Table Mountain Pine Bonsai

[Kalebh]

Hi Everyone, I'm posting this threat to see if anyone has ever attempted to bonsai Table Mountain Pines (Pinus pungens)? I have don't a decent amount of research and haven't found any information regarding transplanting, soil types, or pruning? Any and all information regarding this species will be helpful. Thanks in advance

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I have never grown a Table Mountain Pine, Pinus pungens. Using Wikipedia, it is related, meaning in the same sub-section, Australes, of the genus Pinus, with 2 other species that are used occasionally for bonsai. Pinus radiata, and Pinus rigida, the Monterey Pine, and the Pitch pine. The Monterey pine is not often used for bonsai in North America, because it is not very cold tolerant. The Pitch Pine, P. rigida, has become more popular recently for bonsai. I would image most of the techniques used for pitch pine would apply to Table Mountain pine. So my guess is the P. pungens would be pretty adaptable to soil types, and would take well to standard techniques use for Pitch Pine. Like pitch pine, it may be capable of being treated as a "double flush pine". You are in North Carolina, your growing season is probably long enough to use double flush techniques on the tree. However. I have never grown one, so I am just guessing from "Internet Knowledge". I have no actual experience with it.

Let us know if you have success, or if it turns out to be a problem.

 

[rockm]

Hi Everyone, I'm posting this threat to see if anyone has ever attempted to bonsai Table Mountain Pines (Pinus pungens)? I have don't a decent amount of research and haven't found any information regarding transplanting, soil types, or pruning? Any and all information regarding this species will be helpful. Thanks in advance

If you can find one that's collectible go for it...Most of the Table mountain pines I know of are on protected ridges in the Blue Ridge---uncollectible. Seems like they would be a decent tree to work with. Here's one that's been at Ravens Roost on the Blue Ridge Parkway for as long as I can remember--Used to live five minutes from it 45 years ago...This pic is pretty recent.

 

[jackstraw]

Hi Everyone, I'm posting this threat to see if anyone has ever attempted to bonsai Table Mountain Pines (Pinus pungens)? I have don't a decent amount of research and haven't found any information regarding transplanting, soil types, or pruning? Any and all information regarding this species will be helpful. Thanks in advance

Hey, I know this post is old, but I recently came across a table mountain pine. I’m wondering if you ever made an attempt at one? If so, what did you learn?

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I'm down here in Charlotte, and have not yet tried. It's a mountain pine, and I assume my location might be too warm for it. I have yet to see it for sale in any of the nurseries - even up in the mountains.

 

[jackstraw]

I'm down here in Charlotte, and have not yet tried. It's a mountain pine, and I assume my location might be too warm for it. I have yet to see it for sale in any of the nurseries - even up in the mountains.

I’m in Asheville, and keep an eye out for them whenever I’m in the woods. I haven’t found any that I can legally collect. I was able to find one for sale, which I purchased. They’re hard to find commercially. We have a specialty nursery here that used to carry them, but they haven’t been able to acquire any for a couple years now.

With what little information there is about them, I’m having a hard time figuring out if they can be treated as single or double flush. Any idea?

 

[PA_Penjing]

@jackstraw i have grown them from seed and bought a few as seedlings many years ago. So I can’t really offer much advice but I don’t see why they wouldn’t make decent bonsai. They are heavily reliant on fire for their existence so I would experiment to see if they are a double flush pine. Makes sense that they’d evolve to resprout after a mid summer fire. The growth seems very coarse to me but I never got mine to a refinement stage. Other than that they need very porous soil or they have issues. I have also read that they are pretty heat intolerant, but since you live in the mountains that should be fine. No one ever seems to be able to define “heat tolerance” anyway

 

[jackstraw]

@jackstraw i have grown them from seed and bought a few as seedlings many years ago. So I can’t really offer much advice but I don’t see why they wouldn’t make decent bonsai. They are heavily reliant on fire for their existence so I would experiment to see if they are a double flush pine. Makes sense that they’d evolve to resprout after a mid summer fire. The growth seems very coarse to me but I never got mine to a refinement stage. Other than that they need very porous soil or they have issues. I have also read that they are pretty heat intolerant, but since you live in the mountains that should be fine. No one ever seems to be able to define “heat tolerance” anyway

Good to know, I appreciate it. I believe they’re closely related to pinus rigida. It makes sense that they could be treated the same, but I can’t find any definitive information. I think I’ll just treat that way and see how it goes.