Clerodendrum inerme

Hi all,

I thought I would post up the progression of a Clerodendrum (a Native tree for some parts of Australia) that I have been working on over the last 10 months since it came into my possession, after being given it from a good friend. This was struck as a cutting in 2010, it was ground grown till 2012 when it was lifted and then continued to be developed in a nursery tub by him. Come August last year, he kindly passed it onto me to continue its development and have been blown away by how it has progressed since, it leaves every other species I have on my benches behind as far as growth is concerned. It has only been rewired 4 times since 31 December last year hahaha


*10 March 2013 - A friend was still developing it


*20 August 2013  - First photo after it was given to me


*25 November 2013 - Growth after being cut back in September


*31 December 2013 - Before being defoliated and wired


*31 December 2013 - After being defoliated and wired


*11 January 2014 - Starting to refoliate


*18 January 2014 - Amazing the growth a week later


* 8 February 2014 - Wire cut off and about to get rewired


*12 February 2014 - Rewired


*2 March 2014 - Still growing strong


*3 April 2014  - The strong growth continues, I was pinching new growth weekly


*10 June 2014 - Even though growth has slowed down now being in the cooler months, it still continues to put out growth.

I am under no illusions that its still a long way off to where I want it but I am pleased with its progress in the little time that I have had it. There are a few areas that will be addressed over the coming years to improve upon, especially in the apex and crown. The pot is too big for it, but there is plenty of time to get it in a more suitable one, no rush for that and the extra room it is giving the plant will be aiding it in growth. The canopy is 390mm across, height is 290mm and the trunk width is 60mm.

Any thoughts and comments are most welcomed.

Cheers

David

Looks like a really fun tree to work with. That bark is really nice! Thanks for sharing.

Amazing progression for just one year. Looking really good. Really nice bark. Your friend did a really good job with the base and trunk movement as well.

Mike

Hi David,
so far...... Great work !

thank u for sharing.

Efi

Great work David! Thanks.

Budi

Thank you for the kind words Evan, Mike, efishn and Budi. It has been a fun species to play with and agree that the bark is fantastic.

Mike, I couldn't agree more with you and feel that he really has done the hard work so far and I have merely only added wire, bent a few branches and trim / pinch new growth. The nebari on this is 140mm and I often say to my friend that he ain't a bad grower of material for a potter lol

Thanks again for the comments.

Cheers

David

Real fun material to work with, especially when one knows whit to do with it. Does it flower as bonsai?

Good afternoon, does this species give seeds? What possibility would there be of any exchange? I would be interested to have it in my collection.

Cepedag14,

see if you can contact Barbados for a similar Clerodendrum.
They grow wild there.

Ask for Arthur Atkinson, he may still be the head of their Bonsai society and he used to be
a member here so try a pm..
Greetings from Trinidad.
Hope to see more of you.
Laters.
Khaimraj

Khaimraj Seepersad wrote:Cepedag14,

see if you can contact Barbados for a similar Clerodendrum.
They grow wild there.

Ask for Arthur Atkinson, he may still be the head of their Bonsai society and he used to be
a member here so try a pm..
Greetings from Trinidad.
Hope to see more of you.
Laters.
Khaimraj

Thank you very much for your answer. I'll get in touch and hope to be very lucky. XD

Nice progression,like it very much.
Gr Ed