AusBonsai

Is anyone growing this tree?
I had been intrested in witch hazel for a while after seeing one thyat stated it could tolerate a hot climate. All the ones I found on the internet stated a colder climate tree. Next time I found one at a nursery I snapped it up and found that it was not Witch hazel but closely related.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parrotia_persica
Here Done Deluca is working on one. Probably a good one out in his heat.
http://www.bonsainorthwest.com.au/archi ... ul2008.htm
Also called Persain Ironwood they seem to have great autumn colour. Mine is only a sappling and will need growing out for a while

I saw a layered one 3 inche thick at Ray Nesci nursery last friday and also a few smaller one (@1 inche).

Andrew

There are a couple of parrotias... 'vanessa' and 'special'. I have a vanessa and it flowers but the leaves are large. I am not trying to refine them by defoliating at the moment as I am developing branches so who cares if the leaves are big. But it could presage trouble in keeping them in size relationship to a small bonsai. Vanessa leaves open with a tiny tinge of claret around the edges which quickly fades and the leaf is a bright green.

'Special' has a very marked claret edge which is stunning and the leaves are smaller. The claret edge stays longer but also fades to a solid green leaf. I don't think a parrotia suits a mini but 30 cm and higher is good. Don Deluca defoliates his 'specials' up to 6 times in the growing season and each time the tree produces new leaves with this wonderful claret edge. Keep in mind Don's growing conditions in Hay where temps can reach 45 degrees.

In autumn the leaves go a beautiful golden colour. The tree is a robust grower and will develop rapidly. I see them on and off at nurseries but I have never seen one on a club bench or at a show which is a bit odd. But it is a nice tree and rewarding so go for it. Oh yes, apparently the 'special' doesn't flower but the new leaf colour more than compensates. The trees I see at nurseries are the 'special' which is understandable in that it has a smaller leaf and the new edge colouration.

In Sydney Lee Wilson at Forest Road, Belrose tends to stock some parrotias.

got one on order for next year from don. nice trees. when i ordered mine yesterday i thought of you bretts. i knew you would love these.

Oh does he have any available at the moment. The guys dropping in at the Tony Bebb Demo in Cowra on thier way through to Sydney are also dropping in on Don and he may even be comming as well. I might have to give him a call.
I said no more trees
It's very funny that you new I would like these.They are pretty close looking to a hornbeam They are even called Ironwood like the hornbeam

Bretts wrote:Oh does he have any available at the moment. The guys dropping in at the Tony Bebb Demo in Cowra on thier way through to Sydney are also dropping in on Don and he may even be comming as well. I might have to give him a call.
I said no more trees
It's very funny that you new I would like these.They are pretty close looking to a hornbeam They are even called Ironwood like the hornbeam

yes he has some ready to go, mine is still in the ground. i had seen don working on them but had always been naked. tuesday i walked through bunnings and saw 2 in foliage. at first i thought they were horns, hence why i thought of you. then once i read the tag i called don immediately.

I have 1 that I dug up from Don's about 3 years ago and have been growing on in a foam box. they are very vigorous growers and hard to control, but the good thing is you get lots of branches to choose from. I am taking it to the National workshop with John Hanby in Sydney in Oct. as it has a forked trunk and I can't decide which one to cut off. I will post some before and after pics when this is done.
Regards,
jonden

I bought some of Don when i last visited. In Daylesford their autumn colour is butter yellow which is very striking. The new leaves are the same green with the claret tinge. I have had good success with defoliating in early summer.

Hey Brettles!

I came across one at Bonsai Art today! Must have been 600mm tall, and close to 100mm at the base. Lots of foliage, but from what I could tell (I had a kid in tow) it seemed to have some decent movement and taper. The new leaves were superb. The asking price is $249AUD, and if it was my cup of tea, I would have snapped it up.

Crappy phone pics attached.
Thanks, and let us know how you go!

Fly.

Thanks for the pictures Fly. The variant with the red edge looks brilliant. Looks like I better get a nice one of these while the small one I have grows out
I just don't understand what you mean by not your cup of tea I am sure you could find a use for a turnbuckle or two on this

hey bretts,
i have been growing one of these g=for a few months now and we get -5 to 40 degrees out here so it can survive pretty easily

Ones on it's way from Don. I like this bloke more every time I chat with him can't wait till we can get him over for a demo

Bretts wrote:Ones on it's way from Don. I like this bloke more every time I chat with him can't wait till we can get him over for a demo

thats great news! he does a great demo mate, and i love the way the mans mind works. !!!

Definitely go for the 'Special' with the strong claret tinge on the leaves and not 'Vanessa' which flowers. Every time I go out to see my Vanessa the leaves are bigger and bigger. When it gets hotter I will defoliate and see how the next batch comes on but currently it is not a leaf size for the size bonsai I want. But we shall see....

anttal63 wrote:

Bretts wrote:Ones on it's way from Don. I like this bloke more every time I chat with him can't wait till we can get him over for a demo

thats great news! he does a great demo mate, and i love the way the mans mind works. !!!

Don Delucca is one of the best new talent in Australia and certainly has done it the hard way with both his physical problems and his remoteness from civilisation.

He does a great demo on various kinds of trees.

He also has gained great insight by growing his own stock out at Hay and by having visited with Kevin Wilson in England. He has a good natural eye for beauty and shape in some very unlikely peices of nursery stock.