Collected Huge Golden Duranta

[kvan64]

This is one of the biggest duranta that I've had access to and also have ever seen. It was on my uncle's property and was literally sitting on a rock for at least 20 years. It was about 3m tall and 2 wide. It's a giant for a hedge type of plant. It will be in a big grow box tomorrow. Carving will take place when it's settled. My uncle said it's called "golden seng" or something similar. I'm not sure what variety it is. The leaves are somewhat yellow/golden and not green like other duranta. Not sure how it will go with bonsaiing though.

[Jamie]

that is a very solid trunk DK, i will be watching closely with where you are going with it

when you have it settled in think about waiting before carving it out, i would wait until it has reshot and given you plenty of option before going ahead and carving with out have some form of idea of where you want to go with it!

keep us posted!

J.

[Handy Mick]

That's some nice wood, I can't wait for the finished product.

[kvan64]

Sure Jamie, I will wait till it shoots every where before carving it. It's not the best time to dig but I didn't have a choice as my uncle was clearing his land. The good thing about this tree is it doesn't have a tap root and spreads quite well. The leave color is nice and flowers are beautiful. The orange fruits are nice too. Being a duranta family and a hedge plant, it will have no problem shooting back like crazy

[Jamie]

spot on there DK

i had one a while back, another victim of the mother in law "watering" for a few days while i was away, obviously she didnt. small pot at it was all over, anyways this is one of the biggest i have seen before if not the biggest. i dont think a twin trunk will work as they are to close in similar size although carving could definately rectify this problem!

J.

[kvan64]

Yep jamie, I thought of making the straight and shorter one deadwood. That was why I kept the smaller branch close to it. It could be a mother and son design?

[Jamie]

Yep jamie, I thought of making the straight and shorter one deadwood. That was why I kept the smaller branch close to it. It could be a mother and son design?

mmm not so sure bout that mate, i look at that little straight trunk in between the two and dont see it working, you have a nice curve in the main trunk that is definately something to go with, if you wanted to go a mother and son tree you would have to carve the right hand trunk to not only invoke taper, but movement aswell, this will be a challenge in itself, but hey if it doesnt work as a twin there is plenty of carving to do and you can always make it a single trunk tree in the end too

[kvan64]

True too. It's gonna be a challeng. The little straight trunk is still too big to bend. May have to go with carving the big straight trunk and see if it will work. Single trunk with some dead wood may be working too.

[Jamie]

yep, you got what i was saying mate look forward to seeing the work in 12 months or so

[Amanda]

I like, visioning split the trunk.. then you got two smaller trees (perhaps one mother and daughter) with a heap of creative carving has lots of potential for lightning strike or similar

[JayP]

Nice stock mate, the last place I lived in had a row of durantha about 5-6 meters high that were sitting in a low point in the ground which was usually quite moist, apparently they were as old as the house which was about 10 years old and there was one in particular with a trunk of around 400mm, they grow like weeds in my area! Look forward to seeing this in progress!

[kvan64]

Just put it in the biggest sterofoam box that I could find from the Brisbane fruit market (rocklea). Oh, yeah, there are heaps of them there. If you see them lying arround, just ask. I think this one is for pawpaws and honey dews. I usually ask for the corn boxes as they are a lot smaller.

It appears that the root spread is good.