black gum tree

How do these trees work for bonsai?? there is one at the local nursery for cheap but the branches are 2 ft. up.the bark does look good..just woundering.. thanks john

Hi John,

I have done some research regarding using the eucalyptus species for bonsai. Apparently is is near impossible for gum trees. Which is really a shame as there are very many beautiful trees such as the ghost gum that would make a terrific bonsai. Would love to see a photo if that could be arranged. Although I have never tried to train a gum tree, I will give it a bash sooner rather than later.

All the best

The thing with eucalyptus as bonsai is that you need to seal every wound even the smallest little branch. If you don't do that they suffer from die back. Also you cannot wire the branches below horizontal or once again they will die back.
The repotting time for gums is during the summer months when they are growing
There are lots of Australian growers doing great things with gum trees they should not be discounted as bonsai as I reckon they have a bright future once we learn more about their cultivation.
Craig

Hi John,

Eucalypts can make great bonsai subjects depending on the species, Craig has given some great advice, if your keen to have a try with one check out Ausbonsai, you will find lots of us here in Australia experimenting with them. Can you tell us which species it is.

At my local club last month we had a demo by Ray Nesci in which he showed us 2 euc's, one that has been grown from seed & is now over 20yrs old, the leaf reduction is fantastic (4-6" natural size down to under 1") it looked just like a big old river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) you would see along the Murray river. The other was an ironbark (cant remember the exact species) being grown in root over rock style, its well on its way to being a lovely bonsai. Both were under 40cm tall.

I will post some pics tomorow of a citriodora that i have been playing with for the last 4yrs started from seedling tube stock. I prefer to repot mine during spring or autumn tho did this one midwinter with no problems, it has just started to push buds from everywhere, not just at the cut ends but right up the trunk and everywhere in between.

Matt

thank you..Guys for your post .. i will have to find out the n.american sinatifice sp. name of this tree.thanks john

The common names have bollixed you all. The North American "Black Gum," or "blackgum" is Nyssa biflora, in th Nyssaceae (Tupelo) family. Nyssa sylvatica, a more northern tree whose range extends into the south,also is called "Black Gum" in some parts of the eastern USA, but N. sylvatica has a huge taproot and is hard to transplant from the wild. Both are common in nurseries in the SE USA. Some trees in he Genus have brilliantly scarlet leaves in the fall.

They are absolutely no relation to the Eucalyptus (gum trees) of the Southern Hemisphere.

N. biflora might be OK as a bonsai.

THANK YOU JIM ,I was hopeing you would post about this tree.. i knew you would know the right name for it.. have you ever seen one bonsaid?? this tree is tall but has limbs about 2 ft. from the base a nice trunk and bark.what do you think about this??? thank you john

I'm sure they've been used, but I have never tried them. I don't recall is there is one in the NC Arboretum collection or not.

JIM I went and looked at that tree again today and the first branches are 28 inches up the trunk....there is also a branch for a new apex..that would be a really tall tree to start.. i am not sure i could get it in a pot..the roots are comming out the bottom of a 15 gal. nursery pot now.it may be more trouble than it would be worth i just don,t know about it..i have heard they are nice trees in the ground.. thank you for your input.. john

A yard tree would be fine. As for the current pot size, you don't have to squeeze it into a bonsai pot right away -- or for several years.

JIM Thank you for your reply,,I would not even try to put it in a bonsai pot just one i can move around..i am going back and make up my feeble mind..let you know later.. thanks very much john

WELL I brought tree home..I had to cut the roots that were comming out the bottom,trunk chopped it down where i wanted it to be...there are lots of small feeder roots and it is now half the heigth it was..we will see if i have wasted my time..thanks to every one.wish me luck please this will be my tallest tree .. also a long time projetect...thanks john

I bet it will make a nice tree! I have them growing all around my yard and have been cutting some back. The old black gum trees along the Rappahannock River have lots of character; twisted curvy branches and nice rough bark. They do turn a bright scarlet in the Fall. Another common name around her for them is "Tupelo". Salut, Todd

THANKS TODD,It took me i while to decide but i like the bark and wanted to try it...i chopped it down to28 inches but still have limbs ..it will be a while if i can keep it alive.. i am going for a taller tree than i have because i think it will look good that way..thanks john