NEOFINETIA FALCATA 'SUIKADEN' 翠華殿 IN BLOOM

'Suikaden' 翠華殿 is a beautiful compact shaped FUUKIRAN with fairly large white flowers. One feature that makes it even more special - its sepals and spur retain their green tips after openning, although the green may be very subtle or dissipate as flowers age. As with all FUUKIRAN, the fragrance is very pleasant and strong.

Neofinetia falcata 'Suikaden' 翠華殿 displayed in a vintage Japanese pot painted with CHUNRAN motif (maker unknown)

Neofinetia falcata 'Suikaden' 翠華殿 flowers close up

LONG AWAITED FLOWERS OF NEOFINETIA FALCATA 'HISUI' 翡翠

One of my favorite blooming FUUKIRAN is 'Hisui' 翡翠. I have always been drawn to green flowers, as green highlights its lines and shapes like no other. Related to that, I love black and white photography, as its somehow able to focus my eye on details, otherwise overlooked in color photos.

As I gaze at the flowers, it is clear, why this FUUKIRAN was named 'Hisui' 翡翠 or jade. There is a Chinese saying: "gold has a value; jade is invaluable". Green is quite rare among FUUKIRAN, especially at the time when 'Hisui' 翡翠 was discovered in 1980's. Besides, Jade is the national stone of Japan.

Last thing I want to mention is its fragrance, which reminds me of european cyclamen (Cyclamen purpurascens). As with many FUUKIRAN, its scent gets much stronger during the eveningt.

Although, old blooming specimens will impress with their profusion of flowers and foliage, my very young plant photographed on the rainy day, transcends delicateness.

Neofinetia falcata 'Hisui' 翡翠 displayed in pot with beautiful jade crackled glaze by the famous Heian Kouzan.

Neofinetia falcata 'Hisui' 翡翠 flowers close up.

CHANGEFUL FLOWERS OF NEOFINETIA FALCATA 'KINGINRASHA' 金銀羅紗

A beautiful 'Kinginrasha' 金銀羅紗 is in bloom. My plant is very young with only one fan, yet it is blooming. Star shaped flowers are pure white with the spur rolled in a circle. Very nice and compact presentation!

Neofinetia falcata 'Kinginrasha' 金銀羅紗 displayed in a vintage pot by Koshousen, Yamaaki kiln, Tokoname, Japan.  

Another effective feature of this FUUKIRAN is pedicel (a steam that attaches flower to the inflorescence). The pedicel is green at the base, transitioning to reddish, followed by light yellowish green color before the flower.

Neofinetia falcata 'Kinginrasha' 金銀羅紗 flowers with colorful pedicels.

In addition, white flowers of 'Kinginrasha' 金銀羅紗 turn yellowish at the end of their life. Thus 'Kinginrasha' literally means "Gold and Silver Felt", where 'felt' refers to the ruff texture of the leaves. Flower yellowing is common among Neofinetias, the uncommon part is that the flowers of 'Kinginrasha' 金銀羅紗 while yellow preserve their shape for some time before wilting.

Freshly opened flowers of Neofinetia falcata 'Kinginrasha' 金銀羅紗 

Flowers turn yellow at the end of their blooming cycle.

NEOFINETIA FALCATA 'YAMATO NISHIKI' 大和錦 IN BLOOM

Fairly standard as far as its shape, white blossoms of Neofinetia falcata 'Yamato Nishiki' 大和錦 create a beautiful display above variegated foliage. What I like about this FUUKIRAN, is its fairly short and self supporting flowering spikes.

My plant is quite young, with only one mature and three immature growths, but it is promising to be an abundant bloomer in the future.

Neofinetia falcata 'Yamato Nishiki' 大和錦 displayed in an antique Uematsu Tosui pot with "cat's feet" legs

Close up of Neofinetia falcata 'Yamato Nishiki' 大和錦 flowers

Neofinetia falcata 'Yamato Nishiki' 大和錦 in bloom