AusBonsai

Just a quick post to see if anyone has worked with Acer Pentaphyllum before? I bought some $2 tube-stock today, and think they would look great as a bonsai. Known as the Chinese maple, apparently they are the rarest maple in the wild. So has anyone come across these before? Once again, I will post pics during the week when it is a bit sunnier outside.
Cheers,
Luke

Haven't come across them before but would be interested to know where you got the from Luke. Did you source them local?

The big green shed was selling them
In the bonsai section recently. I have one in a 200mm pot. I have posted this somewhere here already. As someone has replied to my post and pointed out that the internodes are quite spaced which may make it tricky as bonsai. Mine is growing quite strong so far and hasn't shown any burning from the summer. I am yet to experiment with it as I am just to busy with work so I can't make my own conclusions on it yet.

Good luck anyhow

Squizz

Reddragon wrote:Haven't come across them before but would be interested to know where you got the from Luke. Did you source them local?

X2

I have a large one growing in my garden but i dont think they are worth Bonsai,ing. Great autumn colour though.

What is it about them that does not suit bonsai or penjing Bodhi???







Funny thing, when you google image the name, my profile pic comes up half way down the screen for some reason.

The matrix

VelvetSicklid wrote:What is it about them that does not suit bonsai or penjing Bodhi???

Huge, huge distances between foliage pads. and very large leaves. Dont take my word for it though. Have a go.

[quote="VelvetSicklid"]What is it about them that does not suit bonsai or penjing Bodhi???

Velvet, the ratio between the length of the petiole and leaf area is a little awkward. It has relatively fine twigs, which is good and you can reduce leaf size somewhat but the petioles will always be long. Managing the foliage would be problematic unless it was a large tree.
Wood

Ok, thanks for the replies chaps.

Well I bought 3 or 4 (I forget now) and they were only $2 each so I'll have a go and try something with them. From the size of them I was thinking shohin, but I think that is out from what everyone seems to be saying. maybe a 3 tree planting and a larger single tree?

Hey Luke. If you could get hold of a few more you could try fusing them together. There was a thread on here somewhere about fusing trident maples by alpine I think. If the were fused the varied heights of the internodes would give you more options for branch placement. Fusing might help with the trunk thickness aswell. Just an idea. Not sure if it's practical.

Cheers

Squizz