Ground growing produces small, refined trunks as well. It doesn't just make huge massive trees. You will never get as much fluting and buttressing on BC grown in containers all their lives, as you will with ground grown trees. The tree below is only 15-18 inches tall, yet has very nice buttressing --which is mostly below the soil line to protect it. It was originally collected by Zach Smith. Such fluting and buttressing will not develop in container grown trees--believe me, I've looked through HUNDREDS of BC at nurseries which have been grown in containers. None of them had ANY buttressing to speak of
Unfortunately the tree below wound up as winter kill last year--it broke my heart to see it go. Had detailed plans for it...
View attachment 257621