AusBonsai

Hi Guys,

we have many of these pines growing around our area, just wondering what it might be, if it is any good for bonsai and how to propagate it, or how well they dig.

Pictures are below, im not an expert on pines, when people talk about a 2 or a five needle pine i assume this is the number of needles originating from each point, if so this is a three needle.

any mroe information needed let me know.

gareth

Solved
By aaron_tas - Pinus radiata

i think its pinus pinea 'stone pine' but without seeing the full tree its hard to be sure. or it could be scots pine.

im no expert, but scots pines are a 2 needle pine, i think you are looking at a radiata great for bonsai.

so a picture of the whole tree is needed for a more positive ID?

anything else needed for a better idea?

Nah that's definatley privet.
Noxious weed in most states.

I can help you remove them for free if you like, I'll even dispose of them for you...



Do you just have big trees, or smaller ones also that can be bonsai'd?

your joking mitchell. its not a privet, its a pine!

gareth- a pic of the whole tree would help id it.

It's probably Pinus radiata.

can't be radiata.

needles are too short.
tree bark is a bit too red.

maybe pinus pinea, from the size of the needle and the slight red on the bark.
italian stone pine

It can't be the stone pine, which has two needles. Also, the stone pine has very distinctive juvenile foliage, with soft short, grey needles, whereas the photo shows young vivid green needles. See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Pine Next: the radiata does not produce candles like most 2 needle pines do, but makes shoots with short needles that gradually grow longer, and the photos here remind me of that way of growth. The places where the bark shows red may be spots where chunks of bark, large or small, were broken off. Underneath the bark is reddish.
BTW, the Scots pine is also a 2 needle pine.
I'll stick with the P. radiata. And yes, they dig quite OK and aren't difficult to grow. All the same, they are not at all my favourite pine for bonsai. I've got 3, if anyone comes to Canberra, he/she is welcome to have them for free.
Maybe it's of interest that I also had stone pines for a few years. That juvenile foliage really interferes with the growing of bonsai and I chucked them out.
Lisa

My previousd post:

I'll stick with the P. radiata. And yes, they dig quite OK and aren't difficult to grow. All the same, they are not at all my favourite pine for bonsai. I've got 3, if anyone comes to Canberra, he/she is welcome to have them for free.

Following this, I had a request for photos of said trees. OK. A jolly neglected lot they are.
In case you wonder why I never wired #1: well, I did, several times. It's one of the characteristics of the radiata that it doesn't hold its shape. That pine is tough as nails and the trees below would recuperate in no time if they were repotted and given some fertiliser. BTW, I only give them away as a job lot. The styled one I've had for 9 years, the two others for 6 and ?? (can't remember) years resp.
Don't let my scruffy pines discourage you. People grow them a lot here in Canberra and make beaut bonsai out of them.

Lisa

ok guys some pictures of the whole tree.

These are two separate trees, there are three in total along the road and a bunch on the other side that are much smaller but alas, to big to dig.

Anyone?

Hi Gareth, your picks look a little dark so its a bit hard to see. I have to disagree with Lisa on her assessment of radiata bonsai, I have a couple of them and have no problem setting the branches. There are many examples of fine radiata in Vic. grown in all styles.
Craigw

I have to disagree with Lisa on her assessment of radiata bonsai, I have a couple of them and have no problem setting the branches. There are many examples of fine radiata in Vic. grown in all styles.
Craigw

Good oh! I gave mine away and the new owner can have all the fun. I just don't like the b...rs.

Lisa