Please help to id

[rayner gordon]

Hey guys an gals. Could someone please help me id this tree, someone told me it looks like a privet. I just want to confirm.
Regards
Rayner


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[shibui]

I'd probably agree with large leaf privet. The ones around here have berries on them now.

[rayner gordon]

Hey shibui. Im in South Africa we are nearing the end of summer here. I dug it up next to a river close to my house a few weeks ago and planted it in the garden its looking good. Has a few shoots on already. Are they any good for bonsai?

Regards
Rayner

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[shibui]

I did not check your location Rayner. That could introduce a whole lot more possibilities into the equation.
I assume, since you have asked about Privet that you have them as weeds there as we do here. Your climate is probably similar to ours so autumn is the time these trees have berries that the birds eat and spread the seeds.

Personally, I think these are weeds and not worth the time for bonsai but they are hardy. They also shoot from older wood and can tolerate severe root pruning. That makes them good for collecting and good for beginners to practice with. You will learn a lot about how trees grow from this collection. It may even grow into a creditable bonsai but it will still be a privet ( ) larger leaves and stiff growth habit will be issues for you to deal with but with time and effort you could overcome those (maybe?)
Enjoy the experience with your yamadori privet but please get some trees that will produce real bonsai as well.

[rayner gordon]

Thanks again shibui. I do have 2trident maples growing in the ground and a japanese maple but still very small and a few ficus cuttings think ill have to wait a few seasons for them to thicken up a bit. I will see what i can do with the privet as i am still learning i wil post a pic of it in my garden before it started budding

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[kcpoole]

Small leaf privet are much better for Bonsai, but as Shibui mentioned the large leaf ones not o bu are very got to use as practice.
if you make a larger tree then they are worth a go.

by the look of the stump, it may be larger than normal

[kvan64]

If it is a privet and is still in the ground, I would do some further chops to harness the regrowth to a bonsai.

[dennismc]

I note the comments on the large size of the leaves on large leaved privet. A number of students at the School of Bonsai have been experimenting with this species.

Their experience is that the leaves do reduce quite well and relatively quickly.

Dennis Mc

[shibui]

Kvan's pruning option is also what I'd do. If it is still in the ground it will grow back quickly and start to heal over those large cuts. In a pot the recovery will be slower and it will take much longer for the scars to grow over. Don't bother trying to grow branches when a tree is growing fast in the ground. They just grow too quick, internodes too long and growth tends to be straight and uninteresting. Usually cut off almost all branching when the tree is dug and potted and start again to grow much better branching.

I note Dennis' comments that leaves reduce but I still think these are suited to med - larger bonsai as Ken told us earlier. Looks like this is a fairly large stump so it will probably end up as at least a medium sized bonsai anyway.

[rayner gordon]

Thanks a lot for the help and advice so far guys. Would now be a good time to cut off the large branches its nearing the end of summer here and ive just dug it out and planted in my garden a few weeks ago and the new shoots are still very young

Regards
Rayner

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[kcpoole]

I would cut it now.
leaving them will not make any difference to recovery
Ken

[rayner gordon]

Would it be ok to cut and leave the wounds open as i do not have cut paste yet? I have something called steriseal which is in a thick luquid form and pink in colour. I used it on a citrus tree once but dont know if it wil work as it says on the back of the tube that it promotes dieback.
Regards
Rayner

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[shibui]

I think steriseal says it kills the fungi that cause dieback.
It should be fine to use on your tree.
The tree will also be fine if you don't seal the cuts. Privet don't seem to be susceptible to many diseases.

[rayner gordon]

Thanks shibui will do it and post a pic or two again.
Regards
Rayner

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[rayner gordon]

Progress so far. Getting dark outside now. What do you guys think any further advice or pointers would be greatly appreciated.

Regards
Rayner

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