5yr Native Tree Challenge - Soup Dragon's rhamnus alaternus (Mediterranean buckthorn)

[Soup Dragon]

I have never seen or heard of a bonsai of this species, but as it is native and there is a little shrub in the garden, I thought I would see what could be done with it in five years. I don't expect that it makes for good bonsai, otherwise I would see more of them about.

This is what it looks like today, and a close up of the leaves:



This is base of the plant from the top and from the side:



This is a pure experiment, but why not?

 

[HorseloverFat]

Buckthorns are neat!.. and AGGRESSIVE here... if you find ONE.. you find a MULTITUDE.

 

[Harewood Hobbyist]

I intend to put some Rhamnus purshiana in small pots

 

[TinyArt]

@Soup Dragon how's it coming along?

 

[Soup Dragon]

@Soup Dragon how's it coming along?

Just last weekend I pruned it to create some movement in the trunk. It isn't much to look at, so I didn't bother taking a picture, but I will the next time I'm there (it is in the ground 5 mins from my house).

 

[Soup Dragon]

@Soup Dragon how's it coming along?

It's in an awkward position to photograph, but here it is:



As you can see, I am pruning some twists and turns into the main trunk. I'm not sure what will become of the other two trunks yet, but there is plenty of time to decide.

 

[LindaPat]

Watching this with interest bc I got one at club auction. They said it was cherry, I bid $30, then someone corrected and said it was buckthorn, so it was mine, no one else bid. Twin trunks totally not native here, is invasive and aggressive, so I’ll have to pick berries off

 

[Soup Dragon]

I was thinking about chopping the trunk today, to change direction to the left (new leader right in the middle of the photo). I decided to leave it until the spring, even though this plant is still growing strongly in mid-October.

 

[HorseloverFat]

, to change direction to the left

View attachment 403499

Yes.. this is definitely my favorite option. If you do it NOW....wait until leaves fall and use seal/putty.

If you wait until spring, (Recommended) I’d go reeeal early spring “hard prune” with no repot.