Tree ID (app tells me Strawberry Tree)

[Wulfskaar]

I have this small bush in my yard that I've never paid much attention to until recently. The PictureThis app identifies it as a "Strawberry Tree", but I'm not sure it matches other trees labeled as Strawberry trees that I have seen on this forum.

The main reason I want to know is because it has amazing bark, and I wonder if it would be suitable for bonsai as a yardadori.

I will probably work on cleaning it up a bit (in ground) so I can better see it. I won't dig it up in spring unless it's a good bonsai option.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[Snorlax99]

Escallonia rubra?

 

[Wulfskaar]

Escallonia rubra?

I googled that and it does look similar to Escallonia compacta. Can anyone else confirm this? Ever seen these used as bonsai?

 

[Betula1]

Looks like Escallonia of some type-there are many cultivars growing in gardens and planted as hedges here white , pink and red flowered forms. It can make a nice evergreen flowering bonsai with attractive bark

 

[bonsaiwood]

Great find, I too want to learn more about this species in bonsai culture. The scaly bark and small pink flowers really make for an interesting combination. Like most broad leafs, easy to maintain by clip and grow.
Mine is a pre-bonsai and has some years of training to go. They don't seem to mind being pruned back to the first node on current year's growth, but that being said, I could not tell you how well they back bud on older wood (if you were to hack that shrub way back, for instance). IMO it would be better to first figure out the potential trunk line to preserve that part of the tree from being cut back too hard. Then make gradual, progressive chops of the remaining branches over time while the tree is in the ground. See how it responds and adjust your pruning. Give it a little fertilizer in between and plenty of water. I think this will yield the best chance of getting it to back bud on older wood. Lifting it out of the ground (when the times comes) best done in late winter/early spring.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Funny that this should come up as a subject, because I was just looking at Arbutus sp. today (Strawberry tree). It was one of my daughter's favorite trees in SoCal, and we are considering getting some for our landscape. Plus they are deer-resistant, which is a big plus.

However, I agree with the others - this plant looks like an escallonia to me, particularly because of the small leaf size. Arbutus can become a fair-sized landscape tree, and its leaves are much larger than what is on the shrub you have photographed. Plus it tends to have smooth exfoliating bark - versus the chunky bark on your plant. Good news is that escallonia is a popular bonsai plant, and the bark on that plant is pretty amazing.

 

[Wulfskaar]

Great find, I too want to learn more about this species in bonsai culture. The scaly bark and small pink flowers really make for an interesting combination. Like most broad leafs, easy to maintain by clip and grow.
Mine is a pre-bonsai and has some years of training to go. They don't seem to mind being pruned back to the first node on current year's growth, but that being said, I could not tell you how well they back bud on older wood (if you were to hack that shrub way back, for instance). IMO it would be better to first figure out the potential trunk line to preserve that part of the tree from being cut back too hard. Then make gradual, progressive chops of the remaining branches over time while the tree is in the ground. See how it responds and adjust your pruning. Give it a little fertilizer in between and plenty of water. I think this will yield the best chance of getting it to back bud on older wood. Lifting it out of the ground (when the times comes) best done in late winter/early spring.

However, I agree with the others - this plant looks like an escallonia to me, particularly because of the small leaf size. Arbutus can become a fair-sized landscape tree, and its leaves are much larger than what is on the shrub you have photographed. Good news is that escallonia is a popular bonsai plant, and the bark on that plant is pretty amazing.

Thank you guys! Now I have a proper genus to begin better research.

Yeah, I think I need to work on cleaning it up, as it's been neglected for a long time. It doesn't get much water or care at all.

I will clean up the base so I can see the nebari situation, and will remove a lot of the dead sticks as well as the tropical ash tree trying to grow up through it.

Great advice to do some experimental work to see how it reacts before I go killing it in Feb/March.

Thanks again!

 

[bonsaiwood]

Please keep us posted with the progress!