Trunk In A Pot Episode 1: Elaeagnus/Silverberry

[Cmd5235]

There are a whole lotta sticks in pots, so I’m going to post some stumps in them. This was collected from an old quarry in the late fall (about to be destroyed with a bulldozer, so I grabbed it). It’s my first Silverberry.

 

[Cmd5235]

Does anyone have experience with silver berry? I feel like it’s an underutilized species for bonsai, and I’m curious about leaf reduction. It looks like I can get the internodes short enough

 

[roberthu]

Does anyone have experience with silver berry? I feel like it’s an underutilized species for bonsai, and I’m curious about leaf reduction. It looks like I can get the internodes short enough

I am exploring a couple right now. Just got two nursery stock with nice trunk movement to test out. They are pretty common used in Japan and China. Supposedly easy to grow and develops quickly. I am going to keep mine in nursery pots until next spring to do heavy trunk chops and root pruning.

 

[Forsoothe!]

Does anyone have experience with silver berry? I feel like it’s an underutilized species for bonsai, and I’m curious about leaf reduction. It looks like I can get the internodes short enough

It's not certainly hardy in Michigan.

 

[defra]

i would have potted it deeper to work on the nebari as well.
i have a elaeagnus ebbingei evergreens variety leaves do reduce and the grow real fast.
Nice trunk have fun with it!

 

[Cmd5235]

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

@Cmd5235 - Nice Elaeagnus. Pretty much all of the species of Elaeagnus can make beautiful bonsai. If you collected it near where you live in Pennsylvania it is probably NOT Elaeagnus pungens - the species most often called "silverberry". Elaeagnus pungens is not very winter hardy. Also E. pungens flowers in autumn, the others flower in spring.

You most likely have Elaeagnus umbellata, or Elaeagnus multiflora, umbellata is usually called autumn olive. Elaeagnus multiflora is usually called goumi, or natsugumi in Japanese. Both species are naturalized invasive species through out the eastern half of North America. The fruit of E. multiflora is much larger than E. umbellata and ripens earlier in the summer, where E. umbellata fruit ripens in autumn, Sept or October.

They all make decent bonsai. Leaves will reduce.

I love the fragrance of the flowers in spring.

 

[defra]

@Cmd5235 - Nice Elaeagnus. Pretty much all of the species of Elaeagnus can make beautiful bonsai. If you collected it near where you live in Pennsylvania it is probably NOT Elaeagnus pungens - the species most often called "silverberry". Elaeagnus pungens is not very winter hardy. Also E. pungens flowers in autumn, the others flower in spring.

You most likely have Elaeagnus umbellata, or Elaeagnus multiflora, umbellata is usually called autumn olive. Elaeagnus multiflora is usually called goumi, or natsugumi in Japanese. Both species are naturalized invasive species through out the eastern half of North America. The fruit of E. multiflora is much larger than E. umbellata and ripens earlier in the summer, where E. umbellata fruit ripens in autumn, Sept or October.

They all make decent bonsai. Leaves will reduce.

I love the fragrance of the flowers in spring.

i have a elaeagnus ebbingei evergreens variety it flowers in fall right now it is in flowers and fruit are ripe in april i tried a couple because Leo said that they are eddible but i dont like the taste

 

[Gaea's listener]

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how are the trees doing this year? Any lessons learned?

I collected one recently and am learning about their preferences

 

[Cmd5235]

Doing well! How about yours?

 

[Gaea's listener]

Doing well! How about yours?
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Nice angle, lots of new growth, it's looking good

I'm enjoying mine too, almost all the foliage on it is post chop. The leaves have mesmerizing sheen of gold/silver on them, just letting it grow at this point