Styling advice on my pine (pinus radiata... maybe)

[gilly24]

I'm really not sure what direction to take this tree.

There are 5 branches coming off the main trunk. They have between 2-4 candles each.

My initial thoughts are to go really minimal and follow the curve of the trunk by removing the two branches on the right (first photo). It will also slow the bulge forming at the top of the trunk.

Any thoughts?

Also if anyone has an idea of exactly what this pine is it would be super helpful! The needles are around 50/50 between sets of 2 and 3. The 3s are typically lower down the branches.

 

[sorce]

Welcome to Crazy!

Is that a current picture?


Sorce

 

[gilly24]

Yep! This is what it currently looks like.

 

[Pine_nut]

My guess would be a Scott's pine, but I'm not an expert.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Pinus radiata, and or one of several different hybrids with radiata as one parent, are the most commonly planted species for tropical and subtropical pulpwood and timber plantations. I would expect Pinus radiata to be the most abundant pine in Australia. Radiata usually has 3 needles, but there's a 2 needle race, and when used as a hybrid, with Pinus muricata, which normally has 2 needles in a bundle, the offspring can have zones of both 2 and 3 needle bundles.

So if you hear hooves, assume horse, rather than zebra. You have (radiata x muricata).

For bonsai, general culture as for Japanese black pine woul apply. This will be a fairly reliable 2 flush pine in your Australia climate.