AusBonsai

Hi all just started a couple of Adenanthos sericeus (Albany woolly Bush) A member of the Proteaceae family as is the Banksia. I have a couple of others but these well almost got remembered by the camera to show before and after.

They cost me $6-97 each so being interested in Shohin and Natives why not, the can handle quite heavy work, as you can see.
One thing they do not like is to be bare rooted, they shoot back readily do have a very indistinct red flower.
As you can see the Foliage is very pine like but is very soft hence the name woolly bush.

One of the few natives that are not too fussed with the weather. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
Cheers Pup.

I've had very minimal experience with these, but they are a nice species.

Thanks for sharing, these little guys are a treat to watch.

-mo

So far Adenanthos has done well for me in Victoria - better than most WA natives. Seems to tolerate pot culture better than many and is seen as larger potted specimens regularly.
Seems to react to repotting and pruning much like banksias. I have cut more than 3/4 off the roots and top and they just grow back.
Remember they are Proteacea so be careful with the phosphorus in fertiliser.

Yes they do not seem to mind when they are put to work and respond very well in most cases. Friends here in WA reckoned they were fussy till I told them to not bare root and from then on no problems.
We are hoping to see more of them, as for fertilisers and Phosphorus, I have been using fertilisers with an NPK of 14, 4.4, 23 at full strength without any problems.

The WA government has told the Fertiliser companies to reduce to 2% of Phosphorus in all ferts. But they change them at the border .

I do hope to see more of this plant being used, as it is quite an interesting tree.

Cheers Pup

The WA government has told the Fertiliser companies to reduce to 2% of Phosphorus in all ferts. But they change them at the border

A recent check of fertilisers in the nursery here and noticed lots of them are now 2.2% P. I thought that maybe the companies are changing to fit the new WA requirements or just coincidence?????

shibui wrote:

The WA government has told the Fertiliser companies to reduce to 2% of Phosphorus in all ferts. But they change them at the border

A recent check of fertilisers in the nursery here and noticed lots of them are now 2.2% P. I thought that maybe the companies are changing to fit the new WA requirements or just coincidence?????

That would be something new, changing to suit WA .

Apparently the CSRIO have been working with the Swan River trust, and have said too much Phosphorus was getting into the waterways in run off. So that was why they decided to reduce the P in fertilsers.

pee silent as in long grass now

Cheers Pup

Looking great Pup, you've had me interested in the wooly bush since I saw your's at Mauro's demo I think? Am hoping to give a few a shot myself

Nice work Pup. I love the feel of the foliage on these!
I had one but it passed away after a very heavy root prune.

Regards,
Steven

life span of woolly bush is approximately 10 years . hope you are not expecting it to out last you.

joannm wrote:life span of woolly bush is approximately 10 years . hope you are not expecting it to out last you.

With my health Issues that wont be a problem. Haveing said that the first one which was given to me some 8 years ago after the guy had it for 3 years so that one is past its use by date EH!!

Cheers Pup

pup, I wasn't trying to be rude .I was just stating a fact.
I am very sorry if it offended you.
having owned a few as garden plants I have never managed to keep any that long.
joann

joannm wrote:pup, I wasn't trying to be rude .I was just stating a fact.
I am very sorry if it offended you.
having owned a few as garden plants I have never managed to keep any that long.
joann

Hi Joann, no offence taken, I have taken on board what you have said.
I was just saying that this has been said in the past, of our natives and their longevity.
In Bonsai culture trees do sometimes last longer, I have been lucky with mine.

Other trees I was told when I started Bonsai way back, was that will not last that does not make good Bonsai. One of those trees is part of our National Collection in Canberra. I even have a Xanthorrhoea (grass tree ) in a Bonsai pot.

I was again told a no no it has been there for 5 years now.

So you can understand where I am coming from.
Cheers Pup

having owned a few as garden plants I have never managed to keep any that long.

Adenanthos is a WA native. Many WA natives are notoriously difficult in eastern gardens because of the differences in climate and soils so it is not surprising that you have experienced short lived adenanthos in your garden Joannm.

Pot culture is quite different - well drained soil and the opportunity to shift the pot to adjust environmental conditions mean we can give plants more suitable conditions than in the garden. I have seen potted adenanthos (not bonsai) in Victoria that were heathy and happy after more than 10 years.
While my Adenanthos (3 different species) are not yet 10 years old they are doing better than many of the other sooky WA natives I have tried (and failed with). I think adenanthos species are well worth pursuing as bonsai, even in the eastern states.

Very nice.

They are everywhere down here in Albany, I guess that is why they have that name

On the golf course these are a CURSE. What ever you do...in under NO circumstances..put a golf ball within 10 feet of the damn things....they WILL disappear.....or a snake will eat them.

This weekend I am trying to get some "inspiration" shots from the course for another thread....I will keep an eye out for some natural wooly bushes.

Pup wrote:One thing they do not like is to be bare rooted, they shoot back readily ...

Thanks Pup - now I know what I was doing wrong! (or at least one more thing I'm doing wrong)