Rare species of bonsai

Hi IBC.

As Ravi had suggested rare species used in bonsai is different than endangered species used in bonsai and I agree, and to correct the image of my previous thread...this new thread is about rare species used in bonsai. so please do post your unusual trees here too for others to appreciate.

as starter this is my other unusual tree...

I have not ID the Latin name yet...so if somebody is familiar with the specie please do help to ID it.



regards,
jun

The other variety of callicarpa- beauty berry

just styled this one today...

before



after








regards,
jun

Hi Jun,

Thanks for starting an inspiring thread. As you have clarified it is a list of trees which are unusual in Bonsai. I don't think that any of them should be endangered either as a species or in the wild. If they are then we perhaps are placing ourselves in an awkward position. Here are two tree from my collection

The first tree is called Buddleja Saligna or Butterfly Bush is its common name. I have not seen anyone use it as a bonsai. When I landed the material it looked very interesting and hence the adventure. As is apparent from the pic the tree has ages to go before being called a proper bonsai. Right now I am waiting for the individual branches to thicken and once that happens I will work on the branch ramification. The styling is what Robert Steven would call an elevated raft style. It is also unusual and unconventional. The tree below...


The second is a species called Prosopis spicigera. In India(atleast in South India) it is called BANNI. It has a lot of religious significance and has a prominent mention in the hindu epic Mahabharatha. This tree again is still under training as a Shohin. The branch ramification has still a long way to go. I would not normally share pics of such unfinished trees but since this thread was about unusual species, I am posting these images. The tree


Regards
Ravi

Oxalis fruitescns.l [ Rodney weed ]



Sida acuta [ 4 hour flower ] - common roadside weed, can be very Chinese Ink painting in quality.



Ravi is that word - Buddelia saligna ?
Like the Prosopis.

More perhaps later.
Khaimraj

Can't remember the latin name(begins with 'C' I think, but it's commonly known as a Chinese Lantern. Don't have it any more, sold it. I keep looking for a big one to dig out of some ones garden

Khaimraj,

Didn't know Oxalis qualified as a rare species. Have 3 of them of a different species Oxalis Hedysaroides the red leaved variety under training and currently in such a primitive stage that I haven't even photographed them....

Regards
Ravi

Ravi,

when last I posted this image on another site, it was met with surprise, most folk thought Oxalis was a weed and not able to form a trunk. Plus, I believe the theme is - rarely in use as a bonsai - however, I would love to see more oxalis as bonsai, if you have the images.
Until.
Khaimraj

* I have another oxalis, don't know what type, but it also forms a trunk, but is not very interesting to look at.

Erythroxylum ovatum cav.



Khaimraj

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Interesting plant Ian, got any more ?
We have one down here called Chinese Hats.
Khaimraj

Well you guys have posted some more promiceing trees...the butterfly bush can be bought here..the ones here have a flacky bark with spicked flowers in the spring..i don,t know if it is the same but it is called butterfly....take care john

Here a rare specie,it is a Purple smokebush
This tree is a bushy up-growing shrub with dark purple leafs and yellow flowers,Autumn-color is amazing.
Very rare as bonsai,I have seen two on internet.
Greetings Ed

I think a very unusual species for bonsai is grape also.

This is my "unusual" tree....Caryopteris I think, (bluebeard bush).

I have one grape from yamadori!
I will post in a near future.

Best regards, Miguel Costa

I also had a grape bonsai for a while...it now resides in that great vineyard in the sky.

unsure how rare grape are as bonsai but, sharing one of mine

best wishes, sam

How about kiawe (aka mesquite) does this count as unusual? I have a real nice one, guess I should learn how to post pics!

Arno

Arno wrote: I have a real nice one, guess I should learn how to post pics!

Arno

Arno, it's really easy, and in the case of this thread where people are unlikely to know the species referred to, a picture would be of major assistance.

Just follow the instructions given HERE .

Chappy,

that Caryopteris, has something very special about it. I looked and just felt like I was standing before a Rossetti -

http://www.essentialart.com/acatalog/DGR_The_Beloved.html

Thank you.
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Always liked grapes as bonsai. Won't have one for years, so I will just enjoy everyone elses.
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The purple smoke bush reminds me of the Loropetalum that was recently introduced to us on the island. Please show when in full bloom. Thank you Ed.
Khaimraj

So rare haven't ID it yet,,,






regards,
jun

[quote="Khaimraj Seepersad"]Chappy,

that Caryopteris, has something very special about it. I looked and just felt like I was standing before a Rossetti -

http://www.essentialart.com/acatalog/DGR_The_Beloved.html

Thank you.

Thank you Khaimraj, I'm not sure how respond to that, but thanks.
It is a special tree to me. I'm still figuring out how to take care of it.
Here's another one that I just started last summer. I love the bark on them, looks old even when they're not.

Great thread. Some really interesting specimens.
I have a Slash Pine (Pinus elloittii) and Florida Sand Pine (Pinus clausa) as a bonsai. Both fairly uncommon due to funky needle growth but both make great bark. For example I've only heard of one other person that has a sand pine bonsai and a couple of people that had a Slash Pine bonsai. I will try to get some photos this weekend.

Another fairly rare one in Florida is Simpson Stopper. So rare I don't even have one.

Simpson's Stopper is Myrcianthes fragrans, a native of Florida & PR. Many species in the Myrtaceae are called stoppers, probably due to their use for hedges; & we know from the British that anything good for hedges is fair game for bonsai.
Iris

moyogijohn wrote:Well you guys have posted some more promising trees...the butterfly bush can be bought here.

The American butterfly bush grown in gardens is a different species, Buddleja davidii. I doubt it would make a good bonsai subject.
Oddly enough, the purple smokebush is an extremely common landscape shrub in the US, and is often tried for bonsai.
Iris

Arno wrote:How about kiawe (aka mesquite) does this count as unusual? I have a real nice one, guess I should learn how to post pics!

Arno

I wonder which species of mesquite you are using. Mainlanders out West have long attempted to grow mesquite bonsai with little success. Don't know how the Israeli species works.
Iris

bonsaisr wrote:Simpson's Stopper is Myrcianthes fragrans, a native of Florida & PR. Many species in the Myrtaceae are called stoppers, probably due to their use for hedges; & we know from the British that anything good for hedges is fair game for bonsai.
Iris

You betcha.