Shohin Ixora Update

This small Ixora is the "Norm Nelson" variety, named after the late Florida bonsai grower, Norm Nelson.
The pot is by California potter Dick Reyerson. The leaves are a bit large for a small tree but the reward is it makes an assortment of pretty red/orange flowers.



Interesting trunk on this little tree



This is what the tree looked like several years ago when I first got it from Ed Trout.

Nice transformation Rob. I'm guessing tropical evergreen - good for Florida but not so good for the ravages of a Scottish winter?

What size is it as the leaves look reasonably OK to me in terms of proportion? But then as it's not a species I know...

fionnghal wrote:Nice transformation Rob. I'm guessing tropical evergreen - good for Florida but not so good for the ravages of a Scottish winter?

What size is it as the leaves look reasonably OK to me in terms of proportion? But then as it's not a species I know...

Fionna, yes its a tropical plant. Can't take much freezing. Some call it the "Tropical Azlaea," although some bougainvillea lovers also use that term. Ixora, like azalea, like acidic soil and Miracid fertilizer.
This one is only about 9 inches tall.


An Ixora won one of the places in the JAL competition a few years ago. We don't see many Ixora bonsai in Florida but they are common in southeast Asia. There is a photo of one from the Philippines in my book.

Hi Rob,

perfect choice pot. It could not be better.

regards
Peter

peter krebs wrote:Hi Rob,

perfect choice pot. It could not be better.

regards
Peter

Thanks Peter. It is a nice pot. Dick is from California and does not appear to active on the Internet.

I know you like yellow pots. Here is one proving the adage "Never throw away an interesting branch if possible Make a cutting." I now have the beginning of a cascade Buttonwood in a very tall and narrow Chinese Yixing pot.

Nice tree Rob, but the lowest branch is way too big though.

Xuan

do ixora backbud well and can they take drastic chops, root pruning etc ?

sixhunter wrote:do ixora backbud well and can they take drastic chops, root pruning etc ?

This variety buds back continuously. I believe most can but check with the local bonsai growers as there are not many Ixora bonsai in this area. I have not yet found a collectable one that I could do a chop on. While common in landscapes in Florida I am always eyeing old bushes but have not yet found a good trunk in a spot that was collectable.

There is a dwarf variety in local garden nurseries but the are always little spindly cuttings. The leaves and flowers would be ideal for bonsai though. Maybe someone else has tried them. If so, I'd like to see some photos.

Mrs. Sue Aziz in Indonesia has nice Ixora bonsai. She is called Madam Sokka (Sokka is Indonesain for Ixora).

xuan le wrote:Nice tree Rob, but the lowest branch is way too big though.

Xuan

Maybe so Xuan but think if it as a really old tree where that branch has been growing for centuries!

Hi Rob,

the Yixing pot is also very beautiful, but she still has the taste of the fire, it takes some years to a beautiful patina created.
The pot from Dick is already really good, and they will, over time, much more beautiful.

Here is a glimpse into a Yixing pottery. The city of Yixing is famous for its unglazed pottery ware.

http://www.bonsaipots.net/index.php?page=yixing-pottery

regards
Peter