Camphor experiment

[Joe Dupre']

I collected a nice camphor tree as a bit of an experiment. It may be a little late in the year, but we'll see. Mangled by the mowing machines again. I had cut off a couple of severely split branches earlier in the year. Not a whole lot of information on camphor as bonsai. I figure it took me 15 minutes to dig it and another 15 to pot it up. I think the trunk is worth the risk.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Camphor tree or Camphor Laurel - Cinnamomum camphora, is a tree originally native to southern China and southern Japan. It has shown up in occasional Japanese bonsai shows. The leaves are large, glossy and attractive. The leaves are larger than what is usually considered ideal for bonsai, but the other attributes of the tree are good enough that despite the leaves, they have been used as bonsai in Japan. The fragrance of the crushed leaves is part of their attraction, and the interesting rough textured, reddish brown bark. Their small white flowers and small black berries are also a features that are desirable.

They are subtropical, and will not tolerate much in the way of cold. I do not know how frost tolerant they are. They will not survive a Chicago winter. I think zone 8a is as cold as they would tolerate.

All in all, a nice stump you got there, treat it like any other deciduous, or broad leaf evergreen you would use for bonsai.

 

[Mikecheck123]

Camphor trees (ubiquitous yard, street, and parking lot trees in the Bay Area) have a highly distinctive feature of having just a handful of noticeably red leaves here and there, basically all the time.

If you could pull that off, that'd be quite impressive.

 

[Joe Dupre']

Camphor tree or Camphor Laurel - Cinnamomum camphora, is a tree originally native to southern China and southern Japan. It has shown up in occasional Japanese bonsai shows. The leaves are large, glossy and attractive. The leaves are larger than what is usually considered ideal for bonsai, but the other attributes of the tree are good enough that despite the leaves, they have been used as bonsai in Japan. The fragrance of the crushed leaves is part of their attraction, and the interesting rough textured, reddish brown bark. Their small white flowers and small black berries are also a features that are desirable.

They are subtropical, and will not tolerate much in the way of cold. I do not know how frost tolerant they are. They will not survive a Chicago winter. I think zone 8a is as cold as they would tolerate.

All in all, a nice stump you got there, treat it like any other deciduous, or broad leaf evergreen you would use for bonsai.

Thanks for the info, Leo.

We're in 9a here, so the temps should be ok.

The tree was flat on the ground and the foilage was shredded when I found it. I hope I saved it.

 

[Joe Dupre']

Camphor trees (ubiquitous yard, street, and parking lot trees in the Bay Area) have a highly distinctive feature of having just a handful of noticeably red leaves here and there, basically all the time.

If you could pull that off, that'd be quite impressive.

I think the red leaves are the 2-3 year old leaves that fall off from time to time on this evergreen tree. I like the look too. The new leaves usually have a red tint also.

 

[Mikecheck123]

I think the red leaves are the 2-3 year old leaves that fall off from time to time on this evergreen tree. I like the look too. The new leaves usually have a red tint also.

Beautiful example I saw today. Had to share.

 

[Joe Dupre']

That's pretty cool. Just a touch of red here and there.

 

[hardtimes]

These look magnificent when in bloom. I’ve wanted to try one for a while now