AusBonsai

My sister has had enough of her Lavender. Brother in-law has been told to get rid of them. They would be 8-10 years old, some are over 1m wide. Are they worth collecting as yamadori? Anyone had any experiences with them?
Thanks in advance...

All depends on how the trunk looks really, I have one at my old man's house that I'm planning on collecting, has a nice base, and some cool deadwood.

I've seen bonsai eejit post one before.... here is the link: http://bonsaieejit.com/2011/08/15/lavender-bonsai/

Is not his, but you get the idea of what you can do with them

They don't seem to be common, but I'm going to give it a go why not

Raymond wrote:My sister has had enough of her Lavender. Brother in-law has been told to get rid of them. They would be 8-10 years old, some are over 1m wide. Are they worth collecting as yamadori? Anyone had any experiences with them?
Thanks in advance...

Don't waste your time with them.

I had 2 really nice old gnarly collected lavenders, thick and twisted. Trained for about 3 years after collection, then both karked it just about ready to show too. LW from Sydney can vouch for this, he loved them. Never got to the bottom of why. Some theories given were that they were watered too much, or that they dont live for ever especially in a container. I had a hunch that after years of forcing them to back bud (and they do, no worries), that they were tired and spent from not being allowed to grow in their natural cycle. Who knows?
Ramification was a problem. I was working mostly with smaller branches, just trying to get a hedge like sillouette to frame the lovely trunks.
Go for it I say, if they have nice features. My only advice dont overwater and let them grow occasionally.

gargar wrote:..both karked it just about ready to show too.

Having been owned by extensive hedges I can say that lavender don't live forever in the ground. Got 5 to 15 years usually.

Thanks, that is useful info. Also makes me feel better about losing them.