Help appraising a Hornbeam

[apr]

Hi all

This tree is up for sale near to me and I went to have a look this morning. It was collected in 80s and last repotted in 2024.

It looks to be waking up and otherwise healthy.

I am still very much learning the ropes and am not sure if it is more than I am ready to tackle.

I have put a few marks on the pics where I believe there may be some inverse taper already and developing.





The large carved area below the apex may be bulging a bit and I'm not sure how to tackle it.



some primary branches might need rebuilding?



The trunk while big has limited nebari and subtle movement, but limited taper ?







It's an interesting tree and quite chunky, but I am wondering if some of the flaws are to much to tackle with limited experience.

Any constructive comments and suggestions would be welcome as I want to give the chap a yes/no shortly.

Thanks !

 

[rockm]

It’s got some potential. Hard to tell with the photo since there aren’t any that give some perspective on the entire tree. Step back a few paces

It’s been neglected a bit but some hard pruning and carving could bring it back. Not so sure there isn’t a decent nebari in there. Scrape off the moss and old soil to see it.

The apex needs to be shortened and redirected. Carving will take care of that inverse taper.

 

[coachspinks]

What @rockm said, plus, what is your goal? Do you want a show tree or one that is mostly for yourself? Without seeing the whole tree at one time I couldn't not make a final determination, but there is a lot I like about that tree and if the price were right, one that would be fun to have.

 

[BrightsideB]

What did they ask for it? If you are a beginner at bonsai. I think it could be a good nice size tree. It’s good to know as a novice that it is easier to loose what you spend.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Pass.
This tree is poorly grown and it will be difficult to coax any taper out of that trunk; let alone develop a decent base. Hornbeams also heal wounds with difficulty, so that trunk scar is more likely to rot than heal. Branches are going in all different directions.

 

[apr]

Thanks for the input everyone.

I also think the fact that I'm on the fence about it is a big indicator.

I guess part of the learning process is also not getting fomo and being patient and discerning with what material to take and what to pass on.

 

[BrightsideB]

Thanks for the input everyone.

I also think the fact that I'm on the fence about it is a big indicator.

I guess part of the learning process is also not getting fomo and being patient and discerning with what material to take and what to pass on.

That is a large element. Also wanting to work and buy a ton of different genus’s without understanding how to care for one. I was guilty lol.

It’s fun to get a pre bonsai you can develop taper and start branch work on. Also learning how to take care of and fertilize before spending more on developed trees. Or just higher priced material.

 

[DeepSouth]

I would pass on this tree. Bad taper, branches have no defined structure, and it just doesn't look very healthy.

I have never had issues with american hornbeam healing wounds in healthy trees. They always roll over the wounds in 2 or 3 seasons, but I don't know what kind of hornbeam this is.

 

[MMJNICE]

Looks like it's got a dam good show of Surface roots under that moss. I would think that tree is worth 200 to 300 bucks. It needs a ton of work but nothing 10 years couldn't fix. Lots and lots of thin branches to replace the weird thick branches or perfect for a thread graft if you need a new branch somewhere. If you're interested in building trees that's definitely something to look at. Kinda depends on what kinda of bonsai work you enjoy,,, are you more into just clipping and trimming finished trees or do you like building tree's? That's a good question for yourself to think about before taking on something like this. Me personally I would love to have it if I dug it up from the ground for free or something. Would I buy it welllllllll not for what it's worth. If it was like 150 maybe..... 300 nope.

 

[doc spring _work]

Think the tree is definitely poorly grown and has very little potential as is..

I could see a few projects one could do slowly air layering sections but I doubt the price matches what this tree offers.

As others have said, poor taper no real structure for the branches and the overall shape doesn't have anything of interest but I do think the roots look quite good under the moss from what we can see.

If I where to purchase it I think I'd probably do three air layers as I slowly reduced it down to an inch or two where id build it back up over time.

If it's a cheap tree it definitely would be worth while to practice on but if it's pricey I'd walk away honestly.. think you'd be able to start at the same level from a yard-dori but I'm also the guy who takes dying stumps from a nursery Soo I have no room to talk when it comes to "worth-while"