AusBonsai

Any assistance with this on identity.
Tony Bebb has seen it and believes it be a "river gum" or "water gum" but I can find no reference to this that looks like this tree.
Ths one collected between Rockhampton and Mackay although another has been collected from near Charters Towers
any advice?

Could be the closely related Lophostemon confertus- 'Qld Brush Box'? It wasn't that long ago the botanists separated them into separate genera.
Natural range from coastal Northern NSW to North Qld. Now widely planted as street trees, even overseas.

Your tree as a bonsai may look a little different to well grown specimens that most people take photos of and describe so allow a little leeway in matching this to the descriptions.

Just an update on this one, still no luck with the identity, have had two suggestions but neither panned out.
Can't repot in this weather so may as well do some carving, had to bring the top down, little unsure of the juvenile top on this yet but it is only young in its bonsai life so suggestions are always welcome.
Have also posted a photo of the new growth which has some pink hue to it and is quite ciliate (covered in fine hairs), this then hardens off to become quite a leathery leaf.
The new growth, the new carved top any suggestions on identity or styling are welcome
thanks for viewing
Watty

Just to clear it up and many thanks to a associate from another website, I think we have a winner.
Lophostemon grandiflorus

I will be collecting flower or seed to confirm
thanks to those who participated
Watty

Hi Watty - Your work is a definite improvement on this one - I would bend those branches now while you can. Just a little more information about Lophostemon grandiflorus as bonsai - I have found they back bud well of branches and old wood provided they are well watered and well fertilized. This might produce fairly large leaves in the short term, but regular shoot trimming and even defoliation of a strong tree can bring the shoot density up and leaf size down in the long term. I traded mine for a nice pot years ago - silly thing to do - you make me want to grow one again! Ash

Thanks Ash, I'll take any and all advice, especially one from our resident expert.
The tree is definitely healthy, I am forever picking new growth shoots off the lower trunk, it is rife with them.
I have found the branches to be VERY brittle under wiring even as small as they are but I will persist.
Having just repotted this one in August I just wanted the recovery growth to develop itself but I will start tipping it off now I think to force some back budding.
thanks for your advice again.
Watty

Just a little update on this, spring growth, a little trimming, a little wiring, haven't retouched the carving at this point but it really needs smoothing out for that river effect, may be a job for October.
Watty

Just an update, cannot believe it's only 4 months and this thing has gone from the photos above to this!! so de-wire,, re-wire, trim, pot, and potting angle. Watty

Hello Wattynine,
Well done - in only 2 seasons - i suppose the tropics is more like grow season all year.
Thanks, i enjoyed viewing and reading your plants story.
Kevin

At the recently attended Rockhampton show they had an area where you could take a semi-professional photo so while I had the chance I took it and the opportunity to update this thread'
thanks for looking
Watty

Lovely shot.
Nice tree, is there a story behind this pot?

No Boics, so curiosity has to make me ask, should there be?, why the interest in the pot?
to me it was just a pot I bought, couldn't even say where now I have had it a while.
Watty

Seems both an interesting and somewhat unique pot?
I don't recall seeing one like it is all.

Don't read into it too much mate!

Thanks boics, and I wasn't mate, that is I didn't think I'd d stumbled across a rare and unique beauty because you liked it, just wondering why you picked the pot to comment on was all. Glad you like it just the same.
Watty

Looking great! It';s really coming along nicely in your care. I did a quick edit to the photo; hope you don't mind.
Regards,
Steven