Input needed on my tree, it may be a "bluebeard" bush

Hi everyone

I have this (Bluebeard?) bush currently outside:

The three roots look pretty cool on it, it was screaming "bonsai!" when I saw it

What all should be done to it now? I am going to trim off the dead spots, and I was also thinking of trimming some of the branches off so it is more viewable.

Would now be a good time to do any trimming? I know more about tropicals and succulents, but I don't know much about the plants that actually grow here...

The heat and dryness has gotten to it, most of its leafs are dead and it is shooting new growth sense I watered it again. Michigan's weather is weird....

I would first identify the plant as best you can and find out it's needs.
Put it outside in a sheltered location.
Let it get healthy before you do anything further, like wait til next year. It sounds like it has been stressed and while summer is growing season in the midwest the hot drying winds (90 degrees and 30 mph winds today) really puts additional stress on the trees. Take care of it and with patience it may turn out to be a real beauty.

I have it on my porch, where it is more sheltered and there is no chance of it being stolen. I will see what spots I have outside in my yard for it, I live in a trailer so space is limited.

I will wait to do anything to it until next year. What time next year would be good to trim it or do any cut backs?

I posted pictures on plantswap and we think it is probably a bluebeard or something with care needs very close to it.

I posted pictures on plantswap and we think it is probably a bluebeard or something with care needs very close to it.

Bluebeard is a Buddlieia (Butterfly bush). Their stems are a bit too brittle for easy bonsaiing. They are strictly multui-triunked shrubs and will be difficult to shape. It probably can be done, but will be work.

If you're going to do bonsai you need to learn the scientific names of the plants. Common names change from block to block or town to town. Also, always try to ID them yourself. You'll learn something interesting each time. Google works -- then take the results to one of the plant ID sites, such as Floridata.

On plantswap.net we figured it is most likely a bluebeard (Caryopteris x clandonensis)

There were multiple things that had similar leaves, so we aren't for sure. The only was I could be 100% on what it is, would be to bring a printout of the flowers to the lady I got it from. And it may be a long time before I can do that as my father is working 12 hours everyday half the summer.

I prefer scientific names, and I try to ID them myself. I just want to see what other possibilities they could be, in case someone else doesn't agree or they think it is what I thought. Then I know more for sure that it is something if more than one person think it is.

Bluebeard shrub. Also goes by Blue Mist Spirea (although not a true spirea). To me, these are more like tender woody plants that can die down to the ground during the winter. They are lovely shrubs in the summer. Not sure about its suitability as bonsai, but would be interested to see what you can do!

Do you know at what temperature it would die to the ground at? If it keeps dying to the ground every year bonsai wouldn't do much good

jreidsma wrote:Do you know at what temperature it would die to the ground at? If it keeps dying to the ground every year bonsai wouldn't do much good

Not sure, but it could still be interesting. You may be able to develop a big trunk and cut back annual growth to get a compact tree similar to potentilla and other semi-woody plants.

That would be pretty cool

I was thinking of having a rock in between the roots, in the picture it shows them but it might not show up well. Its trunk is actually suspended above ground and the three wood covered roots are in the air.