AusBonsai

I was wondering if anyone else has come across this species before. I bought this tree as a $3 starter from Ray Nesci at least 5 or 6 years ago I think. It was tagged as miniature Virginia creeper but any pics I come across under that name never look quite the same. I think there are many types.
Straight from the seedling pot into a little cascade pot it was an instant winner. It has been through almost as many little cascade pots as the years I have had it, always seeming to find a way to fall of the bench by the cat, kids or when I am moving stuff around. It also tends to suffer from lack of care. The small pot dries out quickly and it is sometimes overlooked in the afternoon watering.
It is often very burnt by this time of the year but with the new pot/soil or mild Summer we have had so far it is looking a little better than usual although there is the beginning of some leaf burn.
I also just noticed it has some fruit/seeds this year. Pity I missed the flowers I will have to look out for them next year
It can be a little frustrating getting it to put out branching instead of the wispy tials with tiny leaves that will fall off with the leaves each Winter but I am sure with better care it would respond better.

I am pretty sure Harry Harrington has one on his site Brett - can't remember if there is much info though

I have several and they make great accents at a Bonsai show. I get them confused. There is the virginia creeper and the boston ivy which, dont quote me though, are similar. It should do good autumn colour if it is the former. I posted here on a thread called "vines as Bonsai" Constant end tipping and defoliation is the key to these little buggers and a good, hard cut back every year.

The one on Harry Harrington's site is found here http://www.bonsai4me.com/gallery2.html
and there is a progression series found here http://www.bonsai4me.com/AdvTech/ATPart ... series.htm
and a section on Parthenocissus including Virginia Creeper and Boston Ivy here http://www.bonsai4me.com/SpeciesGuide/Parth.html

Glenda

Bretts
i have both along my front fence and both get amazing autumn colour. The boston more orange, red and the virgina scarlet red. stunning. Find one with a big trunk cascading and you may have yourself a nice tree.

I have seen Harry's before but if you look closely at the leaves of mine they are very different and at least slightly different to any other I can find on the Internet. It is kind of like a double trident leaf.
I guess the care would be much the same so thanks for the basic run down Bodi, now I might have to take better care of it so I can push it a little more.

I am still curious if anyone else got this specific type off Ray. He does have a knack for sourcing the rarer varieties. Might have to ask him next time I see him if he has a scientific name.
I just remembered I did find this species in a nursery some months back and lifted the tag so I could id mine when I got home. Can't say I have seen it since

Thanks kindly for the help

As Mathew said, as far as I have seen locally (in nurseries and gardens) this species has a scarlet, very rich deep red/purple colour to the leaves.
I will get some pics of a local vine and post it if you like?
I do not know about the different varieties that you mention (could very well be virginia creeper )...but yes, it does not look like the ones I have seen in terms of leaf colour.
I really want one of these and I am constantly on the look out for one...but so far they have been just sticks in pots in the nursery and the ones I could dig are not much better...will keep hunting though!
Bretts, if you remember, could you please post this when the leaves have dropped?
Nice to see this species being used as bonsai!
Cheers, Dario.

Hey Brett,

My mentor got one from Ray about 3yrs ago & I grabbed a cutting off his last year. Mine sits in full sun all year round without too much hassle but it does sit on a tray of wet gravel to help keep moisture levels up. Stunning autumn colour but like yours a pain in the b**t for not branching, just long long runners. I used one of them as a cutting so I find it interesting yours sheds these each year.

I don't know if its the right variety but if you search for 'PARTHENOCISSUS tricuspidata 'Lowii'' some of the leaf images look like mine.

Matt

Yes Matt nice one, Those leaves look very close I will call it that unless I am told better.
I forgot to comment on the colour Mathew, it can be brilliant. I should plant some of this in the garden as it would look brilliant come autumn.

Here is a pic of Lowii in autumn colour
http://www.hgtv.com/gardening/how-climb ... age-7.html

I will try to remember to get a pic out of leaf. Maybe I have been cutting the long tails off Matt But I am sure they are different in their growth characteristics than the other wood on the tree though. I will try to get a pic to show what I mean.