Luma Apiculata."Chilean Myrtle"..An underated subject.

[bodhidharma]

I have been working with this Myrtle for the last 10 years and finally it has revealed itself as a worthy subject. They are a very resilient tree but a bugger to get to flower. As its growth habit is to extend very quickly you have to prune often to keep its shape, thereby you successfully prune off its flowers. I have a few buds appearing this year but the trick is to prune hard in early Spring to allow for growth when it is in flower and stays in proportion. This is easier said then done as it gets bent out of shape very quickly. Experiment, experiment..as the saying goes. If it does its flowering thing i will add to the thread but if i post now i get to practise my photography skills which need practise. I have also learnt to start keeping photo progressions and dates Albeit, they dont go back to far I have always retained the same pot as they just seem to go hand in hand. Please enjoy my Luma Apiculata

[Gerard]

I like it bodhi, very unusual first branch gives it some charachter.
Do you wire or use clip and grow method?
You are right to say it is an underrated species, I have one which is very ordinary but a friend has a magnificent one which he does not show often because it is quite large and difficult to move. I think I have a pic

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[BirchMan]

Wow, nice looking species. I'll have to start hunting for one.

[Damian Bee]

definitely a worthy specimen Bodhi

[bodhidharma]

I like it bodhi, very unusual first branch gives it some character.
Do you wire or use clip and grow method?
You are right to say it is an underrated species, I have one which is very ordinary but a friend has a magnificent one which he does not show often because it is quite large and difficult to move. I think I have a pic

I use both methods and have for a while now. I try to use everything to bring the tree into proportion which is a skill that is very necessary Big embarrassment though, while i was preparing this, this morning, i found some embedded wire which i had forgotten about Thanks for the photo, nice tree.

[Gerard]

sorry was wrong pic , fixed now

[craigw60]

Hi Bodhi, Mojo Moyogi is growing some very nice luma chohin
I work in a garden at Mt dandenong which has a couple of luma which were planted in the 1920s they are amazing trees with the most superb bark.
Your tree is looking very nice, it must have some years behind it as this species takes a while to develop a thick trunk.
Craigw

[kcpoole]

Verry nice Bodhi
Re the foliage, it looks very small. Is this because of reduction or naturally small leaves:?:

Do you think the apex of the tree is too bulky? Looks out of proportion to me and needs some reduction on size

Ken

[bodhidharma]

Your tree is looking very nice, it must have some years behind it as this species takes a while to develop a thick trunk

.
Craigw

[/quote]

I wish i knew its age Craig. i acquired it from a nursery in Sunbury that was closing down. I bought a ute load and this was among it. There are some beautiful ones outside the YMCA in Ballarat. They recently renovated and i was hoping they would remove them. No such luck

[bodhidharma]

Verry nice Bodhi
Re the foliage, it looks very small. Is this because of reduction or naturally small leaves:?:

Do you think the apex of the tree is too bulky? Looks out of proportion to me and needs some reduction on size

Ken

Naturally that size Ken I havent defoliated this one at all but i would like to as it has some nice branches. I dont know about the top Ken, i dont mind it as is, but it will be one of those things now. You know the story...Hmm, is Ken right, is it top heavy, is it not top heavy.. Hmmm, Thanks for the seed of doubt Ken

[kcpoole]

Verry nice Bodhi
Re the foliage, it looks very small. Is this because of reduction or naturally small leaves:?:

Do you think the apex of the tree is too bulky? Looks out of proportion to me and needs some reduction on size

Ken

Naturally that size Ken I havent defoliated this one at all but i would like to as it has some nice branches. I dont know about the top Ken, i dont mind it as is, but it will be one of those things now. You know the story...Hmm, is Ken right, is it top heavy, is it not top heavy.. Hmmm, Thanks for the seed of doubt Ken

No worries

[bodhidharma]

Verry nice Bodhi
Re the foliage, it looks very small. Is this because of reduction or naturally small leaves:?:

Do you think the apex of the tree is too bulky? Looks out of proportion to me and needs some reduction on size

Ken

Naturally that size Ken I havent defoliated this one at all but i would like to as it has some nice branches. I dont know about the top Ken, i dont mind it as is, but it will be one of those things now. You know the story...Hmm, is Ken right, is it top heavy, is it not top heavy.. Hmmm, Thanks for the seed of doubt Ken

No worries

Damn it i was just looking at the top again

[lennard]

Nice progression series on the tree.

Looking at the top maybe........?

Bodhidharma.jpg

Lennard

[bodhidharma]

Hells Bells thats not to bad Maybe Ken was right Thanks Lennard

[GavinG]

A fine tree. I particularly like the way the sweep of the low trunk and the low foliage pads balance each other - very elegant, and unique to that tree.

I think losing the top as in Lennard's virt emphasises the slightly stiff low curve. If you leave lots happening up high, it just becomes part of the story, not the main event.

My only reservation (and it's slight), is that top part of the trunk is still too thin compared to the lower part, and I'd think of overgrowing the top to get a more even taper.

How tall is it?

Gavin