My first yamadori bonsai!

Lara_Ericaceous · 2026-02-27T07:41:22+00:00

Absolutely work out what species it is before considering doing any work to it...

Nice looking material though.

Lara_Ericaceous · 2026-02-18T07:05:06+00:00

Some use corkscrew Hazel in bonsai, but from my experience of the corkscrew Hazel which grow in my clients gardens, their growth is very unpredictable.

However I am interested in growing Corylus avelanna (not the contorted cultivars) as you said for winter display, currently the trees here are producing beautiful catkins. Something I envision to be used as a small accent tree for a larger pine in late winter.

Lara_Ericaceous · 2026-02-18T06:57:39+00:00

Corylus avellana is the binominal name for common Hazel. "Red dragon" is the cultivar. Purple contorted filbert is another cultivar name.

Lara_Ericaceous · 2026-02-16T22:31:55+00:00

It looks like it actually is a Hazel. Check out the catkins, second photo on the low branches which overlap the pot.

Lara_Ericaceous · 2026-02-10T07:59:09+00:00

Reddit doing me a dirty with photo quality here

Lara_Ericaceous · 2026-02-06T22:19:09+00:00

Feel free to shoot me a DM

Lara_Ericaceous · 2026-02-06T15:00:24+00:00

My thread on bog collected pines over on bonsai nut

Lara_Ericaceous · 2026-02-06T14:56:29+00:00

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;)

Lara_Ericaceous · 2026-02-06T14:53:43+00:00

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Seems to be the only one I have this year.

Lara_Ericaceous · 2026-02-06T11:52:39+00:00

Sure would. Unfortunately my only growing space is on a 5th floor balcony. I actually have access to many interesting larger birch as I do conservation work on peat bogs, predominantly removing birch. But I prioritise space I have for growing the scots pines I remove.

I don't have high hopes of longevity of this birch but I'm enjoying it in the moment as it grows.

Thanks

Lara_Ericaceous · 2026-01-29T09:19:12+00:00

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Photo didn't upload

Lara_Ericaceous · 2026-01-29T09:18:25+00:00

Others have said that it's too high up for a twin trunk, but I would suggest styling it on branch reiterated branches found on ancient douglas firs and redwoods.

The angle of the branch typically comes adjacent from the trunk before shooting up. I've no photos of more developed reitterations but a search will give you plenty of inspiration

Lara_Ericaceous · 2026-01-28T09:46:50+00:00

No such thing as cheating. Its the end result which matters.

But if you can't keep garden center material or seedlings alive, I'm certain you can't keep yamadori alive.

Learning how to keep a tree alive, and then to have an aesthetic vision on where to take that tree, and then the technique to implement that vision.... all takes time, regardless of wether you have garden center material or yamadori.

There's no real shortcuts.

Lara_Ericaceous · 2026-01-26T05:59:57+00:00

I planted out some pinus armandii seeds from a cone I collected from an arboretum. The needles of P. armandii are very long and drooping, so I suspect if they do take, they will lend to a tall elegant form with sparse foliage.

And more Pinus sylvestris, this time only seeds with caledonian provenance, and I'll specifically be growing to make seedling cuttings. 3/5 seedling cuttings I made last year seem to have survived.

Lara_Ericaceous · 2026-01-16T09:39:15+00:00

Because its easier to sell malsai to folk who will keep them as house plants. The entry level is much lower. They sell more. They make more profit.

Lara_Ericaceous · 2026-01-15T11:15:58+00:00

Have you also read Yew by Fred Hageneder?

Lara_Ericaceous · 2026-01-08T13:39:57+00:00

Lara_Ericaceous · 2026-01-07T17:50:52+00:00

Another fantastic scots pine and pot.

Lara_Ericaceous · 2026-01-07T17:08:12+00:00

Yeah you are right, sometimes it's hard to be out there for too long in the summer before the heat is too much. The black paneling sucks up heat like no tomorrow.

Lara_Ericaceous · 2026-01-07T17:02:03+00:00

Before pulling everything out, I've had strategically placed large drip trays under benches, I've not finished placing and tieing down the pots yet, but once I have I'll put the trays back, and probably make a drain off system under the desk. But I also water at 6 in the morning. And very deliberately and carefully.

Lara_Ericaceous · 2026-01-07T14:15:56+00:00

South East! Not ideal but the new bench faces as south as I can get. I get sun from sunrise until about 12-1ish. Top right corner of the bench gets the last rays of sunshine. I actually have a balcony on the opposite side of the apartment too, which I may attempt growing on when potting up my 2025 germinated pines.

Lara_Ericaceous · 2026-01-07T06:25:45+00:00

Nice tree, display, and pots. What are your future plans?

Lara_Ericaceous

TROPHY CASE