Pup

G, day again Mary you love the curly one's EH!.

The Grevillea, is a member of the Proteaceae family. There are also some 150 different species.
They grow in all mainland states of Australia.
So that means that we have some in the tropics and some in the colder zones not quite sure if the grow in the mountains of N.S.W. or Victoria.
It does get cold though in both of those states.
In Western Australia where I live we have a National park that has a small mountain where we do have snow lasts about three days on average. They do grow there.
What I am saying if you could be more specific I should be able to help.
Do you know the name of the species? looking forward to being of help.

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G, day I live in western Australia I have been trying for the last 20+ years with some success to grow Bonsai. I am a perpetual learner and an advanced beginner

M.B.

I'll go one better and include a couple pictures. I think it's Grevillea "Canberra" because the Sunset Western Garden book (the best plant bible in my neck of the woods) describes it as shrub for zone8-9, 12-24. Bright green needle-like 1 inch leaves. Clusters of red flowers in spring. 8-12 foot tall (thus why I have to prune every year). I've got to pull it out since it's too big a shrub in the wrong spot and was wondering if I should bother to try to bonsai it.
Mary B.

Attached Images

	Grevillea Sept 09.jpg (50.9 KB, 9 views)
	Grevillea Sept 09 trunk.jpg (61.6 KB, 8 views)

M.B.

Hey Pup, I must confess the number of seedlings is overwhelming, thus why I don't want to wire. There's just too many! I include a picture of this years crop of seeds. Luckily it's only one side of the tree covered like this but you see my problem.
I was looking for the "lazy man's" (or in my case woman's) way of doing something interesting with all these seedlings. I guess I'll just have to get over destroying a bunch of them and get down to a managable number, then try to start styling in the ground when they pop up.
Mary B.

Attached Images

Trident seeds Sept 09.jpg (64.0 KB, 11 views)

treebeard55

A few questions to start off with, Pup:

Are Melaleucas conifers or flowering plants? They seem to be among your favorites. Any reasons in particular?

The leaves and seeds of Mary's Grevillea look quite maple-like to me. Are the two genera related?

Are there any Aussie natives that you can recommend for an area with wetter summers and much colder winters? (Assuming we could get our hands on them.)

Thanks!

__________________
Treebeard 55
Steve Moore
http://hoosierbonsai.blogspot.com

The most important bonsai tool is your brain.

M.B.

I'm sorry I confused you Treebeard55, the second reply was to my trident maple question and those are trident maple seeds hanging all over. The Grevillea is very pine like in appearance in the two pictures above.
Mary B.

Pup

G,day again Mary your Grevillea is a hybrid. Which makes it easy to work with. It can be dug at any time when night temps are above 15% celsius which is about 45-48 fahrenheit. Seenig as it is still in the Pot it should have enough fine roots to sustain it.
As for styling that is your preference. They will adapt to all styles. One thing is in Pot culture they need more water in summer, also so they a suseptable to Phosphate in the fertiliser. So use one that is low in Phosphate's. Pup

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G, day I live in western Australia I have been trying for the last 20+ years with some success to grow Bonsai. I am a perpetual learner and an advanced beginner

Pup

Melaleucas are flowering plants. They are the second biggest species to the Eucalyptus family in the Myrtaceae.
In 1993 the were 250+ species and counting. They have all the leaf and needle shapes in there foliage. They are those that grow in salt water estuaries, fresh water streams. To rock strewn out crops to sand stone ridges. to heath land to arid dessert to alpine regions.
One of the most versatile plants on earth. Aboriginals have used them for centuries for Medicines though to bandages, and for dye's. Also to wrap there food in for storage, and cooking.
There are 48 that are referred to as Paperbark which seems to be that common name for them as is Gum for eucalyptus.
Now as for your area assuming you can get them. The ones that springs to mind is the Melaleuca cuticularis and the Melaleuca rhaphiophylla. Both these tree's are swamp trees both can handle sub zero temps.
Also both have very nice bark. You have some species in the USA that have been declared as a noxious weeds called decussata, which has purple flowers. If there is any more information you would like please do not hessitate to ask Pup

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G, day I live in western Australia I have been trying for the last 20+ years with some success to grow Bonsai. I am a perpetual learner and an advanced beginner

treebeard55

Thanks, Pup. They sound almost as versatile as the Ficus clan!

I'll keep my eyes open now, and just may pick one up if I get the chance.

__________________
Treebeard 55
Steve Moore
http://hoosierbonsai.blogspot.com

The most important bonsai tool is your brain.

Pup

They are more versatile they can handle frost
My avatar is of a Melaleuca bracteata golden gem cultivar

__________________
G, day I live in western Australia I have been trying for the last 20+ years with some success to grow Bonsai. I am a perpetual learner and an advanced beginner

Mike423

Hey Pup, I was wondering if you had any experience with Jacaranda's. I'm trying to grow some and was wondering if you had any tips on what sort of training/shaping techniques work best or any general tips. Ive heard they don't make ideal bonsai subjects due to their growing habit. Would you know what would be a good way to miniaturize the foliage as well? I ask because I don't have any experience with defoliating trees with fern like leaf systems. Lastly would you have any advice for someone growing this out of zone having it inside during the off months? Thanks

-Mike S.