SHISHIGASHIRA GROUP PLANTING

[pandacular]

woah, that’s a lot of flowers! is that typical of potted shishis?

 

[snowman04]

Don't ask permission, grasshopper. Always beg forgiveness...

 

[MACH5]

@MACH5 How would you feel if someone were to use this as inspiration for their own, smaller Shishigashira planting?

Of course! I'd be flattered

 

[MACH5]

woah, that’s a lot of flowers! is that typical of potted shishis?

Yes lots and they all need to be cut off! I believe they flower just as profusely whether they are potted or not.

 

[pandacular]

Interesting, didn’t know removing flowers was necessary on maples. Guess I’ve got a project to keep my scissors busy on my big air layer mother…

 

[MACH5]

Interesting, didn’t know removing flowers was necessary on maples. Guess I’ve got a project to keep my scissors busy on my big air layer mother…

With the limited resources of a potted tree, they should not be allowed to go to seed since then it allocates its energy on reproduction rather than vegetative growth. A few left on the tree is ok.

 

[Mike Westervelt]

Thanks Dan! I love this cultivar as well. My only regret with Shishigashira is that they are VERY slow to develop. I think probably more than twice as long as regular palmatum. That's why any older specimen that's even mildly ramified are very expensive and rare!

One the best ones in the US is of course Bill's Shishi. Andrew Robson also has a beautiful specimen that's well developed. Not sure if that one was imported or developed in the US.

Hey @MACH5 and @Dan W. Andrew’s shishi was started in 1991 from a stock nursery plant by Bob Laws, a dentist in Vancouver, WA.
It was originally a single trunk but early on had an unnecessary branch air layered off and affixed to the left side of the trunk base which has fused perfectly in the ensuing years.

 

[hlienho]

Of course! I'd be flattered

I would be thrilled to air layer all these branches and follow your group planting idea. Will the main tree take years to develop into a bonsai? I would love any advice you can share. Thank you so much!

 

[SeanS]

I would be thrilled to air layer all these branches and follow your group planting idea. Will the main tree take years to develop into a bonsai? I would love any advice you can share. Thank you so much!

@hlienho its good etiquette to start your own thread with questions like these to avoid taking focus away from the main topic of a thread (in this case Sergio’s shishi group planting)

 

[hlienho]

will do. I'm so sorry.

 

[MACH5]

will do. I'm so sorry.

No worries at all! To answer your question yes, it will take a lot of years to develop the main tree into a credible bonsai particularly because you'll be left with a lot of large scars. I personally would not bother and focus in air layering its parts to create something more compelling. Shishi tends to be slow in closing its wounds, much slower than the standard acer palmatum which is typical of many yatsubusa maples.