AusBonsai

Baeckea virgata 'Clarence River' 4

This species is one of the greatest material to use for Bonsai, just like many of the Baeckea family.

The best all-round species of all the Baeckea I have tried.
The foliage is very thin and short, only about 10-20 mm long. They are very hardy, tolerate a heavy root reduction and can grow in both light and heavy mediums. They tolerate all levels of sun and tolerate constant cutting back.
The will shoot back from anywhere after a cutback and usually with a lot of new options of growth.

This was purchased online as small seedlings in about 2018

It has been placed into a Bonsai pot by Roman Husmann (Germany)
01Jan2023
17Nov2023

I merely just keep trimming this back. Its incredibly hardy from drought, root reduction and low sun. Very highly recommended species for Bonsai.
10th May 2024

I have found a forever home for this little guy. An Esther Griffiths pot from Walsall.

These look so beautiful when they're in this stage of having new flower buds all over the tree. In my opinion its more beautiful when they haven't opened all over the tree. Easily one of the greatest species of bonsai for beginners. This is hardier than figs, because you can continually overwater it and not have to worry about root-rot. It is a very, very hardy tree and very rewarding from an early age. Excellent species for shohin too.
15Nov2024

Not much to update on this one other than just thickening a little more.
I gave it a huge cutback not long ago, as it grows really really well. Super hardy too.
12 Apr 2025

I haven't done much with this one, other than just a bit of a trim and cutback a few branches up top.
The important process for me is to make sure I encourage multiple branching up the trunk so it doesn't fall into the trap of just one trunk and a multitude of branches coming off that, which I dislike and doesn't look as natural to me.
4 Sep 2025