AusBonsai

I picked up this tree recently from the bargain bin at a nursery near my parents' place. Searches on this forum have revealed nothing about it. Apparently it is a North Queensland rainforest tree. Does anyone else have one? I understand they tolerate pruning well so my plan is to repot into a grow pot and trunk chop. There is a bit of reverse taper at the soil line, and the inner branches are basically devoid of leaves, so my plan is to target that initially. Any styling advice most welcome.


Nice bark but lots of twiggy, bare branches in close


Looking quite healthy


Nice small leaves






The reverse taper is most obvious on this view

And a nice, arty, photo of the canopy of several L. wooroonooran trees. Photo not mine, unfortunately.

Andrea Lim

Never heard of it. I wouldn't leave it in full sun if its a rainforest tree. Would need plenty of water and shade, see how you go.

From Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants]Distribution and Ecology

Endemic to NEQ, known only from the mountains north west of Mossman, the Mt Spurgeon-Mt Lewis area and the Bellenden Ker Range. Altitudinal range from 1100-1550 m. Grows in windswept vegetation on high exposed ridges in areas otherwise clothed in mountain rain forest.
Natural History
A very long lived tree in nature. It is sometimes cultivated for its small white flowers but needs cool and moist conditions to do well.
This plant was used in colonial medicine, leaves ad young shoots of all species reputed useful for urinary complaints. Cribb (1981).

And from Australian Nation Botanic Gardens website

Cultivation Very adaptable in most soils and aspects. Foliage is very attractive with a compact habit. Plants in cultivation are relatively slow growing and have reached 2 m in five years. This species has only been in cultivation for a few years but is proving a hardy and most attractive shrub. At the summit of Mt Bellenden Ker, where this species is endemic, it forms trees to 13 m with light brown trunks 60 cm in diameter. These are often blown over by cyclones, forming obstacles for the ardent bushwalker. It is uncertain whether the species will reach similar proportions in cultivation.

It's important when thinking about a rainforest tree what type of rainforest it comes from. Understory plants from subtropical rainforest would need plenty of water and good shade, but trees that form the canopy will need sun from a young age or they will either grow straight up or not grow much at all until given more light. This is from high mountains in a tropical area so should do well in Brisbane if keep moist and out of the hottest area of your garden, but I wouldn't overly shade it either.

Thanks Dansai. I contacted a wholesale nursery on the Sunshine Coast that stocks it (http://www.gogreenrainforestnursery.com.au), and they said:

Very hardy, handle pruning well. Full sun, moisture but good drainage. Most seen are cutting grown from semi hardwood.

Sounds like it will tolerate being a bonsai. Any suggestions on pruning? I would really like to repot it into my own mix.

Some leptospermum don't bud if cut back to bare wood, so to be safe always leave some green leaves. As for repotting, I would think spring or Autumn to reduce possible stress by drying out.