Bottlebrush bonsai

[Cadillactaste]

http://www.dlnursery.com/d&l_nursery_055.htm

Here it is said the best three varieties to use for bonsai:

Callistemon citrinus Lemon Bottle-Brush This species has many cultivars of varying colors and sizes. When you crinkle the leaves, it smells like citrus. Has smaller leaves and flowers than the others and its bark has the deepest grooves.

Callistemon viminalis Weeping Bottle-Brush With its horizontal branching and weeping habit makes styling it a little easier. Its leaves and flowers are larger that the citrinus. The trunk is much smoother than the citrinus and slower to develop than the rigidus.

Callistemon rigidus The largest with stiff leaves and larger flowers. Being the largest makes it easier to find large specimens.


Now...my minds eye...I think if one plans to do a weeping style. One must go with the weeping variety. But the bark on the viminalis is amazing!

Pre bonsai material here...but the bark is an interesting feature I thought.

 

[fraser67]

Interesting tree...I have a small one. VERY slow grower. Thanks for posting.

 

[mat]

You can always shoot Dave (the "D" from D&L) an email if you have any questions. I'm sure he'd be happy to help you pick one out. Or maybe you should just get one of each.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Interesting tree...I have a small one. VERY slow grower. Thanks for posting.

What variety do you have? Share a photo please...

 

[Cadillactaste]

You can always shoot Dave (the "D" from D&L) an email if you have any questions. I'm sure he'd be happy to help you pick one out. Or maybe you should just get one of each.

Very good thinking! I just may contact him! Though...I have thought of getting both. Since they do come in a variety of colors...the photo shown is a purple variety...and I am on the bench with it...I love the weeping form...but...love the bark on that pre bonsai.

I may have to get a stand to hold a few in the sunroom...so they can be near a window. Slide my hibiscus over a bit...and let them share the large window.

 

[Anthony]

Darlene,

I don't know if anyone mentioned this, but it helps to know what height or width gives the optimum for a plant to be grown as a Bonsai.

Enjoy - https://www.google.com/search?aq=&h...urce=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=j-ROUpfINYez4APHqIGwCQ

Good Day.
Anthony

 

[Cadillactaste]

Darlene,

I don't know if anyone mentioned this, but it helps to know what height or width gives the optimum for a plant to be grown as a Bonsai.

Enjoy - https://www.google.com/search?aq=&h...urce=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=j-ROUpfINYez4APHqIGwCQ

Good Day.
Anthony

I'm being directed to google imagines...of photos of bottlebrush is that what you wished for me to see?

 

[Anthony]

Yes, Darlene,

hopefully the abundance of bonsia images will inspire you.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[fraser67]

What variety do you have? Share a photo please...

I'm pretty sure it's a Viminalis. I picked it up to put in a flower bed, not intended as a bonsai...it ended up in a pot...little guy. I think in the spring I'll put it in the ground and see if it will get some size

 

[lackhand]

Bottlebrush are Australian natives, but they love the hot Arizona weather. I have a few growing very happily. They do well from cuttings, and some species grow very quickly too. I have one that I bought as a 6 foot tall tree and took several cuttings from, some 2 inches thick, and all are doing well. I'll try to out up some photos when I get home.

Here is a good source of info, straight from the Aussies themselves.
http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=31
http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index.php?title=Callistemon

There are some nice photos on there too (might have to register to see them). Fraser, yours looks to me like the Little John hybrid, it's a slow-growing dwarf, but great for bonsai.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Yes, Darlene,

hopefully the abundance of bonsia images will inspire you.
Good Day
Anthony

that is how I found the weeping bottlebrush. Love that feature...

 

[lackhand]

Here are my bottlebrush. I've had them both less than a year, so nothing great yet, but they have lots of potential. The first is a Little John that is tough as nails. I root pruned it hard when I got it and I thought I killed it, but it's kicking pretty strong growth right now. It's very bushy compared with this sparse look, but I don't have a more recent photo.



The second was a Lowe's bargain tree that nobody wanted. It cost me like $8, and after chopping and starting some cuttings, I now have five trees. Pretty cheap! The downside is that I have no idea what variety it is. I don't think it's citrinus, and it's definitely not Little John, but it could be another hybrid. Hopefully it will flower next season and give me a good clue. The first pic here is of a cutting, and the second shows the rough bark of the main tree. It got a good chop, but the new leader is gaining thickness quickly. Trunk is about 2" at the base.



I've found these to be a joy to work with, they respond very well to training and seem to be tough as nails. The Little John is a slow grower, but the other one I have thickens quite rapidly.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Here are my bottlebrush. I've had them both less than a year, so nothing great yet, but they have lots of potential. The first is a Little John that is tough as nails. I root pruned it hard when I got it and I thought I killed it, but it's kicking pretty strong growth right now. It's very bushy compared with this sparse look, but I don't have a more recent photo.

View attachment 42487

The second was a Lowe's bargain tree that nobody wanted. It cost me like $8, and after chopping and starting some cuttings, I now have five trees. Pretty cheap! The downside is that I have no idea what variety it is. I don't think it's citrinus, and it's definitely not Little John, but it could be another hybrid. Hopefully it will flower next season and give me a good clue. The first pic here is of a cutting, and the second shows the rough bark of the main tree. It got a good chop, but the new leader is gaining thickness quickly. Trunk is about 2" at the base.

View attachment 42488View attachment 42489

I've found these to be a joy to work with, they respond very well to training and seem to be tough as nails. The Little John is a slow grower, but the other one I have thickens quite rapidly.

That trunk is pretty impressive...I love the texture it has! I am so torn...I like the specimen of the photos I attached...but...is it "deemed" good bonsai material? No real comments...well guys? What's the verdict...should I buy it...or let it go? Does anyone think the base has dead wood or is that just shadows?

 

[mat]

Here's one that was on display at Kawa Bonsai's show a few years ago. Sorry for the poor picture and background. Also sorry that I don't know the artist's name. Maybe another member in Florida can fill in that blank?

 

[Cadillactaste]

Here's one that was on display at Kawa Bonsai's show a few years. Sorry for the poor picture and background. Also sorry that I don't know the artist's name. Maybe another member in Florida can fill in that blank?

Thanks Mat...that is a work of art...I so love the weeping. Even with the green all on the branches and not bare like the one I posted in another post. I am destined to have a weeping form. I really love them.

 

[Cadillactaste]

I'm pretty sure it's a Viminalis. I picked it up to put in a flower bed, not intended as a bonsai...it ended up in a pot...little guy. I think in the spring I'll put it in the ground and see if it will get some size

Lucky you!

 

[lackhand]

That trunk is pretty impressive...I love the texture it has! I am so torn...I like the specimen of the photos I attached...but...is it "deemed" good bonsai material? No real comments...well guys? What's the verdict...should I buy it...or let it go? Does anyone think the base has dead wood or is that just shadows?

I think it has potential. The base does look like it has some dead wood on it, which might be a concern. Is it a citrinus? They have different bark, but still good for bonsai. Here is an example of a really nice one.

It's on display in the Australian national collection. Picture is from this thread, which also has some good info about training callistemon.
http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=2641

 

[Cadillactaste]

I think it has potential. The base does look like it has some dead wood on it, which might be a concern. Is it a citrinus? They have different bark, but still good for bonsai. Here is an example of a really nice one. View attachment 42496

It's on display in the Australian national collection. Picture is from this thread, which also has some good info about training callistemon.
http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=2641

I actually like how carved dead wood looks...just not sure how to go about it...I don't think it's that bad...I know you just carve and I think treat the area.

It is deemed a good bonsai due to the smaller leaves and blooms. Yes...it is the citrinus one. Thanks for the photo...I am just waiting to know more about this dead wood...maybe another topic.

 

[Shima]

Bottlebrush

Darlene,

I don't know if anyone mentioned this, but it helps to know what height or width gives the optimum for a plant to be grown as a Bonsai.

Enjoy - https://www.google.com/search?aq=&h...urce=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=j-ROUpfINYez4APHqIGwCQ

Good Day.
Anthony

The 4th one down on the right is mine 2 years ago. Click on the image then on bonsaibark.com for the story. It's improved some since then...

 

[Cadillactaste]

The 4th one down on the right is mine 2 years ago. Click on the image then on bonsaibark.com for the story. It's improved some since then...

That is pretty cool!