Daisy as bonsai?

[Sean M]

I saved this daisy from the rubbish dump when my wife went on a scorched earth rampage earlier on in the year. I have only ever seen one other daisy bonsai and that was a thread on here.
It seems to have survived the move from the garden bed to a pot and flowered during spring. I don't really know if it would make a decent bonsai as the foliage seems to be wrong, but I think it will allow me to get some bending practice in and maybe in a few years you never know.
Has anyone else had any experience in these types of plants?
Any help would be appreciated.

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[Philippe Tot]

Hi Sean,

Yes, of course. Don’t ever feel anything is impossible or cannot be done. And should someone tell you it cannot or must not be done, explore why in depth 'Why? 'before choosing to let go or not.

In China, many such variations, are used for Art, Penjing, Penzai etc... for hunders of years. Im sure its also the case with some in Japan and here also. I always encourage students to use no limitations when deciding which topic/species of choice are concerned. Perennial’s can live for well over 50+ years if properly cared for. And the most important thing, is all the Joy it will give you during your time with it….

So to answer you're Question a definite - Yes

Go for it , your subject matter has much substance and with a good delicate eye, you can come up with a wonderful 'Sean' Translation -Which is the whole point-

Many of my students have use material such as this for Penjing, as well as Peonia, Chrysanthemums etc...

Best of luck with this find,

And do have a wonderful and Merry Christmas

[Sean M]

Thanks for the encouragement Mr Tot.
It is always nice to have those who have travelled before us inspire us to follow in their footsteps.

[GavinG]

Go for your life, so long as you remember it won't last like a pine or a maple. They're great lines in the trunks - what you do with foliage to harmonise with them will be interesting for you to work out. Maybe wire the fine branches, and move them about so the lines echo the lines in the trunks - you certainly won't want flat foliage pads as you see in a juni or pine, it's not that kind of tree. Much more free-form.

Best of luck,

Gavin

[Sean M]

Thanks Gavin,

Thats pretty much what I was thinking. The foliage doesn't suit "traditional" bonsai shapes. So I will go with what I think will make the tree look good. I'll make sure I take some progression pics and post them up here.

[alpineart]

Hi Sean, mate Steven and myself have posted a couple of topics on Euryops Pectinatus /Yellow Daisy as bonsai . The biggest issue i have had is they flower on new growth which actually destroys all the hard work in shaping the plant into a nice canopy , then having to allow it to grow unhindered in order to flower . Chrysanthemums as P.T has referred to grow flowers closer to to main foliage and they do make for an awesome cascade using a bamboo frame to support the very large heavy foliage and massive amount of flowers produced on some of the huge specimens found in the google search .

I haven't updated mine as they have turned a little feral for numerous reasons , however they do have awesome trunks and thrive on neglect . I was only looking at them today thinking i should get my shari together and rework them into the basic shapes again .Tough as nails , dry out quickly but a watering brings them back with new growth from top to bottom , pinch them back very hard 20-30mm shoots is all that is required during the growing season to get the ramification that is easily achieved . I will try to get a couple of updated pics up for you of the Ferrel's on my topic , keep on trying as they are worth the effort . If you google Chrysanthemums you will no doubt be inspired to keep trying these daisy's just to get the knowledge that anything is possible . Best of luck .

Cheers Alpine

[Sean M]

Thanks Alpine. Good to hear others are giving them a crack. Did you try bending branches at all? the branches look pretty brittle.

[Brian]

i cannot see the point of growing something as a bonsai that will only last 5 - 6 years before perishing of old age.

[Rintar]

the daisy in my mother in laws back yard is over 20 years old has some wonderful shapes not something i with my limited skills would want to dig up as it would die but very interested in watching the progression

[alpineart]

Hi Sean , mate i didn't ben the branches, just pinched the new growth out for the required shape . They tend to thrive on neglect moreso than care as per thr normal bonsai .

Hi Brian , mate i see your point as per the age but the ones i have here are well over 20 years old . I have a specimen i the front of the house/nature strip which is 17 years old i planted when i moved here . They can and do live quite a long life , the issue is the flower heads are 150-200mm above the foliage on the Euryops , however the Crepe Myrtle has a similar issue , that the flowers are only on the ends of the new growth so the shape is lost if flowering is sought .

Cheers Alpine

[Philippe Tot]

i cannot see the point of growing something as a bonsai that will only last 5 - 6 years before perishing of old age.

"One Must Not Be Attached To Time,
As This Path Is But Corrupted Reality"

-Philippe Tot


Keep it Real & Simple Friend's. Remember, it is indeed a Privilege to share your Time & Joy's in this life with Another. Big , Powerful, Small and the Short lived,
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