I love unusual plants for their distinctive sizes, structures, foliage, fruit and growth characteristics. About ten years ago Darlene Hutt from Ohio posted her Ryusen weeping Japanese maple garden tree on the Bonsai Nut Forum. The severe winter of 2014 decimated her weeping Japanese landscape garden tree and all that was alive was the lower branch. All the dead branches were removed and all she had now was a tree with a weeping branch. She potted it and posted an image of it calling it a potted tree, not bonsai.
I saw the image and immediately wanted to purchase it, as the cultivar and shape interested me. Darlene could not sell the maple because it’s her husband’s favorite tree. She provided the photos and information on her training a Ryusen weeping Japanese maple bonsai beginning in 2014.
Darlene Hutt Ryusen Weeping Japanese Maple Bonsai Development
May 20i4
October 2017
October/November 2017
February/March 2019
April/May 2019
March 2020
March/April 2020
March 2021
March 2021
August/October 2023
October 2023
April 2024
October 2024
So, I had to visit a local garden center in June 2020 and got lucky! They had several Ryusen weeping Japanese maples growing in three-gallon pots. I carefully studied the plants, removed a bit of surface soil and selected the tree with the best graft union and root base for $75. I should have returned and bought them all, but unfortunately did not, as I was uncertain about the cultivar and shape.
So now I’m interested with this cultivar and want to know all about Ryusen weeping Japanese maple and began researching knowledgeable sources, and would like to share some information.
Valavanis Ryusen Weeping Japanese Maple Bonsai Development
April 2020
Trunk base
June 2020
November 2020 October 2021
August 2022
October 2023
Could nod rebar for shipping so used a Rough bark Japanese maple
March 2024
Trunk base August 2024
August 2024
November 2024
Ryusen Weeping Japanese Maple History
There are well over 1,000 different cultivars of Japanese maples. They vary from seed, some grow variegated foliage or have other distinctive features horticulturists search for. There are several different Japanese maples with weeping shapes. Ryusen weeping Japanese male was introduced to the world by the Kobayshi Momiji-en nursery in Saitama Prefecture, near the Omiya Bonsai Village. It was found and selected by Kazuhara Kobayashi in 1990.
This chance seedling came from the cultivar ‘Jiro Shidare,’ which was named after the elder nurseryman Jiro of the Kobayashi Momiji-en. This tree comes from the lineage of Nakamando Weeping Japanese maple which is a national treasure in Japan and over 400 years old, growing in a temple in Fukushima Prefecture, north of Tokyo.
This tree was first introduced to the United States under the name ’Ryusei’ (Dragon Spirit) from several different nurseries such as Highland Creek Nursery which Mr. Maple Nursery purchased in 2013 and Buchholz Nursery purchased last year. It was later brought over by Ozzie Johnson and patented by ItSaul Plants in 2006 under the name of ‘Ryusen.’
Description
Ryusen weeping Japanese maple PP#18,501 is a new pendulous Japanese maple with palmate foliage and amazing form. This small, elegant tree adds a unique form with an exotic appeal. The spring new growth is chartreuse green which contrasts with the older dark-green foliage. The summer foliage is dark green and is a dependable maple for brilliant reddish/orange leaves.
Dependable autumn coloring
This amazing small form of weeping Japanese maple is extremely pendulous and the unique shape makes it ideal for specimen garden trees, container grown ornamentals and of course bonsai training. One of my students has a few growing in hanging baskets which create a focal point in his garden. It can be used in many different creative forms in the garden with staking and pruning.
It is very heat tolerant and winter hardy in the USDA 5-9 zones, including Rochester, New York, even when container grown. It is easy to shape with wire and rebar and only takes one season to hold the new desired shape. I have not tried to defoliate the tree to encourage smaller foliage and twig ramification.
The above information was provided by Tim Nichols co-owner of Mr. Maple Nursery with his brother, Matt in North Carolina. They are the premier source for over 1,000 different Japanese maple cultivars plus a wide assortment of unique woody ornamentals. The two brothers, second generation Japanese maple growers, are interested in promoting Japanese maples and information. They have a weekly podcast plus daily YouTube videos, all well produced and interesting. They even have a Mr Maple Show! They are primarily a mail order nursery and carefully pack and ship plants around the country. Mr Maple the best source for Ryusen weeping Japanese maples and have an impressive catalog and presence on the web
Check out: WWW.MrMaple.com to see what they offer.
Check out their excellent video on Ryusen Weeping Japanese maples
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9dmImQKb0M
