AusBonsai

Hi Guys
I got this Callicarpa yesterday (mostly for the pot) and as you can see it has been very poorly treated. I want to chop it right back and start it again. Can this be done on this tree? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

Hi Damian,

I grow Callicarpa Japonica and Callicarpa americana, although I don't really think americana is entirely suitable for Bonsai due to its huge leaves and coarse habit.
Japonica on the other hand is the variety grow for bonsai in Japan and looks great in winter with its bare branches and bright purple berries and is easy to grow. Being decideous I prune my trees when the leaves drop and pinch back tips throughout the growing season. When pruning you will have to remove some bud as they grow in pairs, although until you get used to your tree maybe don't rub any off until you are sure they are not flower buds.

I pot while dormant and use some of the prunings as hard wood cuttings, cutting grow just as well from hard or soft wood. You can prune as hard as you like but I normally leave a little stub beyond the buds, say 5-6mm, to avoid sap withdrawl.

Hope this helps

Thanks Oscar
I want to do a trunk chop down low. Will this be ok and if so when is the best time?
Thanks

Damian,

Late Autumn is not a bad time but watch for frosts, the sap flow should have slowed right down by now, but you could also wait until late winter, please youself.

Have a good look at the lower trunk and see if you can find a dormant bud and then then prune above it. Try to leave a stub above the bud in case you get sap withdrawl which may result in die back. Also I forgot to mention the layer easily and try some hardwood cutting in case you lose the main plant.

Oscar1

Thanks for the advice Oscar
I cant see any buds at all on the larger trunk and im fairly sure its dead. The thinner long trunk with the foliage at the top has buds all the way down to the bottom so I think I should be ok to cut it right back and start again on it. Only problem is the large trunk is attached to it.
Ill post some closer pics to give you a better idea of what im looking at.
Cheers

Ok here is a pic of the trunks. I have cut back the main one to what I think is a good size to run a new leader should one shoot. The other is very long but as you can see it has buds right down the trunk. I think I will plant this into a box for winter and hopefuly in spring it comes back on the main trunk The top arrow is hopefuly a dormant bud on the main trunk but I really don't know.
you can see the buds on the second trunk on the bottom arrow.
Any other advice is really appreciated.
Cheers

Doubtful about the main trunk but the thin one should grow strong.

Is there live tissue in the older trunk?

In spring, I'd wrap the thin trunk in raffia and then apply some wire, then bend like the Japanese do to Satsuki.

Mmm great idea. I was Just going to chop it. Thanks Scott I don't think there is any live wood there at all which is a shame because the date on it was 2004. But as I said before this tree was Just left to die basically at a local nursery. I only bought it for the pot initially.

Hey Damian,

how did this go..???
have you had much luck with the callicarpa..???

I'm after some callicarpa, anyone got cutting or established trees they want to move on?

Thanks

Adam

I have been looking for this species all summer. Coincidentally I found some tube stock today, pedunculata, the native species. Webos, they would be too small for cuttings yet, but in the spring perhaps.
Treeman, I assume yours is japonica? Do you have any experience with pedunculata? How old is your one in the photo?
Cheers,
Symon

delisea wrote:I have been looking for this species all summer. Coincidentally I found some tube stock today, pedunculata, the native species. Webos, they would be too small for cuttings yet, but in the spring perhaps.
Treeman, I assume yours is japonica? Do you have any experience with pedunculata? How old is your one in the photo?
Cheers,
Symon

NO NO not mine but yes it's a japonica. I found the pic in another forum. It's the best example I've ever seen. I've only ever grown japonica and not for very long. I don' t have any at the moment

Well it is an exceptional tree anyway. I now have two in the ground, i will report back in ten years. Has anyone one out there tried the native species?

For those interested in native versions of Japanese classics, this is a picture of the berries from Callicarpa pedunculata the Australian species of beauty berry. It appears to me that if anything it has a better display than C. Japonica. Does anybody have any experience wiring these? When is the best time?
Cheers,Symon