Kei Apple - Dovyalis caffra

[Steven]

G'day,

I was given this Kei Apple back in 2000 by a guy who learned that I used to be into bonsai. It was actually the tree that started my passion back up again as can be read in the thread How did your passion begin.
Back in 2000 it was a thumb thick, 3 year old starter and unfortunately I don't have any pictures of it until 2008.

Here is how it looked in 2008 after years of living in an air conditioned office with only fluro lights and a bit of morning sunshine;

2008 July.jpg

Kei Apple is a lovely evergreen fruit tree native to southern Africa. It is drought and frost resistant and can reach 8 meters tall with a very full crown.
It has creamy green flowers in summer. Male flowers are 3mm long in dense clusters of 5-10 flowers. Female flowers are found in groups of up to three on stalks 4-10mm long.

Dovyalis caffra flowers from Wikipedia.jpg

The fruits are ping pong ball size, are very like an Apricot in colour, are edible and make an excellent jam. They have a formidable thorns that begin to show at a young age. They start off soft and green but soon turn NASTY! I cut them of my tree.

Fruit and thorns from Ian Maguire.jpg

They were initially brought to Australia by farmers for use as hedge fencing and can become a problem if left unattended as so often happens in the bush. Apparently Jesus' crown of thorns was made from Kei Apple branches.

By September 2008 it was starting to look healthier after being repotted for the first time in 7 or 8 years.

2008 September.jpg

In December 2008 it was growing well and pushing out lots of new growth.

2008 December.jpg

In April 2009 it was starting to get a better shape after some training.

2009 April.jpg

By September 2009 it was starting to fill in and thicken nicely. The ramification was also improving after wiring and selective pruning.

2009 September.jpg

In 2010 it started to suffer die back in the apex and have struggled since to grow a healthy crown. If anyone has experience with Kei Apples or can shed any light on why this might be happening I would love to know. Perhaps it has something to do with repotting and root pruning to fit it into this smaller pot? It is currently growing in a mix of Diatomite, Zeolite and organic mix.

2010 September.jpg

The following picture is how it looks today after reducing the right hand side to create a more flowing look.

2011 August.jpg

It currently stands;
350mm tall from top of pot to apex,
450mm wide from branch tip to branch tip
75mm thick trunk at base above roots

As always, your feedback, comments and advice are welcomed.

Regards,
Steven

[Jester]

It reminds me a lot of a fukien tea tree

[Steven]

G'day John,

Now that you mention it, I can see the similarities with Fukien Tea, except for the nasty thorns

Does anyone have any advice or ideas as to why the apex is not strong?

Thanks and regards,
Steven

[Jamie]

G'day John,

Now that you mention it, I can see the similarities with Fukien Tea, except for the nasty thorns

Does anyone have any advice or ideas as to why the apex is not strong?

Thanks and regards,
Steven

gday mate

my thoughts on why the apex isnt as strong as the rest of the tree is the lowering branching is sucking all the energy. the trees energy is out of balance persay. what I would be doing is a part or complete defoliation on the lower branching, and letting the apex grow as much as it can to start drawing energy back to the top. how are the upper branching in the apex? thickish or thin and spindly?

as I said I just reckon the energy flow is out of balance which can happen if the lower branching really starts pushing like this one is. the only other thing that could be possible is pest? but I dont think thats the case as you would of noticed something by now. I reckon if you balance the energy out with a part of full defoliation it will come back well.

I dont know the species to well but cant see why a defoliation would hurt.

jamie

[Steven]

G'day,
Clinton Nesci recommended foliar feeding the apex with Miracle-Gro to give it a kick start. I tried it and am amazed because in a little over 2 weeks since spraying, the apex has started growing again for the first time in 2 years

2011 August 24th (4).JPG

I also noticed that it is starting to fruit and flower.

2011 August 24th (7).JPG

Regards,
Steven

[cre8ivbonsai]

Hey Steven that's great news ... so the Miracle-Gro - is that the soluble "Maxfeed" ?

Over winter I purchased what I believe to be a Malus Floribunda and have just noticed the buds bursting ... expecting flowers all I can see for now is green leaves. So which normally comes first, the leaves or the flowers?

Cheers,
Ryan

[Steven]

G'day,

I repotted this Kei Apple into a slightly larger pot made by Penny from Mudlark. I think it's better suited than the previous Japanese pot.
The apex has filled out nicely over the last 12 months and I'm looking forward to further refining it.

2012 July (a).jpg

2012 July (b).jpg

Regards,
Steven

[squizzy]

Great little tree Steven.

Well done. I have never heard of this species before.

Squizz

[banksia]

Steven!. Nothing to add except, congratulations on reviving this tree and making a very nice little subject out of it. Over here in Perth there are a few around...in the ground that is. The Perth Zoo's Savannah section is covered in it and one has to be careful of those thorns. A couple were auctioned off at last night's gathering aswell.
There used to be a Bonsai nursery here that had some absolute beauties (5 inch caliper trunks) but unfortunately he has since closed down (so I'm led to believe).

Cheers!
Anthony

[lennard]

Well done, Steven.

This is not the easiest species to grow into bonsai because they seem to have a mind of their own!

I have a few of these but never paid much attention to them. You're tree has inspired me to work on mine again.

Lennard

[Andrew Legg]

Well done, Steven.

This is not the easiest species to grow into bonsai because they seem to have a mind of their own!

I have a few of these but never paid much attention to them. You're tree has inspired me to work on mine again.

Lennard

I'll second that Lennard. I've not seen as good a Kei Apple here in Cape Town. Good job Steven!

[bodhidharma]

I can only add that hopefully you will post it when it is in fruit. It will look stunning.

[Steven]

Thanks for the feedback guys
It should be flowering and fruiting soon and I'll update with some pics then. I've never managed to get fruit to stay on the tree. They always seem to drop when they are about the size of a pea Any ideas why?

Regards,
Steven

[Steven]

G'day,

I repotted this guy last night and was amazed how much the base of the trunk has swollen over the last couple of years.
There are heaps of flower and fruit bust starting so with a bit of luck I might have a good show this year.

Regards,
Steven

2015 September A.JPG

[treeman]

Coming along nicely Steven!