G, day Jim. Like you I have been mulling over my answers to your questions.
First there are quite a few that spring to mind. In the Melaleucas there are those that will take heavy frost and drought. The range is as you see quite dramatic. There are 250 plus, of them. My favorite species are cuticularis ( common name salt water paperbark ) as it does grow in salt laden river estuaries. The others are Parviflora and Rhaphiophylla. Both of these have a common name of ( swamp paperbark ).
Just recently the BCI had a convention in New Orleans. I was asked by Donna Banting the editor a similar question. More specifically about Bottlebrush ( callistemons ) these trees will handle frost to minus -5 up to 45 celsius. There are a lot of cultivars of this species. Look for the one with small flowers. They will reduce with time both foliage and I have found flower.
My favorite tree is a Melaleuca parviflora. This tree is responsible for my love affair with Melaleucas. It was awarded best in show at the 2001 AABC convention in Fremantle. It was also the first time it had been awarded on behalf of the President of the Bonsai Clubs International.
Also over the years this tree has become known as Houdini for its love of life and tenacity. For times it has appeared to be dead but has come back. I have what I consider better but this one is special.
Now the curly one that gets me into trouble!. I do not consider there is or will ever be a definitive Australian style.
There are iconic trees in Australia recognized immediately as Australian. As for styling it as, Australian The Banksia which is one of those as being Iconicly Australian.
It grows as a shrub, also prostrate like a Juniper, there is one in my suburb that is just like Chase Rosades Logo. There are river gum trees that grow as semi cascades and tall maples. The Melaleuca, has 250 varietys as mentioned. When you say Melaleuca to most people there reply is Paperbark of the 250 only 48 are refered to as paperbarks.Which also grow in all the styles that we consider in Bonsai.
It is an iconic Australian tree,recognized as such. So while we are looking for that style( by the way acias are also endemic to Australia but do not grow as they do in Africa we must first promote Australian trees for Bonsai.
When they are excepted as Suitable then I think we will see some very nice trees on the world scene.
I beleive this question was also put to Peter Adams on his resent visit to Australia his answer was when you stop making exscuses for your trees. then you will see that style. I beleive that we must start with there promotion as good matrerial. As most people know that the Ficus rubiganosa is good material for Bonsai.
Now as for styling I use all the methods traditionaly used in Bonsai Heavy bending with wire raffia turnbuckles. Also the clip and grow method. I also use fire to harden the wood and to simulate fire damage, as alot of our trees do get burnt. Pup
