doctorater
Mame
Meeting the Styling Challenges of Bonsai with Variegated Foliage
I was going to start a thread today, "Bonsai with variegated leaves - love it or loathe it?" However, I found this thread instead that addressed the same idea...
Your Views on Variegated Trees
I just feel like starting a shit stirrer thread this evening....and I also have a question or two. So, without further ado..... 1. Do you like them as bonsai or not, and why? 2. Do you own any? 3. Do they really grow slower, less photosynthetic ability? 4. Does the variegated portion really...
www.bonsainut.com
Nice thread, good comments, pics of a few really nice variegated trees. I recommend you read it if you haven't already.
Here's a follow-up question for discussion...
How would you go about styling a tree with variegated foliage differently than the same tree with standard foliage in order to present the variegated tree in the best light possible?
I suppose to help us answer that question we need to discuss the pros and cons of variegated foliage in bonsai (design challenges only, not the horticultural challenges such as possibly slower growth and increased proneness to health problems).
Here are some I came up with, I'm sure others here can add more...
Challenges to bonsai design posed by variegated foliage:
- Variegation works like camouflage, it breaks up the silhouette of the leaf and of the foliage pad making it harder showcase or emphasize either.
- The striking interplay of color and texture caused by the variegation can distract from other important elements of bonsai; trunk, nebari, silhouette, negative space, etc.
- Due to the camouflage effect, shadows and highlights may also appear more muted, minimizing sense of depth as well as making it more difficult to differentiate foliage pads.
- Some variegated varieties look more "sickly" than variegated, as if something were wrong with the tree.
- Might variegation create temptation to take shortcuts in the trees development as a bonsai? Such as allowing the striking foliage to serve as the main focal point while neglecting other important aspects of bonsai artistry?
- Can you think of other design challenges? Toss them in the comments.
The positives of variegated foliage:
- It can be strikingly beautiful on the tree in the same way a display of flowers can be.
- It's different, it might make your tree stand out in a crowd.
- Can be a crowd pleaser (though it may be found less pleasing by some members of the bonsai intelligentsia).
- If you get lazy and let your foliage get a little sloppy, it still looks nice (but, see the temptation towards the taking of shortcuts item in the challenges above).
- Aware of any other positives to variegated foliage? Toss them in the comments.
So, in designing a bonsai with variegated foliage, how might you (or how HAVE you) adjusted your design to address the challenges of variegated foliage and emphasize the positives of variegated foliage?
Have at it,
Steve