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Thursday, October 16, 2008
Winter white and coolly bright
IN THE world of fashion, the Irish have always been wary of wearing white in winter.
Impractical, unsuitable, and a thousand other excuses were used to hide their timidity for what is now regarded as the sexiest of colours!
Modern white may be the newest and coolest thing to hit the fashion conscious modern woman, but it is old hat in the garden and has been so for quite some years now.
Because white is so cool (and apparently neutral) it mixes with just about everything, and when it comes to a Cryptomeria the plant simply whispers of luxury and elegance.
This winter then, the choice for all those looking for something just that little bit out of the ordinary is Cryptomeria ‘Sekan-Sugi’.
The colouring of this Japanese cedar is creamy-white on the current years growths, tapering back to a more lime-green on the older wood, both together good enough to arouse very favourable comment and draw keen interest in the winter garden.
Related to the giant redwood coniferous family the texture of the foliage is still one of stiffness, more prickly than it actually looks, yet soft to view as it moves its slightly drooping branches in tireless movement in all but the gentles of breezes.
The plant is best kept as a small shrub by constantly removing shoots for indoor ornamentation when the fancy takes you. It won’t give you much for about five to six years, but once it begins to enlarge, cut as much as is necessary always aiming for a pleasing shape.
Left to its own devices and given plenty of time, it will make a large shrub-too large for the smaller, more compact plots which depend on constant neatness.
Young plants on sale in garden centres may not look as I fully describe but in your garden (given a period of twelve to eighteen months) this Cryptomeria will turn out to be your star winter attraction, lighting up rather dull and lifeless areas during winter.
Flower arrangers love this plant for it has a particular form, good colouring, and lasting permanence. If the best things in life are free, then the second best are bound to cost more than you would expect.
For this reason, expect SekanSugi to be sold at around €20-€25 per specimen.
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