If you aren't a botanist or a landscaper (many landscapers don't even know) then you probably do not know how many of the plants that are in commerce come into existence and how they are propagated. In this post I will try to sum up as much as I can so you have a better understanding, appreciation, and to try for your self of plant growing! The growers of the many beautiful and exotic plants that are out there don't just exist by planting a few seeds just picked off a tree. There are processes, and lots of time taken to have these plants to sell.
1. CULTIVAR VS VARIETY
Many people and professional businesses use cultivar and variety as the same. This is not true, in the plant world they are two different words with two different meanings. A cultivar is a genetic mutation happened upon or selected for a desired trait. It can only be propagated by rooting cuttings or grafting onto the rootstock of another plant. It will not come true from seed. The resulting plant will not have that desired trait as it can not be Inherited, it must be cloned as a form of propagation. That's right! Cultivars of the same name are genetically identical!
A variety on the other hand also has a genetic trait (or traits) that is not in the regular species that is desired for landscaping/gardening. What makes a variety different than a cultivar is that a variety can be propagated from seed. It can grow in the wild and still keep that genetic mutation.
EXAMPLE OF A VARIETY
1. Whitebud Redbud tree (Botanical Name: Cercis canadensis 'alba')
Whitebud Redbud is extremely rare in the wild, but the fact that it is capable of reproducing from seed and keeping those white instead of red flowers means it is a variety and not a cultivar.
EXAMPLES OF CULTIVARS
1. Amber Gold Arborvitae
2. Slender Silhouette Sweetgum
I follow plant peeps on Instagram, and one nursery I follow travels all around looking for plants with abnormalities to propagate. They came across what is believed to be a Green Giant Arborvitae which is a cultivar of a hybrid between the Japanese Arborvitae and the Western Arborvitae. They found golden branches growing on a tree next to normal green trees. Since this is a rare genetic mutation, it can not be inherited, and must be propagated by means of cloning (grafting, and rooting cuttings). They took the cuttings from that tree and are rooting them in soil with a rooting hormone to get them to root. Then if they choose, they can name this new cultivar. They can get a patent for it and sell it to other wholesalers to sell to nurseries which sells to the customer to grow in their landscape. It is a good way to get rich fast!
HYBRIDS:
Hybrids are a cross between two plants that are within the same genus or are gentically similar enough to cross if not in the same genus. An example of hybrids not in the same genus is how a mule is made. It is a hybrid between a horse and a donkey. They are two different "genus" but are gentically similar enough to cross. The pollen from one species pollinates the flower of another. The seeds will germinate to be a hybrid between the two species. Growers can even develop Cultivars of hybrids. An example is the 'Armstrong Gold' Freeman's Maple. The Freeman's Maple is a hybrid between Red Maple (Acer rubrum) and Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum). 'Armstrong Gold' was selected for its extremely columnar growth and golden orange leaves instead of Red leaves which forms on regular Freeman's Maples. It makes a perfect street tree because it's branches don't spread and hit people, cars, and buildings.
You can also have Cultivars of Cultivars. A good example is Amber Gold Arborvitae. Amber Gold is a golden sport of the Emerald Green Arborvitae. The Emerald Green Arborvitae is a dwarf narrow cultivar of the Eastern Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) Which is a tree that naturally grows 30'-75' tall and wide. It is a coniferous evergreen.
I hope this post helped you all understand where and how plants you love come to be!
Happy Growing! 🌿
FIRST 4 IMAGES ARE OF THE NURSERY ON INSTAGRAM I MENTIONED
NEXT 3 PICTURES ARE OF AMBER GOLD ARBORVITAE, WHITEBUD REDBUD TREE, AND SLENDER SILHOUETTE SWEETGUM TREE
