Ulmus parvifolia 'Seiju'

[shakotan710]

Man I just love how this shows in the bottom photo, great graceful movement of the trunk curving up to the right and carried on by the branches. Really nice little tree.

Thanks for the kind words, I've been reluctant to post it since it's always felt like a stick in a pot since I purchased it. I'm starting to embrace the scale and enjoy what I'll be able to do with the small leaves and branching.

 

[0soyoung]

Interesting turnaround on Seiju ;-) Reversion on a landscape tree.

You're saying the whole tree reverted to an ordinary ulmus parvifolia?

 

[garywood]

You're saying the whole tree reverted to an ordinary ulmus parvifolia?

Naught, just one shoot from a tertiary branch. I'm leaving it for a few years a a show and tell.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

@Doug J
I'm 64 years old, I like the suggestion for style by @coh, rather than the more radical cut back by @Maloghurst , if I were 25, I'd consider Malogurst's suggestion. It is not bad, just requires too much growing, does not use enough of what it already there.

You might look at using your original front for coh's (Chris) design, often front and back of trees are easy to switch between. But I try to approach trees with the thought of using as much of what is there as possible.

 

[Doug J]

@Doug J
I'm 64 years old, I like the suggestion for style by @coh, rather than the more radical cut back by @Maloghurst , if I were 25, I'd consider Malogurst's suggestion. It is not bad, just requires too much growing, does not use enough of what it already there.

You might look at using your original front for coh's (Chris) design, often front and back of trees are easy to switch between. But I try to approach trees with the thought of using as much of what is there as possible.

Yes, I agree completely, and I am currently using the front coh suggested. The other fellows idea was constructive, but I rejected it for the reasons you mentioned. Here it is today, I did a bit of (half ass) wiring on some tertiary branches, with the idea of getting them to be like "pads". I will probably 'clip and grow' from here on out for this year. It really doesn't have a 'top'...need to work on something there. I do keep running maloghurst idea through my head...but it's that darn time thing. Any further suggestions appreciated. Thank you.

 

[coh]

Yes, I agree completely, and I am currently using the front coh suggested. The other fellows idea was constructive, but I rejected it for the reasons you mentioned. Here it is today, I did a bit of (half ass) wiring on some tertiary branches, with the idea of getting them to be like "pads". I will probably 'clip and grow' from here on out for this year. It really doesn't have a 'top'...need to work on something there. I do keep running maloghurst idea through my head...but it's that darn time thing. Any further suggestions appreciated. Thank you.

Looks like you've got the tree rotated a bit from the front that was in Brent's photo (which I used for my virt).

It's so tough to come up with virts based only off photos, you just can't tell whether the branch/trunk structure will support it or how long it might take to get there. I also don't know how quickly these grow. It still might take a bunch of years to get something like I had sketched. It's possible you could do a more severe cut back/chop and wind up with a well developed canopy that fits that new size in about the same amount of time.

 

[Doug J]

Looks like you've got the tree rotated a bit from the front that was in Brent's photo (which I used for my virt).

It's so tough to come up with virts based only off photos, you just can't tell whether the branch/trunk structure will support it or how long it might take to get there. I also don't know how quickly these grow. It still might take a bunch of years to get something like I had sketched. It's possible you could do a more severe cut back/chop and wind up with a well developed canopy that fits that new size in about the same amount of time.

Yes, I'm not sure how quickly they grow also, thus my hesitancy in 'drastic pruning'. With regards to the front...that's the beauty of this type of pot, I can rotate it a bit and voila ...a different front. All kidding aside, I guess you could say I really haven't committed to anything design wise, nor done anything that can't be undone. I think I originally called it an octagonal pot, but with 6 sides it's obviously not that. I guess I'm still fence sitting with this tree, want to see how fast it grows, leaf size, etc. I'll probably waste a year thinking about it. I can tell that back budding won't be an issue though....it's got back budding everywhere, so much so that it actually may turn out to be a nuisance. Honestly, I've got maloghurst's idea in the back of my head, still may end up going that way. What would the best time of year be for doing a drastic pruning like that on this particular species?

 

[Doug J]

Got a new saw today.

 

[John P.]

You could make a nice Olea-looking bonsai with that Seiju elm!

 

[Maloghurst]

CH-CH-CH-CHIA!

 

[parhamr]

Let’s see those updates

 

[Forsoothe!]

Once you get your architecture set, they are easy to manage. BUT, they are subject beetles, borers and not waking up in spring.

 

[Doug J]

Let’s see those updates

should have something to report in 8 or 10 years. now just a bunch of tiny twigs growing out of a stump. check back in 2027.

 

[Forsoothe!]

Sink it in the landscape for a couple years...

 

[Doug J]

Sink it in the landscape for a couple years...

yeah...I actually did. It's in my raised bed garden with the rest of the vegetables.

 

[Doug J]

Proof of life.

 

[Johnnyd]

This Sieju is starting to show more cork bark since last year. I've been trying to get rid of the black at the base. I used cotton balls and vinegar with little results. I'm hesitant to scrub it because of the flaky bark. Anyone have a suggestion? I'm not sure if it is related to the weekly seaweed solution I'm feeding it.
Also it looks like the reverse taper below the soil line has evened since exposing it.

 

[Forsoothe!]

Give it some time...

 

[coltranem]

I have had this guy 2 years. No corky bark yet but I like where it has come in two years. Granted I myself only have two years in the hobby so someone more experienced might have gotten more accomplished.

2017


2017 after I removed the top


2018


2019 spring repot


2019 today after hedge pruning. Lower branches are growing out

 

[Maloghurst]

I’ve been holding out. I got this from a local nursery. $89.00. I have 3 air layers going right now and I’m going to do several more next year before I start developing the parent tree. Trunk is about 5” across .