AusBonsai

Hi all,
Below is one of my two Lilly Pillies, which I was given in Spring 2007. The previous owner had lost the label, but she remembered that it was a cultivar, probably of Acmena smithii. If anyone can make a positive identification, I'd be really happy. Until I got it, the plant had been grown as a balcony ornamental in a tub. I didn't reduce it as much as MelaQuin did his, because the trunk and branches already had some useful structural features. Here in Canberra the Winters are too cold to leave Lillie Pillies out in the open, so mine spent the cold season indoors. They didn't mind at all.
I am not entering this Lilly Pilly in the natives contest, because as yet its cascading shape is not properly achieved and as a bonsai it doesn't have a good front. It's just being shown here because it's looking so charming right now.
Of course I'm always grateful for constructive comments and any tips other growers may have.
Thanks,

Lisa

P.S. for Grant and Leigh: photo taken against black velvet background, by natural light, at 9.00 am, in shade.

Nice pretty flowers

It's positively charming. The flowers look like sparklers and I like the pot it is in. The bottom photo says more to me front wise. And no way would I cut this back to such basics as I did on my two recent additions. You have the structure, you just need to refine it and get more pad definition and this tree will be eyecatching... even more so than now. Keep working on it once the flowers are gone. At this stage of growth it will develop rapidly.

Thank you, Ken and MelaQuin.
MelaQuin: "Flowers like sparkles" describes the small blooms quite well -- really poetic, too. Glad you like the pot. My thought was that its green-blue tint might clash with the colour of the foliage, but as I had no other suitable pot, this one would have to do pro tem.

The bottom photo says more to me front wise. And no way would I cut this back to such basics as I did on my two recent additions. You have the structure, you just need to refine it and get more pad definition and this tree will be eyecatching... even more so than now. Keep working on it once the flowers are gone. At this stage of growth it will develop rapidly.

I agree with your idea of the best front. As for pad definition, that's always a bit tricky with Lilly Pilly foliage, but I'm lucky with this one, as it's c cultivar with smaller leaves than the species. I give the plant a major pruning twice a year, it is indeed a fast grower.
Thanks for your encouraging words!

Lisa

It will pad very well and quickly. At the stage your cascade is in you should have defined pads within a season. But I wouldn't define them excessively, maybe more defining various foliage levels rather than distinct pads. The glory of the tree is in flower and fruit and the more foliage on the tree the more spectacular it is. More in line with what I have done with this saotome azalea.