Sapium Bonsai?

[Andrew_Davies]

Has anyone attempted to bonsai a Chinese Tallow? Just wondering as I have a stick in a pot and big ideas.

Cheers
Andy

[Asus101]

the name sounds familiar, check out the Taiwanese bonsai guys. It something they would be more likely to work with.

[kcpoole]

I have often thought they would be nice as the bark is a nice texture and they colour up really well in sydney so look great this time of year.

I have been told that the branches will not stay in place, and the leaves do not reduce, but this is only heresay as I have not done one or seen one myself

Give it a try and post results you get

Ken

[Bretts]

My mate Pol has been growing them for a while and I just started this year. Pol reckons they are prone to lose branches every year. I am hoping this can be solved but maybe I am too optimistic?
Mine grew out in the ground for a year or two ,it was planned as a feature tree as it had ugly roots but it started to get some character and I put it in a pot last spring.
It sulked when it leafed out and I could not work out what it's issue was. It improved but I only trimmed it back once when it went up for sale.
Now sold this is the last pic I have of it.
I have more growing out and I am keen to learn more about them.

tallow.jpg

[EdwardH]

Hi Andy,
Sapiums make good bonsai however the branches do tend to die off even on mature trees growing in the ground (e.g. 8m tall in local park)

2009 Jan three weeks after pruning it is budding prolifically.JPG

This example was grown from seed from a tree from the local park (inner west Sydney). It is about 4 years old and has always grown in a pot. I have allowed the branches to grow longer than usual to prevent die back which has proven pretty successful (sort off). The lower branches on the RH branch died off so this spring I will shorten it to induce branching at a similar level to the LH branch so that I make a canopy. I plan for the tree to be tall and slender, about 40-50cm tall.
Hope this helps.

[Joel]

If you ever want any just look in your local bushlands. The terrible weeds are everywhere!

Rants over. I have wondered about them myself, but came to the conclusion they would only be good for larger bonsai, as their petiole can be quiet long. For me, it's on the list of "Get one if i find a particularly nice one for cheap of free". I do enjoy their autumn colour....but not much else.

JayC

[EdwardH]

Other redeeming features include great bark, good autumn colour and they are hardy. Definatiely worth playing with.