Tenryu and/or nigrescens...?

addieotto · Post by **addieotto** » May 15, 2007 12:20 pm

I'm curious to know ... Can someone tell me if Tenryu is definitively the same plant as nigrescens? I have Tenryu and I'll tell ya, I love this plant. It just keeps getting prettier holding those leaves up in the air and the gigantic flower scapes are just plain cool.

Since I love the look, I was also thinking about nigrescens but I read somewhere that it was the same plant as Tenryu. Then I read somewhere else that they were similar but there was no reference to them being the same. Does anyone know the answer?

Is my Tenryu really nigrescens?

Hosta Registry - http://www.hostaregistrar.org/detail.ph ... ety=Tenryu
MyHostas Database - http://myhostas.be/db/hostas/Tenryu

: Tenryu; 2007 Tenryu 051507.JPG (52.94 KiB) Viewed 7565 times

renaldo75 · Post by **renaldo75** » May 15, 2007 12:27 pm

I only have nigrescens, Sue - it is a wonderful plant. I looked up what Mark Zilis says about Tenryu in The Hosta Handbook [listed under nigrescens ] & he says 'a Japanese plant named for the Tenryu River that is the same as or a seedling of H. nigrescens.'

Minnow · Post by **Minnow** » May 15, 2007 1:13 pm

No! T is very upright with cupped leaves with white backs & the flower scapes are definitly not as tall as N! I have both & you can tell just buy looking at them, that they are to distinct different hosta!

If I can ever figure out how to resizes pics I will post one of T.

planwerk · Post by **planwerk** » May 15, 2007 1:24 pm

renaldo75 wrote:I only have nigrescens, Sue - it is a wonderful plant. I looked up what Mark Zilis says about Tenryu in The Hosta Handbook [listed under nigrescens ] & he says 'a Japanese plant named for the Tenryu River that is the same as or a seedling of H. nigrescens.'

I don't think they are the same. Tenryu grows bigger, looks a bit tougher compared to nigrescens when mature. But both are gorgeous.
Well it's just a guess, my guess.

Greetings planwerk

hummingbird · Post by **hummingbird** » May 15, 2007 1:25 pm

I've only got 'Nigrescens' and wondered often the same thing how similar the two really are, glad you brought this question up. Here is my pic of 'Nigrescens' from last yr in 2006.

Hosta Registry - not registered - it is a species
MyHostas Database - http://myhostas.be/db/hostas/nigrescens
Hosta Library - http://www.hostalibrary.org/n/nigrescens.html

Many times I almost ordered 'Tenyru', but thought it would be too similar or the same as 'Nigrescens'.

playinmud · Post by **playinmud** » May 15, 2007 1:29 pm

You might want to look at Victory too. That's similar in structure...but it has yellow margined leaves, its a sport of H. nigrescens 'Elatior'. The flower scapes can reach 6 feet tall.

oldcoot · Post by **oldcoot** » May 15, 2007 2:34 pm

but it looks now like gag quesgtion has alreay b een answered. Way to go group. OC

Post by **Chris_W** » May 15, 2007 4:06 pm

Yes, Tenryu and Nigrescens are the same plant. I've seen very old, very mature specimens of each side by side and they are identical in every way. Without the tags you would never be able to know which was which.

Now don't confuse these with the plant formerly known as nigrescens Elatior which is now just Hosta 'Elatior'. That is a different beast all its own.

Minnow · Post by **Minnow** » May 15, 2007 4:42 pm

Yep, that is Elaitor that I was thinking about! Removing foot from Mouth.

Linda P · Post by **Linda P** » May 15, 2007 4:48 pm

I have both, and can not tell the difference. My Tenryu is a mere shadow of it's former self this year, a victim of the cold spell. A couple years ago, I lost a huge clump of nigrescens to the same thing. I do have another nigrescens in a different spot. I am 5'9" tall, and most years, the scapes on both plants, nigrescens and Tenryu, are taller than I am. There have been times that they've measured over 7 feet. Perhaps the differences may be cultural conditions? Mine are growing in separate areas of the garden, but I've done a test of taking a leaf from one, having someone put it in the clump of the other, and then trying to figure out which leaf did not grow on that clump. I can't do it with these two plants. They look identical.
So, that's my two cents worth!
Linda P

Tigger · Post by **Tigger** » May 15, 2007 4:55 pm

If nigrescens is a species (Ben Zonneveld doesn't think so), then perhaps Tenryu may be a seedling of some nigrescens, much in the same way that Elegans is a seedling/seed strain of sieboldiana (and who has any sieboldiana that doesn't look like Elegans these days?).

Not having seen the two side by side, I'll take Chris's word, barring genetic proof.

addieotto · Post by **addieotto** » May 15, 2007 5:00 pm

Ah, THANK YOU!!! Although I'm not ruling out getting another one or two just because the plant is so beautiful

at least I'll know that whichever I order, it is the same plant.

Mystery solved.

Edited to add thank you Chris... and I am definitely comparing nigrescens to Tenryu and not Elatior which is a totally different animal altogether!

Liselotte · Post by **Liselotte** » May 15, 2007 5:03 pm

Elatior and Tenryu originally came from Q & Z. Both are great plants but there is a difference. Tenryu is more blue green and the shape of the leaves is a little different. If we do not get frost tonight

I will take pictures tomorrow

newtohosta-no more · Post by **newtohosta-no more** » May 15, 2007 5:54 pm

I didn't know they were one and the same! You learn something every day, don't you? So thanks for asking that question!

I've said it hundreds of times on here that I LOVE nigrescens! What's not to love?

JoshS · Post by **JoshS** » May 15, 2007 10:38 pm

Beautiful plant, Rachel!!

I got Tenryu in the trade at JimmyMac's last summer. It is looking nice this spring, but I can't wait til it looks like that!

baja220 · Post by **baja220** » May 15, 2007 11:53 pm

Minnow wrote:
If I can ever figure out how to resizes pics I will post one of T. [/color][/b]

Minnow, I've been trying to figure that out too. When I'd do it with my camera software it'd come out blurry. Well, I just found a website where you can do it.

http://www.shrinkpictures.com/

Select 350 pixels, then select best and it'll be done

Then save it and you can post it. Only takes a minute!!!

Debbie

redcrx · Post by **redcrx** » Aug 10, 2016 8:59 am

I have had nigrescens for 5 years and it finally flowered. It's growing in a pot.

: nigrescens - August 10, 2016

: nigrescens - August 10, 2016

: nigrescens - August 10, 2016

: nigrescens - August 10, 2016

redcrx · Post by **redcrx** » Jun 01, 2018 4:10 pm

I moved nigrescens out of its pot and into my front garden last season. It seems to be doing OK.
That's Lady Isobel Barnett bottom/left and Jabulani top/center.

: nigrescens - May 31, 2018

: nigrescens - May 31, 2018

: nigrescens - May 31, 2018

: nigrescens - May 31, 2018

: nigrescens - May 31, 2018

redcrx · Post by **redcrx** » Aug 19, 2018 10:57 am

Flowers today.

: 0819180656f-1-1.jpg (31.73 KiB) Viewed 4294 times

Hallson Gardens

Tenryu and/or nigrescens...?

Tenryu and/or nigrescens...?

'Nigrescens'

OC doesn't have either

Tenryu

Re: Tenryu and/or nigrescens...?

Re: Tenryu and/or nigrescens...?

Re: Tenryu and/or nigrescens...?