Suggestions Please

I was given this old Crepe Myrtle by the son of a former student who has passed. Its been growing wild for several years now and is about 35 years old.
I'm kind of torn as to what to do. Make a literati style tree? With the tall part? the short part? Or go all the way and cut it down to about 6" and go shohin. Any suggestions welcome

Bob,

Why NOT style it as a slanting/bunjin type tree??? Keep plenty of branches (options), and keep it natural. The end results may surprise you. Style it, plant it in the appropriate pot and enjoy the flowers this summer. Then if you're sure you don't like it, cut it back and start over. But I bet there's an interesting tree hiding in there.

Anyway, that's what I'd do.

R

Has it bloomed?

They bud prolifically, so I think I'd just cut it back. If it blooms, you can do that after the summer blooms have withered.

Crape myrtle make wonderful bonsai -- shohin look a bit raggedy if you let them bloom, but still are worth it.

It has very pretty purple flowers. i never seen one in bloom that doesn't look a little raggedly but it is an awesome species for bonsai. For me the flowers are a bonus, I love the bark and structure they get.

Its not often that I have a hard time deciding where to go with a tree. I'm still torn with this one. Luckily I was able to do the work for both options before I had to decide. Now I still can't decide.
Should I go this way-


Or this way-


What do you think?

I like the last one, but it's still a bit busy.

Maybe . . . .

Second photo for me - in the first photo, the top 75% of the tree doesn't tell the same story as that excellent base. Thanks for sharing the tree.

I like Russ' approach. Grow it this year as a literati, see if you like the results. Then, if not, chop it back to create a shohin. If you go the Literati route, consider planting it in the ground to create more bulk in the trunk. The larger/taller your tree, the smaller the leaves and flowers will be for the overall image. Have fun!
Todd

I'm inclined to go the way of the second photo. The only problem is halfway up the trunk there is an old wire scar that causes a little reverse taper.
I can't believe I still haven't decided.

Hi Bob

I like very much, as Jim suggested.

Pavel

I vote for second option, too.

If it was mine, (my usual preface in this situation) i would feed it vigorously as I slowly cut it back until I had a shohin bonsai.

Mike

If I go shohin I'll cut it to 6" and repot all at once.

Could you post a picture of the large porton covered from another angle? Maybe turned 45 degrees to to the left? Because even though if that were to be the front you would have an excellent view of the base, the top is extremely busy and I can't quite make the branches out.
Or a pic from down lower, looking the tree straight on would be nice.

Finally made a choice! Here it is-



Here's what the deadwood looks like, kind of makes me think of a sitting Buddha

This will be a nice Bunjin

Thanks. If not it'll be a nice shohin.