AusBonsai

First ausbonsai post, first bonsai comp & a bonsai beginner, so please go easy

My first entry is Homoranthus flavescens (no common name).

H. flavescens is found in northern New South Wales from the coast to the western plains. It grows to 0.5m high and 1m in width and prefers part shade (it will cope with full sun, however I've heard this may slow down new growth). The foliage is unusual with succulent like silver to blue-grey leaves that are three-sided to almost cylindrical, about 10-15mm long and 1mm wide.

I think I got it as tubestock earlier this year, from a stall at the Plant Lovers Fair in Kariong for about $3. Repotted into a 200mm nursery pot, nothing else done to it.
I got this post right - took me several attempts to get images to upload properly

Welcome to the community MikeK - it's great to see you here.
Thanks for introducing me to a native plant I never really knew about!

I’ve seen one shown at a Vic Native Bonsai Club meet. Was only 3 yrs from a nursery plant and looked natural and great (IMHO, I’m a beginner too ). The owner (experienced) said it was a good species for bonsai, though didn’t bud back on old wood.
Cheers
Hen

edit: just noticed you are a member of VNBC too...maybe you saw the tree

Hi Mike ,
Nice little Tree ,at first glance I thought it was a Darwinia fascicularis . Very similar in appearance .Have fun and good luck ….Cheers John.

April 2019 Update

Haven't done anything with this plant except feed and water and let it grow. I'd say it's almost doubled in size since the original photo's were taken

October 2019 Update

Still not much to report, I'm continuing to let it run wild to get some thickness to the trunk. It's developed a pretty nice curve to the trunk (there's been no wire or pruning done so far)
It's getting taller (about 4 times the starting height)...
..but trunk is not that much thicker (it's now about 6mm, which I guess is pretty good from a 3mm starting point).
Today I planted it in the garden bed in a colander so I can easily left it to root prune, take next years photo's, etc ( that's the theory anyway). There was a lot of roots growing out the holes in pot, so I'm hoping putting it in the ground and loading up the fert & water will help it take off and thicken up.

Any update on how you went? If you’re still out there MikeK!

My mum gifted me one after going to a rare plant festival in Sydney. Mine has a bit of a classic juniper shape, but I’m still looking for more native inspired ideas!