Hornbeam Scouting -> collecting Spring ‘21

[Walter Pall]

I wrote a article about Oriental hornbeams for the very recent issue of International Bonsai. Here some paragraphs about the American hornbeam.

You are fine with the ones you have found. There must be hundreds more. Do not worry about big cuts. They do not have to close . This is just an invention of bonsai nurseries who want to sell their own stuff.View attachment 336770

 

[GreatLakesBrad]

I wrote a article about Oriental hornbeams for the very recent issue of International Bonsai. Here some paragraphs about the American hornbeam.

You are fine with the ones you have found. There must be hundreds more. Do not worry about big cuts. They do not have to close . This is just an invention of bonsai nurseries who want to sell their own stuff.View attachment 336770View attachment 336768

Thank you Walter! Greatly appreciated.

 

[Ohmy222]

I wrote a article about Oriental hornbeams for the very recent issue of International Bonsai. Here some paragraphs about the American hornbeam.

You are fine with the ones you have found. There must be hundreds more. Do not worry about big cuts. They do not have to close . This is just an invention of bonsai nurseries who want to sell their own stuff.View attachment 336770View attachment 336768

I agree deciduous deadwood is often frowned upon but I have never seen an American Hornbeam in the wild look anything like the Oriental ones I have seen. I have seen photos of Oriental hornbeams that looks almost like the one in your article being dug up. Some look no more than 4-5ft tall with branches all over. Every American Hornbeam I have seen was bolt straight (might be leaning) or a clump of bolt straight and pretty tall. Also anything I have seen that may be the size of Marija's 'Emperor' tree would have a root base 6ft wide and be virtually uncollectable. I have found workable material but it is not the gnarly, beat hornbeams I have seen out of Croatia. Some are almost ready made 'fairy tale' trees. Do you know how the ones is Croatia seem to be so compact? Same with their plums.

 

[GreatLakesBrad]

Little virt of a vision for the first tree... a V cut, let grow out to try and seal the cut, eventual structure. V cut in green.

 

[BobbyLane]

I agree deciduous deadwood is often frowned upon but I have never seen an American Hornbeam in the wild look anything like the Oriental ones I have seen. I have seen photos of Oriental hornbeams that looks almost like the one in your article being dug up. Some look no more than 4-5ft tall with branches all over. Every American Hornbeam I have seen was bolt straight (might be leaning) or a clump of bolt straight and pretty tall. Also anything I have seen that may be the size of Marija's 'Emperor' tree would have a root base 6ft wide and be virtually uncollectable. I have found workable material but it is not the gnarly, beat hornbeams I have seen out of Croatia. Some are almost ready made 'fairy tale' trees. Do you know how the ones is Croatia seem to be so compact? Same with their plums.

They are a dwarf variety of hornbeam, often with a shrubby habit, from what ive read they are a mixture of tree and shrub a little like UK hawthorn. makes them an exceptional bonsai subject.
i would liken your American hornbeam to the European hornbeam, they grow tall and upright here too. in fact just like what the op is showing.

this is a good read

Article about carpinus "Emperor" in Bonsai Focus - Meleda Bonsai Studio

Marija Hajdic’s new article about Carpinus orientalis “Emperor” is published in Bonsai Focus, July/August 2019

meledabonsai.com

btw here is an American hornbeam in a tree like form

 

[Walter Pall]

I agree deciduous deadwood is often frowned upon but I have never seen an American Hornbeam in the wild look anything like the Oriental ones I have seen. I have seen photos of Oriental hornbeams that looks almost like the one in your article being dug up. Some look no more than 4-5ft tall with branches all over. Every American Hornbeam I have seen was bolt straight (might be leaning) or a clump of bolt straight and pretty tall. Also anything I have seen that may be the size of Marija's 'Emperor' tree would have a root base 6ft wide and be virtually uncollectable. I have found workable material but it is not the gnarly, beat hornbeams I have seen out of Croatia. Some are almost ready made 'fairy tale' trees. Do you know how the ones is Croatia seem to be so compact? Same with their plums.

This is the work of thousands of sheep and goats and other animals.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

@Brad in GR - great collecting area. Also keep an eye out for Ilex verticillata, It would be found in slightly wetter areas than the hornbeam. Ostrya virginiana (hop flowered hornbeam) would be found in slightly drier areas. Also look for the local hawthorn species. (telling one hawthorn from another is difficult, but all make good bonsai).

Your collecting area is much larger than mine. Is this where you have been getting larch and Thuja?

 

[GreatLakesBrad]

@Brad in GR - great collecting area. Also keep an eye out for Ilex verticillata, It would be found in slightly wetter areas than the hornbeam. Ostrya virginiana (hop flowered hornbeam) would be found in slightly drier areas. Also look for the local hawthorn species. (telling one hawthorn from another is difficult, but all make good bonsai).

Your collecting area is much larger than mine. Is this where you have been getting larch and Thuja?

The hornbeam (and some beech, gosh I'd love to find a suitable one) property is in SW Michigan, and is owned by a longtime friend, along with many of his cousins/uncles, sharing the taxes and utilizing for hunting year round. More than 500 acres.

The larch/thuja spot is in the Petoskey area adjacent to an inland lake, my golf league partner and longtime friend in a similar situation with his family having a small cottage there.

Would have never thought that these two spots, where we spent time drinking beer and being foolish adolescents, would become so exciting to me 15 years later. They are both beautiful properties to walk and I am lucky my friends understand that I have appreciation for the trees / entertain what probably seems a strange hobby to them.

I'm still excited to see the farm someday soon.

 

[BobbyLane]

Found some American hornbeam on facebook. believe it or not, fb is a vast resource for bonsai images, one can use the fb search engine like google and you will see 100s of images that will never be seen on a bonsai forum, i often use it for my bonsai fix!

 

[BobbyLane]

these dont look bolt straight to me

the caption reads:

Yamadori!
Big, Curvy Trees

Our yamadori hunters have been working hard these last few weeks to gather the best specimens they can find. The American hornbeam was harvested by the intrepid Benson Green and has been cleaned up and potted by Doug.
Come by Underhill Nursery to check out this and other yamadori as well as other available bonsai trees!

Remember to like and follow our page, Underhill Bonsai, to stay updated on everything we offer, from products to events.

Dated: Dec 2018

so they've also been collecting these American hornbeams over the dormant period.

I was able to find this information on a quick facebook search.

 

[GreatLakesBrad]

Went back to collect yesterday. Ended up only grabbing one of the hornbeam and one beech. I like the elegance of the beech and think the hornbeam muscles on this one are lovely. Will have to eventually reduce more for taper. The beech had branches low which I found to be quite rare. Hopefully helps it to survive.
Fingers crossed! Will be back for more next year but my back was aching, it’s a good mile and a half back to the car.
I was able to flatten the root base on both, and plenty of fine roots on each as well! Cheers.

Brad Tindall on Instagram: "Just the two this year, dipping my toe into these species. Great collecting trip! #americanhornbeambonsai #americanbonsai #bonsaicollecting #greatlakesbonsai #americanbonsai #bonsaifromthewild #fagusgrandifolia #carpinus

41 likes, 2 comments - greatlakesbonsai on March 27, 2021: "Just the two this year, dipping my toe into these species. Great collecting trip! #americanhornbeambonsai #americanbonsai #bonsaicollecting #greatlakesbonsai #americanbonsai #bonsaifromthewild #fagusgrandifolia #carpinuscaroliniana...

www.instagram.com

 

[BobbyLane]

nice roots to start with. are you going to cut off that sucker on the right and make a nice little tree? i would, as its too far away from the main trunk and it has its own roots

 

[GreatLakesBrad]

nice roots to start with. are you going to cut off that sucker on the right and make a nice little tree? i would, as its too far away from the main trunk and it has its own roots

Haven’t decided the approach, but yes. Do you think I could make the cut at the next repot and have survival on those few roots that it has? Great point - I had initially thought I could eventually air layer it off but after your comment maybe I’m over thinking it.

I left it on in hopes that it’s continued growth helps the mother tree survive. And due to a few reminding feeder roots off that root.
Really love the little bonus tree, got 2 additional little guys that separated from the main root base.

 

[BobbyLane]

Haven’t decided the approach, but yes. Do you think I could make the cut at the next repot and have survival on those few roots that it has? Great point - I had initially thought I could eventually air layer it off but after your comment maybe I’m over thinking it.

I left it on in hopes that it’s continued growth helps the mother tree survive. And due to a few reminding feeder roots off that root.
Really love the little bonus tree, got 2 additional little guys that separated from the main root base.

you could just simply snip it off at any time and pot it up. suckers wont help the mother tree tbh, only take away nutrients from my knowledge and this one serves no purpose to the design being so far out. these should be fine, you have enough roots. good collection.

 

[GreatLakesBrad]

you could just simply snip it off at any time and pot it up. suckers wont help the mother tree tbh, only take away nutrients from my knowledge and this one serves no purpose to the design being so far out. these should be fine, you have enough roots. good collection.

Thanks! I will separate at next repot. Now to watch how much dieback occurs on the big trunk.

 

[SouthernMaple]

They are a dwarf variety of hornbeam, often with a shrubby habit, from what ive read they are a mixture of tree and shrub a little like UK hawthorn. makes them an exceptional bonsai subject.
i would liken your American hornbeam to the European hornbeam, they grow tall and upright here too. in fact just like what the op is showing.

this is a good read

Article about carpinus "Emperor" in Bonsai Focus - Meleda Bonsai Studio

Marija Hajdic’s new article about Carpinus orientalis “Emperor” is published in Bonsai Focus, July/August 2019

meledabonsai.com

btw here is an American hornbeam in a tree like form

great video, but i have never seen that hornbeam in the collection in my 3 years going to the arboretum weekly.

 

[SouthernMaple]

great video, but i have never seen that hornbeam in the collection in my 3 years going to the arboretum weekly.

I just realized the tree ive been taking pictures of today , is that tree, its also in a newer Rob Wallace oval too:

 

[BobbyLane]

I just realized the tree ive been taking pictures of today , is that tree, its also in a newer Rob Wallace oval too:
View attachment 459680

Nice, looks like a tree.

 

[GreatLakesBrad]

I just realized the tree ive been taking pictures of today , is that tree, its also in a newer Rob Wallace oval too:
View attachment 459680

So gorgeous. I enjoy re-watching that video as well.

 

[Mikecheck123]

They are a dwarf variety of hornbeam, often with a shrubby habit, from what ive read they are a mixture of tree and shrub a little like UK hawthorn. makes them an exceptional bonsai subject.
i would liken your American hornbeam to the European hornbeam, they grow tall and upright here too. in fact just like what the op is showing.

this is a good read

Article about carpinus "Emperor" in Bonsai Focus - Meleda Bonsai Studio

Marija Hajdic’s new article about Carpinus orientalis “Emperor” is published in Bonsai Focus, July/August 2019

meledabonsai.com

btw here is an American hornbeam in a tree like form

For some reason that I haven't quite figured out, it is impossible to buy an Oriental hornbeam plant in the US. You can get seeds, but not live plants. I presume that it has to do with there being no market for them as landscape plants. It can't be about borders because European hornbeams are widely planted all across the country.

I have one surviving c. orientalis seedling that squirrels have tried to kill multiple times. But it has shown remarkable resilience.