Cupressus sempervirens - Italian Cypress

[JaseH]

Anyone have any experience with these? Do they shoot back on old wood easily?

I picked up one(well I think thats what it is?) from a nursery on the weekend that has been half trained in a topiary style, it was well priced and I thought it might have potential for formal upright if I can tame it(cant find or afford a similar sized hinoki). It has a nice trunk taper for its height but will need some foliage chased back closer to the trunk and possibly some new branches to fill a gap. I have noticed some new shoots on the branches closer into the trunk so I'm hopefull that opening it up to get light in, a good chop back in early spring and some feeding might get something going? Someone tell me I'm not wasting my time! Not a lot of info around on training these as bonsai.

[lackhand]

Can't really comment on backbudding and such, but I've thought about trying these out myself. Graham Potter has a video with one. Let us know how it goes, and if you find any more info. Good luck!

[JaseH]

He makes it look so easy!

Observing my new nursery tree, it has some new growth from branch intersections and hardened branch wood. I also see what looks like dormant buds(blind bumps) on the trunk. I've wired the thicker branches out to get some light into the center of the tree, in early spring I'll chop all the foliage right back, give it a good feed and see what happens. The foliage looks like it could be well suited if it works out.