Coastal Tea Tree design

Tree’s that provide us with inspiration.
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treeman
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Coastal Tea Tree design

Post by treeman »

I believe Leptospermum laevigatum is potentially one of our finest bonsai subjects. In fact it could be as good as any material anywhere! I'm in the process of developing some material from scratch but I felt that I may have over-done the bending but after seeing the following I think maybe not!
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/2233492/ ... n-tea-tree
http://byteful.com/blog/2012/04/japanes ... a-monster/
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M2fuTppwkns/U ... G_0165.jpg
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=twis ... B576%3B384
Last edited by treeman on June 22nd, 2015, 4:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Coastal Tea Tree design

Post by Matt S »

I've seen some of these growing by the coast and I've often though I should look into it more. I assume the wood gets brittle quickly and you need to wire early?

Matt.
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Re: Coastal Tea Tree design

Post by treeman »

Matt S wrote:I've seen some of these growing by the coast and I've often though I should look into it more. I assume the wood gets brittle quickly and you need to wire early?

Matt.
Yes! And I also see that the twist seems to run clockwise. A good alternative to the Japanese twisted Pomegranate and maybe even better??
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/482940760012081049/
Last edited by treeman on June 22nd, 2015, 4:32 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Coastal Tea Tree design

Post by Grant Bowie »

I also think they are a great subject. Possibly the Juniper of Australia.

My wife has been known to be twisting her hand unconsciously working out which way the twisting goes on trees in the wild.

Grant
IMG_6551.jpg
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Re: Coastal Tea Tree design

Post by treeman »

Grant Bowie wrote:I also think they are a great subject. Possibly the Juniper of Australia.

My wife has been known to be twisting her hand unconsciously working out which way the twisting goes on trees in the wild.

Grant
IMG_6551.jpg
A lovely tree there Grant! :clap:
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Re: Coastal Tea Tree design

Post by Boics »

Fantastic Tree's and certainly one of the most consistent of native tree's to impress me.

Awesome shapes, character and brutal strength!

Don't let the size of the branches confuse you the wood of these tree's in nature is like iron in strength!

There's a few pics in here: viewtopic.php?f=106&t=14123&hilit=leptospermum+golf

And here: viewtopic.php?f=82&t=4233&p=47666&hilit ... ory#p47666

And here: viewtopic.php?f=106&t=3108&p=33017&hili ... ory#p33017

There are other great examples on the forum but I couldn't find them...

Both the Prom and Mornington Peninsula have some rippers.
One of the fabulous things about growing bonsai is as you get old and decrepit your trees get old and beautiful
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Re: Coastal Tea Tree design

Post by Rory »

Grant Bowie wrote:I also think they are a great subject. Possibly the Juniper of Australia.

My wife has been known to be twisting her hand unconsciously working out which way the twisting goes on trees in the wild.

Grant
IMG_6551.jpg
I've said it before about this tree, and I'll say it again.... :o

No seriously.... one of the most beautiful lepto's in the lepto kingdom. Long live Bowie's Lepto :worship:
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Re: Coastal Tea Tree design

Post by Grant Bowie »

Its at the NBPCA now on permanent display so I have purchased about 10 young ones to do it all again, and again, and ...
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Re: Coastal Tea Tree design

Post by Rory »

Grant Bowie wrote:Its at the NBPCA now on permanent display so I have purchased about 10 young ones to do it all again, and again, and ...
I can't wait for this. Our club is organizing a trip down there next year I think in May or sometime. I'll look forward to it.
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Growing Australian natives as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=289480#p289480

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Re: Coastal Tea Tree design

Post by Jarad »

Rory wrote: I can't wait for this. Our club is organizing a trip down there next year I think in May or sometime. I'll look forward to it.
Sahweet! I've missed the last couple of meetings. And I'll be in EnZed for the next one.
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Re: Coastal Tea Tree design

Post by peterb »

Hi Grant
I've battled to get some here in south oz as they are declared apest species here ,( thats what i've been told at the native nurseries ) is it possible to grow from seed or can one take cuttings as i know where there are some growing
regards
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Re: Coastal Tea Tree design

Post by Grant Bowie »

peterb wrote:Hi Grant
I've battled to get some here in south oz as they are declared apest species here ,( thats what i've been told at the native nurseries ) is it possible to grow from seed or can one take cuttings as i know where there are some growing
regards
peterb
They grow easily from seed if you can isolate the seed from the "cones"; or purchase it.

It is very fine and you mix it with sand and sow in the usual way. When ready prick out some single trees, some doubles and some triples. It is better than twisting/plaiting them together at a later stage.

The tree above is 2 two trees grown together from seed. The only down side is the the two trees are subtly different at some times of the year in growth.

Cuttings? Give it a go.

Mike might know.

Grant
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Re: Coastal Tea Tree design

Post by treeman »

Cuttings should be possible as there is a named dwarf form doing the rounds occasionally. I've never tried.

Seed is extremely easy using the bog method used for Melaleuca and Callistemon etc.
Last edited by treeman on June 23rd, 2015, 11:08 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Coastal Tea Tree design

Post by treeman »

Grant Bowie wrote:quote] When ready prick out some single trees, some doubles and some triples. It is better than twisting/plaiting them together at a later stage.
I presume will not actually graft together because of the flaky bark?
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Re: Coastal Tea Tree design

Post by Jow »

Any one have any air layer experience with them?
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