Ilex Serrata Defoliation.

[Gerard]

For the second time, my ilex serrata has produced fruit. I acquired a male tree about 18 months ago and fruiting has been good since.
Last year a bird got to the fruit before leaf drop so this year I partially defoliated.
I have 2 purposes which conflict.
#1: I want to enjoy the visual aspect of the fruit.
#2: I am considering a restyle. I am not happy with the momotonous left, right, left, right movement of the trunk. Taper is good at first and then non existant.
I am thinking of reducing the height and perhaps developing the tree as a clump.
There are 3 suckers which I have wired and left with foliage, hopefully the partial defoliation will push this growth a little harder. (although leaving the fruit is probably not ideal)

001.jpg

I am interested to hear opinions on where the future styling should go.

[Elias]

Hi Gerard,
I've always liked this species, the fruit looks cool
If it was mine I would probably get it in a large pot and let the growth run, perhaps at some stage later on branches could be grafted lower onto the outside of the curves of the leader, making a shorter stout tree, maybe...

PS: Are the seeds any good

[NathanM]

Thanks for sharing this! I've always liked this species but never known it's name!
Thanks

[Gerard]

Hi Elias, nice to see you on-line I hope you are well.
Propogation from cuttings works well so I have not attempted seed.

[Matthew]

The tree needs height reduction . i REALLY like the trunk and the first and second bends. i believe you need a branch on the outside (left hand side) of that first bend . grafting maybe the only option as i do not know how well they backbud after a heavy prune. i would problely cut just above the second bend (right hand side) again a branch ther would be great and start the new leader . The overall tree needs to be much shorter making that trunk stand out . most ilex you see in japan are always short and stout. Some members might recomend you cut at the second curve or lower. I would be happy if i had the tree and think the time required will be well worth it. another species not well used in this country. especially for shohin .

[Scott Roxburgh]

Really nice, I totally agree with noah...a very under-utilised species!

I think there are the makings of an excellent shohin/mame there, you just need to get some more growth on it. How long has it been since the chop back to that leader?

I would encourage the top by letting one branch up there grow unrestricted. That'll fatten it up and give the tree heaps of vigor to promote budding when you make another chop. I would not chop it at least another season.

I'd aim for somthing along these lines:
http://bonsaitonight.com/2009/01/26/an- ... ne-bonsai/

Some progression shots:
http://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t2645-ilex-serrata

This tree is a lot bigger but a smaller version is definitely possible, as the leaves reduce nicely.

Or this:

aob_149_ilex_serrata.jpg

I have found that on all flowering/fruiting trees that if you remove the flowers before fruiting, the tree focusses on growth rather than producing the fruit. It has been a big benefit to my trees, although it is hard to do (I have a number of Satsuki, and having no flowers is painful esp. because I have seen all of them flower, and know the beauty that I am removing). Maybe only let it fruit every second year so you get the pleasure but also the growth?

Great work.

Edit: Also, generally I do not defoliate flowering/fruiting trees since it takes a heap of energy to produce flowers/fruit - it can really take it out of them.

What do others think?

Do you defoliate flowering/fruiting species?

[bodhidharma]

G'day Gerard, how did you score an ilex serrata? Do you have access to any more? i would love one of these. I have tried and tried to obtain one of these.

[Gerard]

Thanks Noah, I value your ideas and opinions.
Scott, you have given me inspiration and direction with the link you have posted.
Bodhi, it is time I paid you a visit, I will see what I can find.

[jarryd]

hi gerard,

sweet little tree you have on the go.

like bodhi i have spent a fair amount of time trying to get my hands on one of these, if you have some male and female cuttings on the go id love to buy some from you.

kind regards jarryd

[Scott Roxburgh]

Gerard any update?

Have the leaves come out yet? What did you decide regarding the chop?

I ask as I bought three new ones on the weekend, nothing to look at though...

[Gerard]

Gerard any update?

Have the leaves come out yet? What did you decide regarding the chop?

I ask as I bought three new ones on the weekend, nothing to look at though...

Nothing happening lately Scott.
This tree has not yet come in to leaf. (I think 3-4 weeks)
Two smaller females in a sunnier position have one or two leaves opening.
The male which gets less sun than any of them is just bursting into leaf.

I have repotted into a much larger pot and plan to grow and feed aggressively for the whole growing season.
Fruit stayed for about 2 months but as soon as the fruit was ripe the birds moved in and stripped it completely. My plan to propogate some seed will have to wait. I will however attempt lots of cuttings.