Variegated Rhapis Palms

[metalfan]

I have a very small collection of these palms. I have 3 that are similar, and then one which is different.

The 3 similar ones are the one I already posted a photo of in the "variegated" thread (Zuikon nishiki).

The other 2 are Heisei nishiki and Nanzan nishiki.

The "different" one is Khoban nishiki.

My question is, when you are considering buying one of these palms, how can you be certain that you are getting what you are supposed to be getting? Honestly, if you were to line my 3 up side by side without tags, I am not certain there could be enough difference to make any great distinction.

This is Heisei Nishiki:

[metalfan]

This is Nanzan Nishiki

[metalfan]

There is some slight color variation and pattern variegation, but it seems one would have to be an expert to tell the difference. How do you know you are getting what you think you are?

This one is easy to tell:

Khoban nishiki

[eastern.nurseries]

To the novice Rhapis grower it is near impossible to differentiate the subtleties of these three nishiki types [Zuikonishiki, Nanzannishiki and Heiseinishiki ]. It took me years of working with these plants before it all started to click. Kobannishiki on the other hand is easy to pick. Japanese Rhapis varieties are recognized or registered by the Kansokai [Rhapis society] and each variety is described according to character of variegation, shape of leaf and style of plant [confirmation] and any other defining feature. Light, humidity and culture all affect the look of these plants making it even harder to tell the differences. Also each variety is graded by the quality of the variegation, some have two or three grades and others like Zuikonishiki, Nanzannishiki and Heiseinishiki have four grades - poor, medium, choice and imahaze. The grade should be reflected in the price of the cane but few sellers are able to grade them or accept a lower value. This often leads to the purchase of a low grade plant that has unstable variegation that is hard to maintain and unsatisfying to grow.

 Zuikonishiki has cream stripe on a green leaf, the leaves are on a long petiole,and they tend to split quite young. This variety suckers early and prolifically.

 Nanzannishiki comes out with a yellow stripe on a green leaf which matures to a cream not quite white. It has a broad leaf that tapers quickly on the ends, is slow to sucker and a shy producer of new canes.

 Heiseinishiki is a vivid yellow stripe on a green leaf. If you look closely there is a distinct fine green dot dash line pattern to the variegation. The leaves have a rigid upright appearance. It suckers about the same as Nanzannishiki.

I hope this clears things up for you.

[metalfan]

Thanks Jon that's helpful.

If I may ask, what is the gorgeous palm in your avatar photo??

[eastern.nurseries]

My avatar is Tenzanshiroshima from the all green Tenzan. The yellow slowly transforms to white. It is rare to get a good cane of this variety and very hard to grow as the leaf burns readily particularly in our hot summers. But well worth the challenge .

[Utopia Palms]

Hi Jon

That last Raphis looks great, did you know that there is an Australian guy that is about to name over 12 new species that are now on there 9 generation maintaining uniformity on every leaf, he has over 150 different species!

Clayton.

[Jeff Searle]

New species....??? Or new varieties.....??? There's a difference.

Jeff

[eastern.nurseries]

9 generation.....??? Do you mean progeny or propagation...??? There's a difference.

uniformity on every leaf

???

[rhapis]

What's his name and where is he exactly?

[Utopia Palms]

Hi Jeff

OK Jeff I should have said CV not species!!

Hi Jon

The 9 generation is progeny that has been taken from the mother plant then grown on until it starts to pup and the progeny then taken from this and so on! It has taken over 15 years of work to create these new CV. And yes every leaf has the same variegation as the one before on each new CV. He has an unbelievable collection!

Hi Steve

I would like to tell you were he is but he does not want many people to know! as his collection is  worth  thousands of dollars if not more! :cool:

Clayton.

[alan.oz]

Utopia Palms · Posted on Jul. 10 2007,18:53

Hi Jon

That last Raphis looks great, did you know that there is an Australian guy that is about to name over 12 new species that are now on there 9 generation maintaining uniformity on every leaf, he has over 150 different species!

Clayton

Clayton, has the Aussie guy you mentioned the other month named the new varieties of variegated Rhapis?

If so where can we find out about them?