Pinus parviflora 'Ogon janome' is one of the most striking and sought-after variegated pines available in the nursery trade. Occasional synonyms and misspellings include 'Oculus draconis,' Janome goyo' and various permutations of the correct spelling listed in the title. This cultivar's form is that of a broadly upright, shrubby tree with distinct yellow banding on its soft Blue green needles in bundles of five. Annual expected growth is 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) per year producing a small tree 10 feet tall by 6 feet wide (3 x 2 meters) after 10 years. Of course the size and shape of an individual specimen can be greatly affected by annual candle pruning and shearing.
It should be noted that Ogon is Japanese for gold or golden and although janome translates directly into "snake eye," it is also used colloquially is "bull's eye" making golden bull's eye pine a more fitting common name.
'Ogon janome' was long cultivated in Japan under the name 'Oculus draconis,' a name that was also used for a cultivar of Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora). [Mayr, 1890]. It is unknown how the name 'Ogon janome' first came about.
