Black Gum/Nyssa sylvatica

[Scrogdor]

Picked this Black Gum up at a bonsai nursery. Doesn’t seem to be a lot of knowledge on the species but the price was great and the structure looked awesome.

Has a nice S curve from trunk to top. Planning on keeping it in the 5 gallon for a while to get some more trunk thickening. Might transfer it to a large air pot as well.

Anyone have some experience with this species?

 

[Potawatomi13]

S curve from trunk to top

Where? Needs movement added badly before too late?

 

[Scrogdor]

Where? Needs movement added badly before too late?

Does this not count as movement? I could probably wire it to add a tiny bit more to those curves.

 

[penumbra]

Nice looking plant. You don't see a lot of Black Gum bonsai but they are deserving. Fall color is awesome. It is one of my favorite natives. The tree looks pretty nice as is but most of the curve exhibited is going to go away as plant grows. That
That is fine but it could use a bit more of a curve ..... or not. Its your tree.
I like it.

 

[rockm]

Black gum (pepperidge, tupelo, are other names) as been an on-and-off again native species for bonsai. It's not easy to collect larger trunks and has a tendency not to like having its roots messed with....this post from Zach Smith...might be worth asking him about the species. I know he's been working on them for a few decades.

The Blackgum – A Rare Bird For Bonsai, And A Push Of The Envelope | Bonsai South

bonsai-south.com

 

[Scrogdor]

Nice looking plant. You don't see a lot of Black Gum bonsai but they are deserving. Fall color is awesome. It is one of my favorite natives. The tree looks pretty nice as is but most of the curve exhibited is going to go away as plant grows. That
That is fine but it could use a bit more of a curve ..... or not. Its your tree.
I like it.

Ah I didn’t think about it straightening out because of growth. I’m gonna see how much it will bend with a double wrap.

 

[Potawatomi13]

Does this not count as movement? I could probably wire it to add a tiny bit more to those curves.

Insignificant to point of invisibility. As time passes small movement softens to non existence. Definite strong movement remains to be seen after same time passes.

 

[Goodroot]

I have two large trees on property. Could I air-layer this spring ? Sounds like I could get decent size trunk with radial air—layered roots. No tap root to chop.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I have several adult trees in landscape. They have very nice fall colors.