I would like to think I'm a touch more plant savvy than the average bear, but even those of us that have been around the block a time or two can be hugely naive. Especially when an elusive genus is mentioned, for me it was Acacia. I get week in the knees at their mention, and they’re not really hardy here. So when I saw this…
For under $10 and the guy in charge at the nursery booth told me he’d at it re-sprout after zero degrees Fahrenheit well I couldn’t grab it fast enough, never mind that the name was entirely new to me, what do I know about acacias?!
Once home I start to research this exciting new plant, only to discover there is no such thing. No Such Thing. What I bought (I have every reason to believe) is a Sophora microphylla 'Sun King' another plant I've lusted after for years, but never bought simply because of space (and frankly should have recognized - had I not got all starry-eyed at the word "Acacia"). The Sophora should be hardy in my garden and could get big, where as the supposed Acacia (even thought they said Zone 7) I was pretty sure wouldn't make it through a hard winter. Here's a photo I took of the Sophora blooms at Cistus back in 2012...
And a really poor photo of the Sophora at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show back in 2012. I've been tracking this one for awhile!
So while I'm not too upset, because I inadvertently bought a plant I've wanted for years but not allowed myself to buy, it's a problem that a nursery brought at least a half dozen wrongly marked plants to a huge plant sale. I bet this happens more times that we realize and I wonder how many others bought this plant and don't have a clue what they really bought?
All material © 2009-2015 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
Any way you can get in touch with that nursery and let them know the correct ID? Yes it's too late for those who bought at the sale, but there are lots of future customers who could get accurate information. Pretty plant!
ReplyDeleteGood call Alan, I should. I did look up to see if they were offering it on their website and they are not. But I should call them or send them an email too.
DeleteFrustrating isn't it when the nursery that sells it is the one that gets the ID wrong. But it's not always their fault and they can't always be blamed for the mistake, or even totally responsible for it unless deliberately done. Have to say misidentification does happen quite often even in plant fairs.
ReplyDeleteI don't think this was deliberate and as such didn't want to tarnish their name so I didn't mention them. I would guess that misidentifying the species is fairly common but the genus?
DeleteCome to think of it that's true. Getting the genus wrong is very rare and exceptional...
DeleteMany years ago we bought what was labeled a chinese pistache tree. We planted it next to our house just to be told the following year by a friend (an expert in the field) that is was an English walnut, which would grow to massive proportions and crack our foundation. We removed it right away. So much for labeling!
ReplyDeleteUgh! Good to have friends in the know!
DeleteWill it stay smaller if you stick it in a pot?
ReplyDelete- Jenn
Probably Jenn, but I'm REALLY trying to cut back on my pot usage (hahaha, that was fun to type), seriously though, I am!
DeleteInteresting that it was mislabeled as an acacia! Can't wait to see your whole haul!
ReplyDeleteYou would have figured it out in a heartbeat wouldn't you?
Delete:: I bet this happens more times that we realize and I wonder how many others bought this plant and don't have a clue what they really bought? ::
ReplyDeleteFewer than before the web and garden blogging. I hope you will communicate directly with the nursery that sold this, as I'd think they'd want to know.
I've tried...
DeleteI had a funny experience one time...I had a fern--it did really well and was super beautiful and I wanted to know what it was but it never had a tag. I'd contacted one grower and made plans to meet her at a plant sale with photos and a sample leaf. I did, and she told me it was "such and such". Later on, at another booth, I spied Judith Jones and thought I'd get a second opinion. Well! Judith took one look at the ID I'd been given and totally went after the other woman to give her a piece of her mind. It turned out that the other grower had been consistently passing along an incorrect ID and had been corrected on many occasions...and she'd done it again with my fern. Needless to say, when it's Judith Jones vs unknown, random "expert", I'm gonna go with what Judith says!
ReplyDeleteOh Emily I LOVE this story! That Judith knows her stuff AND is passionate about it.
Delete:-)
DeleteWow! It's kind of scary to me that this happened at such a prestigious plant sale.I saw quite a few interesting and new-to-me plants at the sale that I then stood in front of and googled right then and there on my phone. I don't always do that, but I have occasionally found it useful.
ReplyDeleteAnd from a prestigious nursery! Although not one that I regularly shop at or have ever visited, in case you're wondering. I too normally look up plants I'm not familiar with or that don't have enough info on their tags (although of course I use plantlust.com ;) ). In this case thought the guys behind the table were very informative, so I didn't think I had to.
DeleteAt least it is a plant you want and know how large it'll get. And it's quite a lovely plant too, so there is that.
ReplyDeleteI think when plants that look similar to another when they are small/babies is when the misidentification happens the most.
That's a good point, about the babies. Heck even human babies have accidentally been switched!
DeleteI'm glad it was at least a plant you like. I had a somewhat similar experience just over a week ago at the local botanic garden's cactus and succulent show. Fortunately, I was able to tell that the plant labeled as an Echeveria was a Crassula. I now think I lucked out as it appears it might be 'Red Pagoda', which I've been on the look-out for, and which might have been priced higher had it been correctly labeled.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, so true. Succulents are often mislabeled, if they're labeled at all beyond the not so helpful "succulent"...
DeleteThank goodness it's so desirable that the mis-ID doesn't matter in the long run - lucky you! In my early agave years, I bought one labelled A. geminiflora 'Rasta Man' that clearly isn't even geminiflora, let alone 'Rasta Man'. It's good, but I've never figured out what it actually is... might even be a yucca!
ReplyDeleteOh don't get me started on those silly agave names!!!
DeleteIt happens and it's frustrating, I've had a couple of these instances too. A Sophora should prune easily so you can keep it in check though it will be a bit of work. Interesting how we often enjoy plants that are not so hardy. I checked the Texas native plant database and found 14 acacias listed and not one in my garden. Could be that I tangled with a Huisache at the age of 5 and never forgot the experience. Talk about Danger Garden, they had to cut me out of it with garden shears!
ReplyDeleteI had to look up Huisache, yikes! Perhaps you just need to start with a friendly (no thorns) one like Acacia baileyana 'Purpurea'?
DeleteWell, I'm glad that you're OK with it, but as you say, some folks might be a little disappointed. It does seem odd that they'd have both the species and the genus marked incorrectly.
ReplyDeleteRight? I thought so too (both species and genus)
DeleteSadly my ' Sun King' bit the dust …Sophora not Acacia .
ReplyDeleteWell there is that, sorry Linda. I got to thinking about the fact I've never really seen a mature Sophora microphylla 'Sun King' around town. Did yours not even come back from the roots?
DeleteThat is frustrating, and usually I get really riled up over things like this. But in this case I would personally be even happier. I hope it actually is hardy.
ReplyDeleteI've had similar experiences from trustworthy sources. When I make mistakes, I just hope I get the kind of forbearance you display here. But yes, I'd like to hear about it too.
ReplyDelete