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The American Conifer Society provides some history of this cultivar: It originated as a seedling selection by Greg Williams. The seed source was a specimen of Pinus strobus 'Horsham', with the presumed pollen source a neighboring specimen of Pinus strobus 'Torulosa'. It was selected for its unusual curved and twisted needles. Two other seedlings with similar needle shape but different growth rates were also selected, resulting in the cultivars Pinus strobus 'Mini Twists' and Pinus strobus 'Tiny Kurls'. The seedlings were grown in Vermont, and the name 'Vercurve' reflects that heritage, along with the curved nature of the needles.

This cultivar is considered to have a columnar growth habit which produces densely branched specimens. The upright or fastigiate nature of the branches renders them prone to splaying out and breaking under heavy loads of snow and ice, and the American Conifer Society doesn't recommend this cultivar for climates with such winter climates.

Also according to the ACS, the source specimen for this cultivar was found in the wild in 1904 by Professor Thomas in a German forest (Norway spruce is a species that is native to Europe).

The Japanese form of the cultivar name, Beni Otake, translates as "red bamboo." The bamboo part of the name references the standard for the leaf shape of the cultivar. The palmate leaves are supposed to be deeply divided, nearly to the base of each leaf, with narrow lobes. Such leaves are thought to resemble the foliage of bamboo plants. In my experience of a single mature specimen of the cultivar, and of viewing photos online and posted to this database, many leaves fall short of the standard, having broader lobes, which make them resemble numerous other Acer palmatum cultivars. In one way of grouping Japanese maples according to leaf type, 'Beni Otake' falls into the linearilobum group.

This cultivar originated as a natural mutation that was discovered by Gerhard Diedrich Böhlje in a German forest in 1974. Its chief distinguishing feature is a growth habit that produces twisted, contorted, snake-like limbs and even twisted main trunks and needles. It is this contorted growth habit that provides the chief winter interest.

This hybrid cultivar is said to be resistant to two of the major pests of dogwoods, namely dogwood anthracnose and dogwood borer.

The distinguishing landscape feature of this cultivar is the red/orange color of its twigs and branches.

The developer, J. Frank Schmidt & Son, Co., says this cultivar is resistant to Japanese beetle. Unfortunately, there is no way, yet, to indicate this resistance on the data page.

The cultivar name 'Tsukushi Gata' translates as 'horsetail'

Used in bonsai. The cultivar name, Fuiri, translates from Japanese as 'variegated'.

The variegation extends to the trunk bark. The developer, Garden Design Nursery, claims pink, yellow, and green vertical striping of the bark.

The Morton Arboretum (Chicago, Illinois), on their website states that members of this species have "invasive traits", and describes the species as "not recommended".

The primary landscape attraction of this cultivar is the growth habit of producing long pendulous branches that cascade down from irregularly arranged main branches. These drooping branches are said to have a snake-like appearance, lacking any side branches of their own.

According to 'People and Plants. The Harper Collection of Dwarf and Rare Conifers' (p. 94, © 2012 Michigan State University, White Pine Printers), this cultivar was introduced as Larix decidua 'Julian's Weeper', but there is evidence in the records of the originating nursery that it is really Larix kaempferi 'Julian's Weeper', and that "experts" (not identified in the book) agree. I haven't been able to trace an independent verification of this claim. I suppose DNA analysis could resolve this issue.

The Oregon State University page for this plant asserts that there is more than one clone of this cultivar in cultivation, and that they don't grow at the same rate. Two specimens at Hidden Lake Gardens are cited (in 'People and Plants. The Harper Collection of Dwarf and Rare Conifers') as having grown by 10-12 feet in height and spread by 12-19 feet over the thirty year span since they were planted.

Another fungus disease that affects blue spruce, at least in the upper midwest, is Rhizosphaera kalkhoffii, which produces a condition called Rhizosphaera needle cast. That condition causes needles on the inner parts of lower branches to turn brown and die. The fungus can infest other spruce (Picea) species, as well as some pines, Douglas fir, and western hemlock.

Named for the location (Rockford, Illinois) of the parent white fir from which cuttings of the witch's broom were taken. A specimen of this cultivar can be seen at Hidden Lake Gardens, Michigan, in the Harper Collection of Dwarf and Rare Conifers.

There are three dahlia cultivars with this name (Allegro)
1) A large dark pink semi-cactus (2005)
2) A small decorative yellow/orange blend (2012)
3) A purple and white collarette (1964)

Which one is meant by this entry in the database?

I can't find any reliable information about the official size and flower form or style of this cultivar. I have seen a photo of it on the website of a supplier that shows it to be pure white, and seemingly large, if not giant. The form is one of the cactus styles, but I can't tell which.

Like many dwarf conifer cultivars, this was derived from a witches broom. The original was found in the Cherry Valley cemetery near Rockford, Illinois.

Develops its best yellow color in a sunny location and in cool climates, and can tolerate full sun.