2021 Five Year Native Tree Challenge: Sputnik's Taxus Baccata

[Sputnik 184]

Another tree we have in abundance in my local area is the Taxus Baccata. With lots of large old trees there are also lots of seedlings mainly planted by birds. I put these two into my grow bed a few years ago as year old seedlings and last autumn removed them to begin their development as bonsai. They are looking pretty healthy and seem quite happy in their new inorganic soil. I now regret not wiring a bit more shape into them when it was possible but I shall have to use what I've got.

 

[Sputnik 184]

Another possibility self seeded in the bank of the stream at the end of the garden. It will be interesting to see what’s below soil level.

 

[Sputnik 184]

I started to prune back the foliage shortly after starting this post and was quite prepared for the trees to take a year to recover but every branch seems to be pushing new growth.