Fairy hair

Character & interest

‘Fairy Hair’ takes fine foliage to the extreme: the lobes become true “threads”, creating a unique feathery / hair-like look, very different from classic dissectums. The silhouette is often irregular and airy, with fine twigs: the interest lies as much in texture as in colour. As with several linear-leaved cultivars, the foliage can be a little broader on young plants or on very vigorous shoots, then becomes noticeably finer as the wood matures.

Colours

• Spring : light green foliage (sometimes slightly nuanced).

• Summer : green to deeper green.

• Autumn : yellow-orange to red tones (intensity and shade vary with climate/exposure).

Habit & vigour

Upright habit as a small vase shape, or an irregular bushy form, with a very light overall effect. Slow to moderate vigour: often slow, but it can eventually form a small tree if conditions are very favourable.

Indicative size

Order of magnitude: often ~0.6 to 0.8 m at around 10 years in slow/compact cultivation, but some reports in the ground indicate ~1.8 to 2.4 m (6–8 ft) at around 10 years. In the long run, it generally remains a small subject (size varies with conditions and graft vigour).

Exposure

Bright partial shade or gentle sun (morning). Protection from dry wind and scorching sun helps keep the foliage clean, especially in a pot. Well-drained soil recommended.

Origin & history

‘Fairy Hair’ was discovered by Talon Buchholz as a chance seedling from ‘Scolopendrifolium’, and it is sometimes mentioned as one of his first introductions (with a “sister” seedling named ‘Red Cloud’).