AusBonsai

I went out to look at some rocks I have and cut back some saplings free seeded under the old cotoneaster tree. Then I had an idea. What about a penjing landscape, grown in the ground? Not only using the present saplings but also others I have. The saplings have been cut back before and have survived. I thought they might me privet, or some cotoneasters that they are growing under. But a few have different leaves? The cotoneaster is old. Don't know how old it is it was here before my parents bought the house and I now live in.I has a fantastic trunk formation. Twin then twisting others around the base. And a koala that has been embedded in the bark. So anything that grows under it will get dappled sun at best. House was built in OR AROUND early 70s. My parents bought it in 1989. It could be quite old as the development was originally an orchard, and houses were only built c.1965 onwards.

So any ideas. The BBQ next door could be a good place to display bonsai too. Though it gets more shade than where I have them now. Soil is lovely too.

Hi Bush bunny , any idea's of landscaping certain areas has merit . For shade loving plant this would make for a nice display are . Some of those seedlings look like privet to me , even that wrinkled leaf looks like a privet that is spread around here by birds .

Are you sure the big tree is a cotonester , Either way I would utilize the area for sure , a few monkey poles around the old bar-b-que , a couple of rustic planks off the stonework would look rather unique , certainly something different .

Cheers . Alpineart

Hi Alpine, I'm using my other computer, and it cut me off the thread. I am sure it is a cotoneaster. It has bunches of white small flowers followed by lots of red berries. The birds love them. Some fell into my bonsai pots, but the birds ate them too. I watch them mainly sparrows, I feed birds you see. Yes the trunk is very unusual. Two trunks then another two coming from the base of the main trunk, and twisting around each other. Cotoneasters are a pest someone told me. Anyway I ain't cutting this one down. It arches in a nice Canopy too. Thanks anyway for answering, it has given me some ideas.

Alpine, you were spot on there, regarding ID of my tree. While surfing for Protina I saw pics of one with twisted trunks too and a canopy shape. Any way maybe it is not a cotoneaster after all? Now this is interesting because I took a cutting from it in 2010 that had embedded in the BBQ's bricks. It only had a few feeder roots and a tap that broke off. It rooted well and is now a cascade form. It needs an urgent repot but now I know what it is, can adjust soil mix. Thanks Alpine. AGAIN!

The branch in your hand does not look like cotoneaster or privet to me...but I see a nice branch up that can be layered and made into a nice tree.
Privet you can repot even now.

Hi again, Neli, the tree is a Photinia, very similar to a cotoneaster. They are native to Australia too. They obviously have some seedlings from the tree. They get everywhere. Usually the birds strip the tree almost overnight, mainly sparrows and finches. I have been cutting them down and they still sprout. What we were going to do was create a rock garden in my enchanted garden. But will take advantage of what's already there, trimmed and plant some other plants, not particular bonsai, but shade lovers. Use the BBQ next door to display some of my bonsai. I don't know where all these rocks came from, must have brought them with me from my other house. I saw an image of one, can't find it now, that was twin trunked with another twisted two trunk growing from the base around each other.

Here's a pic of a sapling. Very similar leaves to a privet, eh. If I can download it. And of the unusual trunk formation. Glad it is a photinia, because in some councils Cotoneasters are considered a noxious weed. It will be an interesting project. Thanks for the advice.But I am leaving all the little trees where they are at the moment. And arrange the rocks around them with another Photinia I thought was a red Rhodo.
Yours in bonsai

Pat

I have seen nice hedges in Japan made from it...does it have red shoots?

Yes some, Neli, and they can be used as hedges here too. I'm relieved I have finally ID'd it.
As Cotoneasters are a noxious weed in some councils. Anyway, I'm off line soon, going to give Wild Willie (P.radiata) a hair cut, and will post pics tomorrow. I have bad arthritis in my back, and hands unfortunately, and some gardening even standing for longer than 1 hour, bending, lifting, hurts and my legs start to seize up for walking. But my eldest son does some of the heavy work luckily.

Dont give any haircuts to Willie...ask first...you need to learn what to do with pines first

Pat,
Not sure who identified your tree. I do not know any native Australian Photinia species. The photinias we usually see do not grow as large as yours either.
You could try looking up Indian Hawthorn - Raphiolepsis indica. Without a good look at the trunk, leaves, flowers and fruit I cannot say for sure but I suspect that is what you have. Raphiolepsis is also a weed in some areas of Australia which accounts for the large numbers of seedlings the birds give you.

I dont think it is raphiolepsis...I have it...leaves are very leathery...and flower stalks different.

Hi again everyone, I did see pics of large photinia genus, like mine. White flowers in bunches, and red berries. And my tutor actually ID a plant I got for nothing, that I thought was a red Rhodo. She was right. Some are shrub like but others are bigger with multi trunks and can grow to 6 meters high with a canopy shape. Pinkish, redish new growth.

Neli, I did get advice to needle cut to 1 inch surplus needles. P.radiata. I can now see the outline of branches, some will be cut off later the sub branches that are short. Pics later.

Hi Bush Bunny . My guess would be that it is Ligustrum lucidum 'large leaf privet ' . The leaves on your photo are opposite which the privet has ,Photinia's leaves are alternate . Image of large leaf privet leaves .
There could be some variation in the leaf due to enviromental factors ie shade ,sun ,age etc .
Sno

Sorry to sound stupid, but look at the post about unusual trunks formation (today) I have small leafed privet in my garden growing in my St.John Worts shrub.(Not the noxious weed) it has larger flowers and the bees love it and birds eat the seeds. I keep cutting the privet back, but it persists. The flowers have a lovely scent admittedly, but the Photinia is completely different, with tiny white flowers in a bunch followed by red berries the birds eat. Not a nice smell either. There is a hedge of it at Makkas actually, same leaf, and pinkish or red new foliage growth. Anyway, those saplings growing underneath, are being continually pruned and only grow under the mother, father and sibling tree. Two has got different leaves, lightish green and crinkly edges, it has been cut back too, has a very thick trunk. In fact there are five 'allegedly' Photinia saplings growing in a line. Rather cute. Thanks for the info and thoughts. I appreciate it.