Coral trees?

[MasonC]

Hey,
does anyone know whether or not u can bonsai coral trees because i got these 2 cuttings last year.

[Jester]

Boy you certainly like the out of the ordinary stuff!! That's good though I like that.

[MasonC]

i still got no advice

[Jamie]

mate when you say coral tree, we arent sure what you mean?
do you have a scientific name?
is it like a jade tree?
or what mate, cant help ya with out either seeing it or knowing what it is.
need some more info mate, thats all

[MasonC]

my bad. i think its scientific name is Erynthriina or sumthin like that.

[MasonC]

its erythrina sykesii

[Jester]

Jamie this is some info I found but obviously for the species "lysistemon". Don't know if it helps you though. Info hard to come by. I searched the net for about an hour.
Coral Tree (erythrina lysistemon)

Growth is very fast in summer. The tree is cold sensitive and does not tolerate frost. Leaf reduction is difficult and is achieved best with limited watering. Rammification is very difficult as the leaves sprout everywhere. To reduce the leaf size, cut off the apical leaf and leave the other two.

Deciduous tree up to 12m tall. Bark is greenish to pale grey-brown on younger trees and grey-brown on older trees.
Has 3 heart shaped leaves with leaf stalk up to 160mm long.
Flowers appear before leafing and are up to 90mm long. Colours are red or white. Flowering from June to October.
Hooked spines on stems.
Reproduction
Pods are black and narrow curved pods and up to 210mm long. Seeds germinate easily. Soak overnight in warm water until swollen, then plant. Germination is after 7-20 days.
Cuttings and truncheons take without root hormones. Good drainage is required to avoid rotting.
Pruning
Growth rate is fast and will produce a complete branch in one season. Branches are very straight and wiring is required to produce movement. Constant pruning is required for leaf reduction. Remove the outer 3rd leaf for compact growth.
Wiring
Wires can be removed in 3 months. Due to its rapid growth watch for wire damage.
Repotting
Root system is aggressive and requires repotting every two years. Repot in spring if the tree has not flowered.
Feeding
Throughout the year. To induce flowering stop feeding in Autumn.
Pests
Bark is soft allowing for burrowing insects.
Soil
Well drained soil.
Watering
Very drought resistant.
To induce flowering very little water in winter.
Collected trees.
Climate/placement
Can survive light frost, where the apex dies and produces new leaders in spring.
Styles
Only informal upright.

[Jamie]

jester this is masons question was just trying to help him out, all good tho

well thats what i mean how many common names does coral tree have, i have seen coral jade trees for instance-crassula something (sorry cant remember the botanical name )

but i think what you just put up mate has helped mason out alot

[MasonC]

hey
thanx jester for all this advice

[bodhidharma]

Interesting.. out this way we had some old miners who planted some out near there huts. Now there is a forest of them. They become frost tolerant as these guys are prolific. Bit of a tourist attraction. The bark is quite beautiful with age, really gnarly. The thorns are huge though i have seen them up to 100mm long.

[Jester]

Hey Mason, don't know if you are aware but erythrina sykesii is the botanical name for the "Australian Coral Tree" . I have contacted someone who may be able to send me a photo of one that has been bonsa'id but no promises.

John

[MasonC]

thanx

[Jester]

Hi Mason, after a few weeks, I was able to get a document from Charles Ceronio in Southn Africa. I think it better addresses the subject much better than my previous post and hope it helps you in your quest to obtain more info about the Coral Tree

[Japh]

Coral trees for bonsai
In South Africa Coral trees are very popular amongst bonsai growers.

There are several species but the "Erythrina lysistemon" seems to do the best. There are about seven different species and they all have red or orange colored flowers.

These trees are the first to flower when the first signs of spring are in the air and they are looking fabulous when in full flower

Although they normally have to be grown a little bigger the average size of 30 to 40 cm, I have one small little one that is only 20 cm in height and it is doing really fine. Its leaves are also small in size.

Here are a few of my Coral trees

Image_01.jpg

This little one is only 20 cm and is really looking great when in full l leave. It is 15 years old. It was bigger at first but I cut it short

Erythrina caffra is our Coast coral tree but has bigger leaves and do not reduce its leaves as well as the Lysistemon or Common coral tree.

Leaves can be reduced by cutting them in half.

The more one prune young shoots the better the leave reduction.

Image_02.jpg

The flower of E. lysistemon.

Image_03.jpg

My oldest Coral tree.

I messed it up a while ago as I wanted to graft on some of the miniature Coral tree species.

Unfortunately all the branches that have been grafted died back. The tree however is busy adjusting to its new shape.

Image_04.jpg

Another young tree of me. I think in time it will become the best of my Erythrynas. It is 70 cm in height and was also collected from a branch cutting

Image_05.jpg

Another Coral. It’s got a good shape and can become a good tree in time. It is about 70 cm in height.

It is about 8 years old and was grown from a cutting.

Cuttings grow easily and big branches can be cut of a tree and just be planted in coarse sand.

(Just for those who can't open the Word document)

[MasonC]

i grew my ones from 3 inch cuttings