Newbie Question - Which Natives and how soon?

[Benji1980]

Hi

DISCLAIMER: I have just this week purchased my first Bonsai 'stick', a 1ft tall Olive which I purchased because a) it was healthy, b) I like the look of Olive Bonsai and c) if the Native Veg. Council can't kill them, surely I can't!!

Also Note:
Local to my area means that it was in my area, along the River Torrens, prior to european settlement.
The extensive list below is to get ideas flowing, and tips on which are more appropriate for Bonsai, and newbies... I am not about to go out and buy a dozen of each variety and turn my garden into a Bonsai disaster in waiting... Especially given the natural size of some of the species listed below.

Okay, on with my topic!!

I am looking at starting on Native Bonsai, and here are the list of species I am considering:
Eucalyptus Camaldulensis - River Red Gum, Local to my area
Eucalyptus Leucoxylon - Blue Gum, Local to my area (haven't seen anything on Bonsai for these trees)
Eucalyptus Citriodora - lemon Scented Gum (not local, but believe they grow here)

Callistemon Viminalis - "Captain Cook" (not local, but thrives here)
Callistemon Splendens - "Endeavour" (not local, but thrives here)
Callistomon Citrinus - Lemon Scented (not local, but thrives here)

Acacia Pycnantha - Golden Wattle, National Emblem, Local to my area
Casuarina Stricta - Sheoak, Local to my area
Exocarpos Cupressiformis - Native Cherry - Local to my area
Callitris Preissii - Native Pine, Local to my area

I was hoping that you could assist me with the following questions:
1) How experienced should I be before collecting these plants/How soon should I begin collecting these plants?
2) Are there any of these plants you would completely scratch off my list, or heartily recommend I not consider until I am more experienced?
3) If I should be more experienced, will this take less time than the growth of the tree from tubestock (if I am learning along the way, as I realise that some of these will take years before I can start Bonsai on them)
4) If I get them now, should they be grown in the ground for the first few years?
5) I can obtain most, if not all of these as tubestock through http://www.stateflora.com.au (over time) - is this the best way? Will they question me if I am getting a River Red, or similar... and if so it is advisable to mention Bonsai or not? As I realise that Bonsai isn't as popular in Australia, particularly SA, and am concerned that it may br frowned upon?

Sorry for the extremely lengthy post, I am sure you realise I am trying to provide as muchd etail as I can. If you have answers to any of the above, or you have other advice that I may not have considered, then please share!!

If your advice is that I stick with the easier species for a few years then that is fine, but I figured that it were best to ask, than assume so, if people's advice is to get the seedlings now, rather than wait 10 years to be told it will take another 10 years, and I should ahve got them now!!

Thanks in anticipation.

Ben - going with the motto of: there are no stupid question, just stupid newbies

[MattA]

Hey Ben,

Its never too early in your bonsai life to start growing natives... Buy tube stock... they are cheap & great for teaching you how to care for something that you might like to collect in the future. You can try out techniques and get a feel for how it grows in your care, in your climate.

The Callistemons are probably the easiest to collect & theres always lots of them around suburbia just waiting to be cut down.

River sheoaks also make great beginners trees and can very quickly be grown into convincing shohin in well under 10yrs from seedling stock.

I have a lemon scented gum (Corymbia citriodora) that has been grown from tube stock.. the development is amazing in only a few yearsviewtopic.php?f=104&t=3826

As for collecting from the wild, the biggest tip I can give is start with small young plants of a species and slowly work your way up to the real mindblowing stuff.. Learning from the plants, all the reading doesnt substitute for hands on experience with something.

Matt

[rowan]

My advice is - if you like it, try it. The best way to learn is to just get out and do it. I also suggest thet you start with nursery stock before you begin collecting as some are hard to collect and you need to have some experience up your sleeve in growing them.

One final note - you won't be able to use Exocarpos Cupressiformis - Native Cherry as it is a parasite and needs to be grown from seed on another plants roots, even then it is not likeley that you will get it to grow. I have heard that only one person in Australia has been able to grow or transplant them and she has never released how she does it.

Cheers,
Rowan

[Benji1980]

Thanks for the advice guys, might check out some stock tomorrow, especially the river sheoaks.
There is a Callistemon down the street, after reading Pup's (I think) tips, I might wait until it finishes flowering and try to get some cuttings...
Cheers for the heads up on the Native Cherry too!!

[Benji1980]

Thanks once again guys, I went a Native Nursery today (what better way to spend Australia Day!!)...
I bought a tallish Callistemon 'Endeavour', two River Reds, and two SA Blue Gums.
Will post pics soon - probably in separate posts(?).
The Gums are really young, but the Callistemon is ready for shaping...