AusBonsai

I photographed these trees on a drive down to Geelong from Melbourne, I believe...with an infrared converted digital camera...which is why they're in black and white, soz.

Needless to say, I was very taken by the trunks on these trees. Absolutely no idea what they are...

they look a bit like alpinearts fused trident trunks!

by juan73870 » less than a minute ago

they look a bit like alpinearts fused trident trunks!

They do a bit, don't they! It was the amazing twists and twirls in the bark that caught my eye

?Leptospermum laevigatum? I know they7 grow like this down on Mornington Peninsula. Thanks for posting.

Gavin

That's what I thought too Gavin. The leaves look right in a couple of the shots.
Moonah also have contorted trunks but don't usually have the ropy bark and have much thinner leaves.

Great photos Mel! Thanks for posting.

As someone with a whole bunch of Leptospermum laevigatum seedlings that I've been bending into contortions, does anyone have any idea how long they take to produce that amazing fissured bark?

Matt.

Thanks guys, I wouldn't know if I've seen any of these up here in Qld, and I see they're classed as a significant environmental weed in Vic and WA! If nothing else, that means they must be good for bonsai.

As for how long they take to produce the bark, I suspect it might be a decade or so Matt. Maybe... I also read that the bark sheds in strips, perhaps it can be "encouraged" to shed early?

The peeling bark happens reasonably quick - probably only a few years old.
It is the ropy texture of the trunks that really sets these older trees apart. Mine have not started to show that yet after nearly 15 years. I suspect it will be much longer until it shows up in pot grown trees.

There's a good one at the NBPCA. I'll try and get some photos.

Gavin

There's a good one at the NBPCA. I'll try and get some photos.

I was hoping to drop in and finally get to see the collection in April, not sure our driving trip will happen now though.