AusBonsai

Progression thread: Kunzea ericoides

Kunzea ericoides

This is an adorable species. I purchased this from a native nursery in 2020ish i think, for about $15
It is incredibly hardy and tolerates a heavy root removal.
The possums continually target it, but it just powers on. Mrytle rust has absolutely no effect on it.
8 Feb 2020

10 Jan 2022

Just repotted and trimmed a little. Eventually the top leader will be completely removed, to leave a more flaring tree.

I realize its not quite yet 01.01.2023, but its easier to post that its 2023, so looking back people can easily distinguish that its a year apart. Its only 1 day before the actual date.
01Jan2023

03Nov2023

This has been placed into a bonsai pot by Sam Miller (USA).

Fantastic species for bonsai this one.

This has had to move pots, as my daughter claimed the pot it was previously in.
These really are very hardy. This wasn't doing so well, as I had failed to notice that a caterpillar had eaten all the new growth and the mix was a bit slow draining for coming into winter. So when I changed pots I gave it a fresh mix.
It looked a bit sick after having had so much foliage eaten, but it bounced back within a fortnight. Amazingly tough little critters these.
16May2024

Hi Rory,

I have been told this are endemic to NZ not native to Australia.
What are your thoughts as I have bought some recently from an Australian native nursery.

Regards,

Peter

Hanro wrote: ↑May 16th, 2024, 10:53 am Hi Rory,

I have been told this are endemic to NZ not native to Australia.
What are your thoughts as I have bought some recently from an Australian native nursery.

Regards,

Peter

Yeah you’re right. I guess it’s the pavlova of flora. I think people used to think it was, and now it’s classified as kiwi.
I didn’t realize that.

I almost gave up on it, as I don’t find it to be really attractive foliage. But this particular tree is now too cute for me to give up.

Hi Rory,

I bought mine at Bunnings years ago. I was called Kunzea 'Snowman" and is a Hybrid developed at the Bywong Nursery.

I have shaped mine into what looks like a small Euc. I do remove the flaky bark which gives it a Ghost Gum Look

Peter

I think there's just a naming problem - your tree I believe is an Aussie native, but it is now called Kunzea phylicoides. Botanists do these things.

Gavin (until some botanist decides to change my name...)