BRT_Nuts - Important info about Brazilian Raintree Cultivars

[Clicio]

For all of you that like Brazilian Rain Trees, after some research and info exchanges with @leatherback and others, I have found out that some BRT cultivars are really interesting.
Maybe they are restricted to Brazil only, but I think this info below could help somehow.

1-) First a regular BRT from seed, green flaking bark, zigzag pattern new branches, thorns, vigorous growth in Spring and Summer.
2-) Second a Corkbark cultivar from a cutting, same as above excepting the bark. Rarely blooms.
3-) Third a Greybark cultivar from an airlayer, thornless, bigger leaves, no thorns, no zigzag pattern, and flowers.

I am posting below these 3 kinds of BRTs that I am growing now, so perhaps we can understand their differences, and to keep track of some of my BRTs while they grow.
Enjoy and all comments are more than welcome!
If you happen to have a different cultivar, please feel free to post it in your comments, I will not consider that a hijacking of this thread.

 

[Clicio]

REGULAR BRT
This one is grown from seed, sowed in August 2018, a regular cultivar, repotted at its first year and repotted again after the second year when it was absolutely rootbound.
All the BRT characteristics are present: Green bark, thorns, zigzag, but rarely flowers.
They love humidity, dappled sun, constantly moist soil, but they really hate wet feet.
When in overly wet soggy soil they turn leaves yellow and drop some of them.

The seedling, 09/2018


A month later, 10/2018


After two years, 07/2020


Rootbound, 07/2020




Repotted to a bigger container, 09/2020

 

[Clicio]

CORKBARK BRT

That one is from a cutting, I have it since 2017.
All the BRT characteristics are present, except for the bark: Flaky bark, thorns, zigzag, rarely flowers.
If left alone its foliage goes crazy in the summer.

The cutting, 2017


Birds view of the foliage, Summer


Underview of the foliage, Summer


Winter, 2020


The trunk, today

 

[Clicio]

THORNLESS BRT

This one is rare and looks very much like another species from the same region of Brazilian Atlantic coastal forests, the Brazilian Leopard Tree (Caesalpinia leiostachya, old Caesalpinia ferrea var. leiostachya) or Ironwood (Pau-ferro).

The main difference is that this thornless BRT flowers profusely even as bonsai, and its flowers are big white pom-poms, as opposite to the Leopard Tree that never flowers as bonsai, and even in nature its bright yellow flowers are minuscule.
So, to make things clear:
Yes, there is a thornless BRT cultivar, it is better to get them as a cuttings or airlayers, because from seeds 90% turn back to the thorns variety, and:
It flowers a lot in the Spring, the leaves are bigger than the regular BRT with thorns, there is much less zigzag pattern on the branches, it is better for bonsai, it is rare.

From a Brazilian Forest Dept. info:
“Among the thornless varieties found, we highlight a more erect one with larger and darker leaflets, which lends itself well for use in urban afforestation. Another variety without thorns has semi-prostrate growth, and it is very suitable for use as bonsai. “

So, what have I done?
I BOUGHT ONE, OF COURSE!

Well, in fact it is a stick full of wounds right now, but in bloom (pictures from today), has some deadwood so I can play around with my tools, and I am sure it’s going to be beautiful one of these days.
So @leatherback , now I am quite sure you do have a rare thornless BRT with you in Germany. Lucky fellow!


Gray bark




Flowers, no thorns, no zig-zag.

 

[Carol 83]

Very interesting, thanks for the info. Mine seem to be the regular zig/zag branch type with thorns. I did get one flower on one of them this year though.

 

[Clicio]

Very interesting, thanks for the info. Mine seem to be the regular zig/zag branch type with thorns. I did get one flower on one of them this year though.

It IS always nice when they decide to flower, isn't it?

 

[Carol 83]

It IS always nice when they decide to flower, isn't it?

It was surprising for sure. It dropped it's leaves last winter and I really had given up on it. Then it just started growing like crazy and made a flower.

 

[leatherback]

Would seem so, wouldn't it?
Good eye

 

[Clicio]

Would seem so, wouldn't it?
Good eye

Best of all, now I am also the proud owner of a thornless BRT so I can keep comparing mine to yours!

 

[leatherback]

Best of all, now I am also the proud owner of a thornless BRT so I can keep comparing mine to yours!

 

[Paradox]

Mine are all the regular variety

 

[leatherback]

Mine are all the regular variety

Cool. lets see them!

 

[Clicio]

Good eye

Well, I remember your being picky on that Bonsai Show in Sao Paulo, sweating but coming and going around the stalls with a dozen different BRTs opportunities in front of you...
And finally you have gone back to the first vendor and closed the deal.
You are right, good eye.
It was the best BRT of them all.

 

[Paradox]

Cool. lets see them!

I have to get updated pictures but here are 3 of the 4 in older pictures.
I have one other smaller one but I have no pictures of it
And wow I really do need to update my pictures. The middle one is bigger now

 

[leatherback]

Well, I remember your being picky on that Bonsai Show in Sao Paulo, sweating but coming and going around the stalls with a dozen different BRTs opportunities in front of you...

I do hope we will have another chance at a walk-around in sao paul in 2021.

 

[leatherback]

I have to get updated pictures but here are 3 of the 4 in older pictures.
I have one other smaller one but I have no pictures of it
And wow I really do need to update my pictures. The middle one is bigger now
View attachment 329782 View attachment 329783View attachment 329784

The left one really speaks to me. Great little (!?) tree!

 

[Paradox]

The left one really speaks to me. Great little (!?) tree!

Yes the left one is the best of all my BRT.
Ive had it for 5 years and its about 23 years old now.

 

[leatherback]

Ive had it for 5 years and its about 23 years old now.

Do you have any bare pics? Please share in the BRT affecionados thread!

 

[Paradox]

Do you have any bare pics? Please share in the BRT affecionados thread!

Bare as in without leaves? No I never took a picture when I defoliated it

 

[leatherback]

No I never took a picture when I defoliated it

So... now you have an assignment