Taxus Cuspidata - Japanese Yew

Watto · Post by **Watto** » July 4th, 2016, 5:50 pm

I am only slightly mad, but on the weekend I had the opportunity to acquire three Yew's and I had no idea how big they were, but I was surprised when I got there. Each pot weighed about 80 kg and stand about 1800 mm (not just the pot, tree and pot).
Some judicial cutting will be required to reduce the size and they are in desperate need of a good repot to introduce some decent mix into what look like common garden dirt.
It is not every day you get the opportunity to buy such old and large stock, so I have another 5 year plan on the drawing board.
Suggestions are of course welcome.

Daluke · Post by **Daluke** » July 4th, 2016, 6:31 pm

What mammoths. I wouldn't even know where to start with so many options / so much work. Good luck.

Jow · Post by **Jow** » July 4th, 2016, 6:43 pm

Are you sure they are cuspidata? They look more like baccata.
Either way a nice score. Yews make great bonsai.

Theodore · Post by **Theodore** » July 4th, 2016, 7:13 pm

And longbows!

Watto · Post by **Watto** » July 5th, 2016, 6:16 am

I only think they are cuspidata because the lady I got them from told me so, so I could be re-educated?

Watto · Post by **Watto** » July 6th, 2016, 8:21 pm

Hi Jow - the attached photo is of a Yew cutting I took a little while ago, and I thought that it was a baccata, but like I said I could be very wrong. I might have them around the wrong way???

Jow · Post by **Jow** » July 6th, 2016, 8:42 pm

I've been looking for cuspidata and haven't been able to locate it anywhere in Australia. It looks to me like both of yours are probably baccata. The cutting is the standard and the larger one is probably taxus baccata fastigiata which I think is also called Irish yew?

All make good bonsai but the Japanese yew (at least the variety used in bonsai: var. nana?) has very small (1cm) needles/leaves. The European/English yew tends to be more like 3cm from what I can work out.

Watto · Post by **Watto** » January 17th, 2019, 10:52 am

Its been a while since I posted this tree so time for an update.
First I had to cut it out of its pot.

Watto · Post by **Watto** » January 17th, 2019, 10:54 am

Then I had to give the roots a trim.

Watto · Post by **Watto** » January 17th, 2019, 10:55 am

A bit of tidy up and wash of the roots was next.

Watto · Post by **Watto** » January 17th, 2019, 10:57 am

It was then potted up and given a rest.

Watto · Post by **Watto** » January 17th, 2019, 11:01 am

In December 2018 I was a bit bored so I took the carving tools to this, and gave it a good hair cut and put some wire on as well.
Now it will be allowed to rest before the next session.

MJL · Post by **MJL** » January 17th, 2019, 3:09 pm

Two guys enter a pub.

One named Watto the other AlpineArt.

After a few frothies - Watto gazes out the window and observes: “Nice tree might be a good bonsai ..”

There’s no answer but the scrape of a chair and the rush of Alpine’s exit. “Meet me out the front - I’ve got an idea.” His voice trails into the distance.

Watto is quizzical but excited...

No sooner was he out of the pub and they were loading the specimen into the truck.

Watto was never bored again and continues carving to this day.

IMG_6279.jpg

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BirchMan · Post by **BirchMan** » January 17th, 2019, 3:52 pm

I swear that's the Dragon Tree at Kings Park, Perth. Was looking at it yesterday.

MJL · Post by **MJL** » January 17th, 2019, 4:14 pm

100% ... yep, that’s the tree and it’ll be in a shallow pot soon!

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