AusBonsai

I've been slowly going through my mum's garden looking for bonsai candidates and also what to do with many of her plants in the future (she's getting on in years). There are some stunning 50yo roses that definitely have a future and a plethora of hibiscuses that probably do not.

Behind an outbuilding lurks this tree/bush. It gets minimal sun and has had next to no love for the better part of 40 years with the exception of daily attention by an American Pit Bull and a Shi Tzu for about the last 5-6 years. I can't remember it flowering (although there appears to be flower spikes forming in one of the attached images) but I've always been taken by the leaf colouration.

Any assistance in ID-ing this plant would be appreciated.
Regards
Wayne

It kind of looks like a hibiscus with those serrated leaves. I have a hibiscus that gets a reddish colour on the edges of the leaves, but mine is a variegated variety.

Acalypha cultivar. https://www.google.com.au/search?q=Acal ... 80&bih=895

Hackimoto wrote:Acalypha cultivar. https://www.google.com.au/search?q=Acal ... 80&bih=895

I thinks that's a 'hit', thank you.

In the deep recesses of my memories I have a very vague recollection of those "cat's tails" flowers.

Those cat Tail flowers are only on the cultivars that have been bred to accentuate the flowers. The others have a similar flower but much smaller and have been bred to show off the varied leaf shapes and colours.

Nothing wrong with Hibiscus as Bonsai.
I have several in Bonsai pots and several more on the go.

As bonsai they usually do not flower as we constantly prune off them. but they ramify well, Wire easily and leaf reduce nicely as well.
the trunks get great textured bark as well

If you want to show them, I usually defoliate about 2 - 4 weeks before so the new leaves are all coming out at show time

As a larger Bonsai, they should be able to flower as well.
Ken

Thank you for the info Ken. I really hadn't considered hibiscus as bonsai (I am enamored with Camellias and Japanese Maple) but perhaps I should as the ones I have access to are damn near bulletproof.

There IS only 24 hours in a day, isn't there?

Wayne