AusBonsai

Posted: **May 8th, 2016, 11:31 am**

Hello everybody!

Currently I am VERY interested in getting my hands on a prickly paperbark - melaleuca styphelioides. Every day when I get in my car to go out the full length of streets are lined with them in my area, and I must say they are gorgeous.

Before I do purchase one I just thought I would seek people's opinions if they have a favorite Melaleuca of their own, that may be their favourite/better as bonsai. keeping in mind this will be my first Melaleuca I am keen to hear people's opinions on the topic.

If this topic has already been covered in an existing thread then I apologise, as I could not find an existing thread.

Cheers,
Pearcy.

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Posted: **May 8th, 2016, 12:06 pm**

My next question which I hope some can also share some information on for me is, where can I purchase styphelioides or you're favourite in Melbourne?

Many thanks all.

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Posted: **May 8th, 2016, 1:23 pm**

I prefer to work with softer leaved species Pearcy. Prickly mel may look good but it can be a bit painful when you are pruning and wiring.
Mel liariifolia is just as hardy and quick growing. M. decussata is responding well to pruning and root pruning here.

Search for native nurseries in your area. One of the biggest is Kuranga but I don't think they have M. stypheliodes. They do have a great range of local indigenous species and plenty of smaller, showy aussie natives for urban gardens.
Austplant down at Arthurs seat has Mel stypheliodes in the catalogue and I'm sure you could find it at others, especially around the fringes where they cater for farm plantings and larger peri-urban blocks.

Posted: **May 8th, 2016, 1:43 pm**

Thanks greatly for all the info Neil, I'll be sure to check into them

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Posted: **May 9th, 2016, 2:25 pm**

Mel. hypericifolia has small elliptical leaves and the bark coarsens with age. Mel. elliptica has smaller leaves, and probably rougher bark, might be good for ground growing. Mel. quinquinervia has larger leaves but excellent thick pale papery bark. Then there's all the WA varieties that they just dig out of the swamps there...

Styphloides is good for bonsai, tough, with pale papery bark - ignore the wooses. Get the trunk thick, and get movement early. Life's too short for boring trees.

Get a collection going!

Gavin

Posted: **May 9th, 2016, 2:41 pm**

m.ericafolia and m.styphelioides are easy to grow.
W.A. Species m.raphiophylla and m.cuticularis.
I especially like these ones because of the paperbark.

Posted: **May 9th, 2016, 6:25 pm**

Thanks heaps for the ideas guys I have been researching all of them

Have you had any trouble with WA swamp varieties in Melbourne Gerard?

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Posted: **May 9th, 2016, 7:22 pm**

Pearcy001 wrote:Thanks heaps for the ideas guys I have been researching all of them

Have you had any trouble with WA swamp varieties in Melbourne Gerard?

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Posted: **May 9th, 2016, 7:26 pm**

Pearcy001 wrote:Thanks heaps for the ideas guys I have been researching all of them

Have you had any trouble with WA swamp varieties in Melbourne Gerard?

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Hi Pearcy, from what I am led to understand all varieties I have sent over there are AOK.
No I do not have any more for sale.
My collection is now down to 15 Melaleucas.

Cheers pup

Posted: **May 9th, 2016, 7:32 pm**

Pup wrote:No I do not have any more for sale.

You read my mind pup haha, thank you anyway for the information.

If you ever change your mind...

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Posted: **May 9th, 2016, 8:05 pm**

Pearcy001 wrote:Thanks heaps for the ideas guys I have been researching all of them

Have you had any trouble with WA swamp varieties in Melbourne Gerard?

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I have had extreme difficulty with m.raphiophylla.......I cannot find one .....yet
Pup gave me a rooted cutting of m.cuticularis which is growing strongly after a year
I have a large m.ericafolia which although it is early days is one of my favourite trees.
I have a small to medium styphylioides which I plan to wire tomorrow at the Vic native club

Posted: **May 9th, 2016, 8:10 pm**

Im digging the prockly mel most of the types i have right now.
Backbuds, nice bark, handles root pruning with ease and grows relatively fast.
I also think the leaf size is ideal.. Anyone got them to flower? Id love to know how!

Posted: **May 9th, 2016, 8:28 pm**

I would say the flowers are terminal so you would have to let the shoots grow out. Not sure when they flower though and therefore when you would have to stop pruning.

Posted: **May 9th, 2016, 9:44 pm**

Gerard wrote: I have had extreme difficulty with m.raphiophylla.......I cannot find one .....yet
Pup gave me a rooted cutting of m.cuticularis which is growing strongly after a year
I have a large m.ericafolia which although it is early days is one of my favourite trees.
I have a small to medium styphylioides which I plan to wire tomorrow at the Vic native club

All of this answers my conundrum... Where do you pick up these Mels in Melbs....? I'm keeping my eyes open but would love some inside info if anybody has any... They all seem like prime bonsai candidates but not that available down here...

Posted: **May 9th, 2016, 9:51 pm**

PS: I'm pretty sure you can pick up Ericafolia from the native nursery below... Maybe check it out...

http://www.vinc.net.au/

AusBonsai

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