'Emerald Twister' Douglas Fir`

Here's a new one for the collection. Pretty cool, huh?

Another view...

That's a cool one. I've seen that growth before on Douglas Fir after spraying branches with Roundup. Once it gets larger, it'll be awesome.

I ran across one of these at a small nursery in early spring of last year, but decided to pass until the next time I'd be in the area. I had just started my nursery hopping and wanted to wait and see what was out there. It was dirt cheap and of course not there when I stopped back about a month later. I'm not sure how it would do in z4a, but I think its one of the better contorted conifers. I ended up getting a contorted White Pine, but I like this Firsion better.

Yukk! Grotesque!!

Give me a nice straight one any day ;-)

Resin

If that thing got big it would be creepy. If I lived in the right zone I might give it a try.

THAT is a cool tree. Nice color on it to boot.

Willis

Todd,
Cool tree. I love the contorted conifers - they have so much character.

Bob,
I've seen a couple of these planted in the Twin Cities and they have done fine. I would like to get a small one to try...
Mike

Resin--By now most of us know you have an aversion to anything out of the ordinary (Is there a botanical term for atypical plants?) when it comes to plants. You've expressed your distaste for them on more than one occasion, but to my knowledge have never explained exactly why. I certainly wouldn't want a garden full of them, but IMHO judicious use of the extraordinary does add character (Thanks Mike!) and interest. As Dirr comments in offering tips on usage of Pinus strobus 'Pendula': "...one is acceptable, two represent bad tast, and and three disgrace."

Bob

Hi Bob,

Not for plants in particular, but teratology is the study of deformed individuals of both plants and animals (including man).
Why I don't like them . . . hard to say, it's just a gut feeling. I guess because they don't look natural or symmetrical.

Nice comment from Dirr! Another notable quote, from Hugh Johnson (International Book of Trees) . . .

Resin

edit: typo


This message was edited Jun 8, 2007 1:41 PM

Nice specimen dybbuk!

Resin, Chang and Eng are gone, but their fused liver is still on display in PA. Pass the fava beans!

OOps! I forgot the link...

http://phreeque.tripod.com/chang_eng.html

This message was edited Jun 8, 2007 7:55 AM

Yeah, thanks for the support people! I'm sure my interest in the strange reflects something about my character. I've always been drawn to the underdogs, oddballs, freaks, whatever you wanna call them. I make no apologies.

FYI, "Siamese twins" -------------> Politically correct = Conjoined twins.

From my house you can walk hundreds of kms north with nothing but straight, upright Douglas Fir. 'Emerald Twister' is a bit refreshing although odd. On a long hike you tend to look for the different/unique. For the garden, I think it's great to have a bit of variety of native plants so it adds to the visual appeal. This'd be "conversation piece".