Nature is always hybridizing: changing the daughter’s DNA through the effects of radiation, chemicals and the mixing of the DNA of both parents. Thus, the variety of life.

Humans also hybridize, mimicking the methods of nature, most frequently by applying the pollen of one plant to the ovaries of another. Almost all of the 300 azaleas in my yard come from the hybridizing of evergreen azaleas, whose origin is the Far East. However, hybridizing in Japan, China, and Korea goes back so many centuries that it is often impossible to tell if an old plant was a species taken from the wild, or an early hybrid. Complicating the problem is the fact that modern civilization has destroyed the habitats of many plants, so we often can’t look to nature to ID species.

Below are three plants that most botanists would agree are species, or so similar to species that it isn’t possible to tell that they aren’t.

First is Koromo Shikabu. Notice how long and thin the petals are.

Second is Delaware Valley White. The petals are broad.

Third is Poukhanense, from Korea. The flower shape is similar to Delaware Valley White, but it has a strong purple blotch, whereas DVW has no significant blotch.

If you are up for some philosophical essays on the gardening life, try my essay blog with a new post every month on about the 20th. There are over 30 that have been published:

https://thegardenedge.blogspot.com

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Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton