5 trunk Celtis africana clump/group.

[lennard]

I have bought this Yamadori (from a guy who was selling his collection) for about 9 Australian dollars in June 2009. It was planted in a black plastic growth bag. In spring I replanted it in a plastic basin after removing some roots to lower the plant in the pot.

The trunks are about 70cm high and the base of the trees together is about 30-40 cm wide.

3 months ago I cut it back heavily and and smoothed of the chops done by the previous owner.

When replanting I noticed that there are 4 separate trees. I did not separate the trees because I did not want another single tree yamadori - I rather like the feel of the trunks together. Giving the grouping a name I think it can be called a clump- or sprout style.

This would probably be the front of the tree because all the trunks are visible and looking into the gap brings some depth to the planting.

I was thinking of styling the setting "into a dark fairytale forest thing. To work, it would probably has to have a lot of its trunks visible and strange, gnarling branches and somewhat abstract foliage pads... And it should have dead moss (ochre-ish brown) between the trunks."

This species back bud easily, so if there is a branch missing it can be grown and this species grow very fast. The leaves reduce tremendously.

The scars of the chops presents a problem - I could either hide them with the foliage or make the scars part of the setting: a 5 trunk strike by lightning clump-style group . The biggest trunk has a sunburned area and I'm not sure if the bark has died there. It feels hollow when I scratch that area.

Any advice or comments will be appreciated.

verklein oorspronklik.jpg

Here is the same tree with the background removed virtually if someone wants to help by means of a virt.

virted.jpg

Thanks

Lennard

[craigw60]

Hi Lennard,
Nice set of trunks you have bought. I would be inclined to put the in a large box feed them a lot and get more branches then make a decision about styling. I would also clean up and seal the wounds.
In a recent copy of bonsai focus there was an article about Sth African bonsai with some great trees, amongst them was some buddleia but it didn't name the species. I was very impressed with their characteristics and would like to know which species it was.
With thanks from Craig

[lennard]

Thanks for the reply Graig.

The problem with this Celtis is that they grow very fast- from a bud to thumb thickness branches (in three months)on a yamadori of this size is not too much!. New growths goes directly upwards and when you leave them, you can't bend them horizontally without tearing them from the main trunk. It's best to train the soft growth into the style you want this tree to go from the beginning.

I think the Buddleja saligna that you are talking about is one of Louis Nel's. He has written a booklet called Buddleja Buddies. He has also won a prize on the Art of Bonsai website with the tree. Very nice tree to work with and yamadori is freely available where I live.

Lennard

[craigw60]

Hi Lennard , Sound like you need to keep a lid on those celtis and get some wire on them very quickly, the growth rate you describe is phenomenal seems to me they would be a daily pruning job.
Buddleia saligna is I think available here so will keep my eyes open this genus is pretty easy to strike cuttings from as a rule.
What part ot Sth Africa do you come from ?
Craig

[Jamie]

gday lennard,

i really like this clump and i reckon you got a great deal on it to, i think this has a lot of potential and you will have a great tree in no time, i have a few celtis myself and agree they are super fast growers, mine are yamadori aswell i just tryunkchopped it a few months ago. i think you will find any dead areas on the trunk or scars will heal rather quickly so i wouldnt stress to much there

i will get a couple of virts done when i get some time tonight, this clump has great potential!!! i reckon you will have a nice tree in under two years!

jamie

[lennard]

the growth rate you describe is phenomenal seems to me they would be a daily pruning job.

What part ot Sth Africa do you come from ?
Craig

Luckily I have only one "finished" Celtis africana bonsai. I only allow it one leave per new growth. Everyday when I inspect my bonsai I cut new growths back.

I'm from the Northwest province of South-Africa. A landmark is Sun City and the Pilanesberg nature reserve.

Lennard

[lennard]

gday lennard,

i will get a couple of virts done when i get some time tonight, this clump has great potential!!! i reckon you will have a nice tree in under two years!

jamie

I would appreciate it very much.

Lennard

[Chris]

I have bought this Yamadori (from a guy who was selling his collection) for about 9 Australian dollars in June 2009

what a bargain for a great specimen.

[Jamie]

its a little rough lennard but it gives you the idea, i will do a couple more when i get time.

celtis for lennard.jpg

jamie

[lennard]

its a little rough lennard but it gives you the idea, i will do a couple more when i get time.

jamie

Thanks for the virt< Jamie. That's more or less the direction I want to take this tree in.

By the way, it almost looks like your three trunk tree from your profile picture!

Will update on this one later in the year. Our trees here are going dormant for the winter, not much going on

Thanks again,

Lennard

[Jamie]

sorry its a little rough mate, it will be very different in a years time i look forward to seeing it!

[lennard]

An update:

This is one of my Celtis that I wire this time of the year. With the bare branches it is easier to wire - although it took me the whole week working on the tree at least one hour a day. Luckily I had a lot of used wire lying around so I did not cost me much.

Although this tree have a lot of problems I do love working with it....and I think I have rid the tree finally of scale after three years of spraying! I have also sprayed fungicide because I got some mildew in June. Will repeat the spraying tomorrow to play safe - the buds are swelling very fast!

I have also repotted the tree in a wider basin and tilted it about 20 degrees to the front - the main reason for all the rewiring.

I think my main love for this tree is it's unsure future - I must keep the veins healthy to fight the deadwood decay. This is also the reason I have sealed of all deadwood. I believe the dying bark was caused by moisture entering the top cracks in the deadwood and when the trunk got baked in the sun the vapor moved in between the deadwood and cambium cooking the cambium. I have also noticed it on some other trees and now I seal everything! I also remember, as a child, that we whitewashed all the lower trunks of fruit trees to prevent them from getting sunburn after they were pruned.

My main aim this season is to fatten up the lower trunks using sacrifice twigs. I will have to make sure that the top growth is also kept healthy to protect the veins running up to there. Because the deadwood is sealed of I don't think I will have any problems in that department any more.

The newest pic:

front july 2013.jpg

Any comments and advice welcome.

Lennard