AusBonsai

I have this large shrub growing in my backyard, the tree as a whole is a bit ugly but it has a nice trunk which might lend itself to yamadori (let me know what you think!). However, I have no idea what this plant is and how to go about dealing with it. I live in a coastal suburb of Sydney and the tree receives very little direct sunlight.
Ideas would be much appreciated.

it has a Camellia type of leaf but cannot say for certain. Does it flower

bodhidharma wrote:it has a Camellia type of leaf but cannot say for certain. Does it flower

Well it hasn't flowered this summer but it has those buds above the leaves. I haven't paid attention to this tree in the past very well but I seem to recall largish (10 cm diameter) white flowers at some stage.
I was wondering about Camelia too although I think that they have an alternate leaf pattern whereas this has an opposite one.

Ah sorry the bud pics were not originally included.

I'll have a guess at Camellia Japonica.

I would not discount Euonymous spp.

I have no idea what it is and sorry to hijack the topic but I have a question that relates. When you do decide to collect a tree like this should you chop the top off (down to a stump) before you dig and let it reshoot for a while in the ground or should you dig up the whole tree, put it in a grow pot to recuperate and then chop?

The former seems logical to me but I'm new to this and have never collectd a tree.

Really like the base on this one. Best of luck!

Thanks for your Ideas, I am leaning towards thinking it is a very old, leggy Euonymus japonicus particularly because of the opposite leaves (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euonymus_japonicus ). Thanks to wimmy for the lead!

Next Step is working out how to turn it into something nice, but that might be better suited to a different thread.

Hor faster results I would chop the tree while in the ground...grow leader...heal wounds...prestyle...and then dig it out as yamadori. I would trim it back hard when digging it.

Neli wrote:Hor faster results I would chop the tree while in the ground...grow leader...heal wounds...prestyle...and then dig it out as yamadori. I would trim it back hard when digging it.

Ok thanks!

Think it might be the euonymous variety, have one in the front yard but with yellow and green leaves.