We need some ugly tree pix to ridicule.

[Mike Corazzi]

There's still several months (in this hemisphere) to do nothing but watch leaves fall, candles start their extension, needles drop, flowers wilt and pots freeze.

In the interest of filling time, post some wretched vegetation.

Thank you....

 

[AZbonsai]

I think you need to provide the first wretch so we have some sort of benchmark to hit.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

A more constructive thread might be to post a photo of a tree with a major flaw, and in that post, propose possible fixes.

 

[Mike Corazzi]

staid

 

[BobbyLane]

Here's a Hornbeam root cutting, ive had trident, hawthorn and field maple sprout up from root cuttings but first time trying hornbeam, i just stuck about 5 of these monstrosities in the ground, lets see what happens


ugly now, but could turn out to decent clumps with some luck?
will they survive the winter? how tough are carps, we'll see.. i used the sole of my trainers to press them deep into the soil

a lot of trees start out ugly until they become beautiful. some dont know what to do with them and they remain ugly and worthless forever.

 

[BobbyLane]

This is an ugly hawthorn root cutting
its open to ridicule

but give it time

last pic was a year or two ago, you should see it now, its hard to contain, so vigorous

 

[Soup Dragon]

Ooooh - finally something that I can participate in as a contender . But which of my horrors to choose?

How about this bouganvillea? It is downright ugly with two trunks, but I don't know which is the ugliest between the two in order to eliminate one.



If there were an ugly pot thread I would be all over that one too. It was cheap, and I am using it as a training pot, OK?

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

I'm contemplating literati.

 

[leatherback]

literati

Looks like the stuff I am working on.

 

[Yamabudoudanshi]

Oooh yes, I'll play!
I bought this Itoigawa at auction for ridiculously cheap as I wanting a bigger one to use as a practice tree. So far it has provided me with 2 air layers and 1 more in progress, and I have been torturing it with lot's of practice wiring, pruning, carving, etc. If it continues to survive I plan on trying some grafts to see if one day I can help it fill in more and help it be the best ugly tree it can be.

 

[stu929]

My 10 dollar hemlock and 3 dollar laceleaf that I picked up from the reject pile at my local nursery.

 

[stu929]

My 10 dollar hemlock and 3 dollar laceleaf that I picked up from the reject pile at my local nursery.

No idea what to do with the eastern hemlock btw. I just didn't have one and it was 10 bucks.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Looks like the stuff I am working on.

View attachment 338624

At least yours has curves!

 

[Cadillactaste]

Let's be really honest...it has an ugly base,that it pulls off. 9" pot... tree is 2" at base of tree. Virginia Creeper

 

[leatherback]

At least yours has curves!

More of them every day. These trees are like silly putty. Push and the branch bends. (OK, push with force, like, knees)

 

[Soup Dragon]

Let's be really honest...it has an ugly base,that it pulls off. 9" pot... tree is 2" at base of tree. Virginia Creeper

The base is quite creepy, actually. Rather alien-looking. Love it!

 

[jaco94]

Let's be really honest...it has an ugly base,that it pulls off. 9" pot... tree is 2" at base of tree. Virginia Creeper
View attachment 338637

@Cadillactaste,
In my opinion , your tree has nice curves, it looks like some literati , its nebari gives it originality , i love it !

Here is a real challenger for this topic .

 

[Cmd5235]

Here are a few photos of an ugly azalea that has been in the same pot and totally, completely neglected for the past 15 years.

Every year I think “I should do something with this or throw it in the compost pile” and get here it is, in all it’s crappy glory

 

[Cadillactaste]

@Cadillactaste,
In my opinion , your tree has nice curves, it looks like some literati , its nebari gives it originality , i love it !

Here is a real challenger for this topic .
View attachment 338642

The late Jim Smith HATED that base. (A member here who has passed.) Its a flaw for certain, that the tree seems to carry with the literati feel I switched to in direction. But previously was unacceptable by most.

This was playing on what was mentioned above about sharing trees with flaws.

 

[AlainK]

A more constructive thread might be to post a photo of a tree with a major flaw, and in that post, propose possible fixes.

Yeah! Aye! Oui !

Lion-man in Illinois says good things.

More seriously, this is one of the most interesting challenges for a bonsai enthusiast : turning an ugly duckling into a nice swan. Or bonsai if you prefer. It requires a lot of skills, technique and artistry : that's what can make a so-so bonsai into a tree with a lot of character, personality, a work of art.

It needs much more qualities than I probably have, but I'll try, and I'll try, and I'll try...