Fraxinus Aurea (Golden Ash)

[matt.moriarty]

I bought what I was told a white ash today but I do believe that the new yellow branches and stems indicate that it is probably a golden ash. It has the makings of a beautiful little bonsai I think. Unfortunately my digital camera is busted so I cant upload a pic as yet but it stands about 30cm high.. Lookig at the growing habits and they are rather concial in shape and with the branches all growing ypwards and out slightly from near the top of the trunk I am thinking that it may lend itself to a broom style but the trunk has a really nice slight bend from the base then into a straight trunk. Has anyone got any experience with these as bonsai. If I wish to stimulate new branch growth from the trunk how can I go about doing this...?

Regards
Matt

[MattA]

Hi Matt

I would agree with your thoughts on it being a Golden Ash, I grew one for a few years and they are really beautiful trees.

You can go a trunk chop and they will reshoot well near the chop point and also further down the trunk, however you just have to watch out as most golden ash are grafted. You will be able to tell as the bark of the common ash is much more rugged than the golden ash and the graft will be pretty obvious. If you cut it back hard but not do a full chop should help induce budding further back.

Grant Bowie has a great ash he has been working on for more than a few years, there are a few posts about it on the forum. Also Anttal63 has a collected desert ash he has posted about. I am sure either of these guys would be more than willing to share there experiences if you send them a PM.

Look forward to seeing it when you get a camera again.

Matt