brooms are genetic mutations, which when propagated by grafting, duplicate the mother plant. I encourage you to become acquainted with the resulting new plant by experiencing its dense dark green and semi-dwarf beauty in the Heartland Conifer Collection at Bickelhaupt Arboretum.
Its origins began in 1989, when I took leave of my senses and opened a small nursery/landscape contracting business in McCausland, Iowa. There were 10-year-old Pinus strobus, White Pine, Christmas tree seedlings on the land.
In the mid-90's, after the removal of many neighboring trees, we noticed one of the white pines looked much different from the rest. It had two low branches resembling the others, a swelling on the trunk above them, and all growth above was much more dwarf and denser. It looked like an attractive semi-dwarf pine with "wings". After consulting Chub, it was determined to be a witches broom. While most brooms are a smaller growth found in a larger tree, in this case, almost the whole tree is a broom.
The Christmas tree plot was planted about 6' on center, with one normal Pinus strobus adjacent the broom tree. This worked well for comparison purposes: a large, loose, open (no candle pruning had been done), pyramidal, and light green species pine next to one that was about one third the size, very rounded, and darker green. I used this example to show clients how propagating witches brooms can provide up-grades in size/form/color, etc. and told them that if they were pine sellers offering a choice between the species tree and the broom tree, I would more quickly open my wallet for the broom. Later, the species tree grew too close to the broom so it was nuked.
In 1997, we arranged to propagate this new special pine. Experts explained to me that to obtain a plant patent could be an exercise in frustration: paying patent lawyers with no assurance of commercial viability. It seemed the true ACS spirit required just giving it away to experienced propagators to "get it out there" and we did. When Chub, the late DeEtta Montgomery, and I pruned some scion wood to send away, she named it "Lasting Beauty" after the name of the nursery where it was found.
One or two years later, more scion wood was pruned and taken to Randy for grafting and then for us to grow on. Randy reported excellent grafting percentages on his end and I can report good field growth on my end. They are growing in a small area near the broom tree under the "tender loving neglect" method. One reason a plant like this is not extensively propagated lies in the fact that most propagation people are not excited about the discovery of a new Pinus strobus, White Pine, cultivar since they are already well represented in the trade. White Pine cultivars that would probably fit into an intermediate size range like Pinus strobus (Lasting Beauty) include 'Green Shadow' and 'Uconn'. Compared to these, the broom tree is more rounded, deeper green and slower growing. I have only noticed cones on this plant one time and they were quite dwarf. It would be a fun experiment to try raising a crop of witches broom seedlings in the future. Today, the original broom tree is a 10' X 10' wide beautiful dense specimen. Chub mentioned once that Pinus strobus (Lasting Beauty) would be a good screening plant for a yard our size, one acre. Recently, we used it in a grouping above a patio wall with Picea orientalis 'Nigra Compacta', Oriental Spruce, and Picea pungens 'Glauca Procumbens', Colorado Spruce. This combination provides Iowa conifer nut Gary Whittenbaugh's famous "roundy, pointy, flatty" design, as well as, a nice medium green/dark green/bright blue combination. As an addicted conehead myself, I highly recommend to other plant lovers, a trip to Bickelhaupt to check out Pinus strobus (Lasting Beauty), as well as, the many other conifers, woody plants, and perennials in the arboretum's well-maintained collection. You will not be disappointed.
Photo provided by the author.
Pinus strobus on the left, and Pinus strobus 'Lasting Beauty' on the right.
About the author: Jeff Rathje has been the owner of Lasting Beauty Landscape in McCausland, Iowa since 1989, which is a small contracting business that is open for retail by appointment only. He has a degree in horticulture from Kirkwood Community College and a true passion for rare and unusual conifers. His other major interests are catfishing on the Wapsipinicon River, woodcutting, and sports. Jeff is a valued Roots Advisory Board member. The Bickelhaupt Arboretum is fortunate to have him on the Roots Board.