AusBonsai

hello, Can anyone help?... Yesterday i got an Australian native plum bonsai starter, its a cute little tree that could see potential.. however i cant find any info on native plum bonsais!!.. If i researched correct, the plum native to Australia is the Davidson plum with 3 subcategory's... The one i have came with a simple bonsai starter tag that reads 'native plum'. strangely it looks allot different to the pictures of mature Davidson plum trees iv seen, although it is only young. I should have had pictures up before i posted this. ooops. I will update with pics ASAP
For now im quietly hoping i have a rare gem!! kind of doubt it though.
any help / knowledge would be great.
peace
luke

this is the plant...

I don't know what it is, sorry man, but my advice is wire up the trunk and bend and twist some movement into it. It's far too straight

Looks like a Podocarpus, there are quite a few. There are two native to NSW referred to as plum pine, and one from WA. There is also the Illawarra Pine

The one from WA is Podocarpus drouyniana, plum pine.
The ones from NSW are, Podocarpus elatus, the Illawarra pine. Podocarpus lawrencei, the mountain plum pine.
Podocarpus spinulosus, plum pine.

As you can see from this there are two commonly called Plum Pine. This is why whenever possible we should use the Botanical name. As both of these tree's have differing soil requirements.
The one from WA prefers a well composted soil in a shaded protected position. Is drought and frost resistant.

Spinulosus prefers a light well drained soil in a protected moist shaded position. Is also drought and frost resistant.

The Illawarra pines requirements are it prefers light to heavy soils in a protected sunny position,it is frost resistant but Drought tender.

I hope this has been of some help. Cheers Pup

I'll second Pup- it is indeed a Podocarp.
cheers
Ash

thanks pup!!! info most helpfull!!!! its now living in a grow pot, after a non invasive re-pot. will remain, (mainly) untouched for a year and a bit...
ill put sum pics up asap!
luke

Hi liquidluke
I also agree you probably have a Podocarpus. As to which one, that is more of a problem. There are seven species native to Australia. Since you are in SE Qld, that makes it a bit more difficult, as there is a species there that could be possible, but then maybe the nursery sourced its material from down south, in which case there are a couple of other choices!

Separating them can be a bit tricky. How long are the leaves, and how wide at the widest part of an average mature leaf? If you were into leaf anatomy, then checking on the number of resin canals beneath the mid rib would be useful, yes?!

The size and shape of the overwintering/dormant bud scales is also a useful character, but it looks like your plant has recently started to grow so the relevant bits are either absent of 'old'. I can see a few, but it is hard to tell the details of their shapes and sizes.

Try asking again in the winter when the tree is dormant, and the dormant buds may be around too.

I'm pretty sure that it is not P. lawrencei. the mountain plum pine. The leaves on yours are much to large and widely spaced. P. spinulosus, P. elatus, P grayi are all possibles.

Good luck. Which ever species it is, it has the potential to be a reasonable bonsai.

Cheers
Kunzea

Kunzea! for people like you is why i love coming back to check AUSBONSAI!.... Thank You for your knowledge.
My Podocarpus is now in a large pot and will stay there for a long time. as for the actual type.... ill find out eventually.
for now its my lil native plum.
thanks everyone for the info!!!!!!
peace
luke