5yr Native Tree Challenge: canoeguide's Hamamelis virginiana

[canoeguide]

March 28, 2021: This was collected in central Pennsylvania. Height before being dug/chopped was probably about 10'.

@March 30, 2021: Potted into equal parts pumice, DE, and fir bark. Very few fine roots remained after trimming. Bark/skin on the large roots was very easily damaged on this species. Chop site was sealed with cut paste.


May 1, 2021: Buds are emerging. Many are emerging near the base and most have been intentionally rubbed off. Small black caterpillars of some sort were seen on this and were possibly eating some buds.


June 5, 2021:


June 20, 2021:

 

[canoeguide]

Summer 2021:

Autumn 2021:

Spring 2022, pruned and carved. 3 radial branches were left. Cut paste was applied later:

 

[canoeguide]

New leaves from this spring as they were hardening off:


Big leaves (much larger than the ones in the forests around here):


Flowers and fall foliage:


Some decisions to make in the spring:

 

[canoeguide]

Root pruned and repotted a bit higher. The pot was filled with fine roots. I left a long sacrifice to thicken.

 

[canoeguide]

A visitor:

Flowers:

Developing slowly. This is an ugly one that I hope to be lovely someday. Pruning in the spring.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Very nice. Do you feel cuttings would be successful given the root growth and initial lack of roots?

 

[canoeguide]

Very nice. Do you feel cuttings would be successful given the root growth and initial lack of roots?

I haven't tried, but my guess is that it's possible. The Internet seems to think that softwood cuttings in spring, or air layering are the way to go.

 

[canoeguide]

An update for 2024: I'm slowly developing some structure on the tree's left side while allowing the right-side sacrifice to extend dramatically and thicken. I should make a virt, but the intention is to have some lower branches to the left and back, and the main trunk to the right. The tree is covered in flowers.

 

[canoeguide]

Back in the spring, I chopped back the long sacrifice leader in an attempt to start getting this into some kind of shape. I did some wiring of things that will matter. I reinjured the chop borders and put more cut paste on there (it's healing well).


Here it is today, after pruning and leaf pruning (of large leaves) twice. I'm encouraged by the leaf size reduction and the ramification that seems possible. Anyway, it's starting to look like something?

 

[RJG2]

Nice. I need to update mine. Not sure anyone is tracking the contest anymore - I wouldn't have mine in a native pot in time anyway!

 

[canoeguide]

Nice. I need to update mine. Not sure anyone is tracking the contest anymore - I wouldn't have mine in a native pot in time anyway!

Yeah, me neither! I view these contests as more of a "challenge" and excuse/motivation to try something, so I'm not concerned if I don't have something to submit at the end.