GIANT FIGS!

[hugh grant]

I was on holidays on the sunshine coast recently just before christmas and discovered these huge mortan Bay figs at a farmers market we went to in Petrie which is a suberb east of Brisbane. We found out that they were over 300 years old They were the biggest fattest figs or even trees that i have ever seen. The biggest one with the biggest root flair had a nebari diameter of about 18 metres and the trunk width was about 7 metres, pretty massive.
So if any one were wanting to replicate a bonsai to look like a mature fig in nature i would say try make it look something like one of these monsters.
Has anyone else seen these trees? If you live near brisbane or if your on the Sunshine coast i would say go have a look at these there very inspiring and make you feel like little bugs when you stand near them.

Hugh

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[shibui]

Great figs. I have been trying for years to work out how to produce those great buttress roots on bonsai but have not been able to do it - yet.
From a completely different part of the country there are a couple of Morton bays near Beechworth, Victoria, obviously not yet 300 years old but they have the same great root buttresses although not quite as big as those monsters at Brisbane. I will have to go and see them again and take some photos to share. The Beechworth ones are all the more amazing when you realise that winter temps regularly get below zero and sometimes down to 6 below. Maybe there was a few wrm years when they were planted that let them get tall enough to withstand the cold or maybe that site is just frost free.

[anttal63]

yeah those buttresses are amazing!!!

[Joel]

Hi Hugh,

The tree in this link is at Government house in Sydney. I am fortunate enough to be working underneath this tree at the moment. It is HUGE! It is even larger than the trees in your photos. It is also Ficus macrophylla.

http://www.friendshipforcebrisbane.org. ... tonfig.jpg

Joel.

[Jamie]

if anyone has any secrets on getting theose fluted nebari spill the beans people!! i have been racking my brains on it for ages too!
they are awesome trees for sure, we have a few big ones like that here in hervey bay!

jamie

[bundyfisher]

Hey Jamie You have leongs book page 52 .now you can start making sumo moulds

[Jamie]

Hey Jamie You have leongs book page 52 .now you can start making sumo moulds

sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i love this book, every time i read it i see something new!!! i am of to make a mould!!!!!!!!



jamie

[dayne]

the secret to those butress roots is throw it in the ground for a hundred years but honestly gow them in super shallow pots or on tiles shallow in the ground then the roots have to rise out of the pot

[Greth]

There is a lovely avenue of Moreton Bay figs in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, tho not monsters they are impressive.

[Bretts]

This is just out of Nowra. I never got any closer.

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[hugh grant]

Hey jowl I've seen that fig millions of times as I live onthe central coast so we go to Sydney a few tomes a year and oftenly gp to the botanic gardens and see that fig. But it pretty massive I have to say. But I cant hel thinking that these other figs are a bit bigger, they just seem to be I think when I sttod under them they felt bigger than standing under the one in Sydney and some of the roots stood twice my height and 6 foot 1.. But I might be wrong as to which one is bigger there bob magnificent figs anyway.
I do to wish to get roots like those on my fig bonsai.
Thanks

Hugh

[Jerry Meislik]

Hugh,
These are truly massive and wonderful trees.
I especially love the vertical elevation of the root flare.
Is there a way to duplicate this in a bonsai?
Jerry

[anttal63]

Hugh,
These are truly massive and wonderful trees.
I especially love the vertical elevation of the root flare.
Is there a way to duplicate this in a bonsai?
Jerry

we were hoping you might tell us jerry.

how would carving the channels into a trunk and then letm heal go?
how about fusing roots that grow down in a deep pot; my guess is just as frequent styling is needed underneath as is on top.
is it our hard clay soils that produce this effect?

gotta be someone out there who's tried;

( enter dickie knee) scuse me; mr. bowie, mr. bowie, mr. bowie??? you got any idea's???

[Pup]

This tree is not as big as yours but it impressive. It is on the National heritage register. It was planted when Royal Perth hospital was opened so I am told which makes it about 100 years old. Even though it has ripped the paving apart they still make sure it is safe so no one gets hurt.
No I have not tried, but by planting them in shallow pots will take for ever to get the flair. That I have tried.

Here is one of our Ficus rubiginosa. there are more around Fremantle and Hyde park.

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[Luke]

hey hugh, mad props for sharing your pics! thanks! we all need to take pictures of the amazing trees we see... then coming to AusBonsai will be all the more great!!!! im inspired! cheers