Coral tree - Taming the giant

[Stella]

My sister in law started this tree from a cutting approximately 13 years ago.
Se has just let it grow naturally with loosely pruning it 2 times each season.
I've been caring it for almost 6 years now also just pruning it.

Now I'm actually attempting a design.
Step 1 today was a hard prune
Height just over a meter after today's pruning
Tomorrow I will do some wiring

I would love some ideas as technically there is alot of issues with the tree
Side 1 - structure wise best front, not great from the base. Least amont of technical issues
Side 2 - current front. Least amount of movement in the trunks
Side 3 - best base view, but technically the most issues with structure.

Currently I want to make the front somewhere between Side 2 and 3 as I can hide some of the issues, but them I possibly have to loose the bottom strong branch as it comes straight to the front

My goal it to get a bit of a design on the tree.
I will have to accept some of the flaws as I really do not want to start completely over.

The main branch ideally I want to cut another 10 cm shorter, but will re-assess my options when the spring shoots come and what new options I have.

 

[Stella]

Oops. Got the wrong pic for side 1. Here is the correctly named pic

 

[Stella]

Just after pruning pics if it will help with some design tips.

 

[just.wing.it]

Sango Kaku?
Coral Bark Japanese Maple??

 

[Stella]

Sango Kaku?
Coral Bark Japanese Maple??

Neither.
This is an African Coral tree. Not sure what the exact scientific name is but my guess is Erythrina

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I look forward to seeing what you can do with this tree I had a coral tree in my backyard, and eventually had it removed because it would throw weak, long, leggy growth that had a tendency to snap off in high wind. And did I mention thorns? In SoCal people usually pay to have the trees completely cut back each year so they were maintained almost like giant topiary. The blooms are very pretty... but oh the thorny growth! Like a giant bougainvillea

 

[Stella]

but oh the thorny growth!

Jip, you cannot work this tree without serious gloves. I do cut off some thorns evry time I work with it.
Flowers are exquisite

This tree is so big, that I feel a bit lost with the design. So will be a trail and error project as I can only really see what I'm working with in another 2 months when the spring growth are going.
Still about 2 months of winter here

 

[Bonsai Nut]

So my experience with this tree:

(1) It back buds everywhere when cut back hard
(2) New growth is long and straight and ugly if you let it fully extend
(3) Interior growth will die and drop if it isn't in full sun

So if I were trying to keep it as bonsai, I would experiment with pinching the new growth before it extends. See if you can develop tighter ramification, and keep the interior and lower branches from getting shaded out.

Separately... not sure about how well it will bloom on pruned branches. The only time I got tons of blooms is when I left it alone for a year... after which I needed to do major maintenance. So this will be something to mess around with.

 

[jason biggs]

hi Stella
erythrina lysistemon - problem is they just get bigger and uglier...
has yours ever flowered ?

Common Coral Tree (Erythrina lysistemon) - Progression and thoughts

My father gave me this tree in Sept 2008. It is a Common Coral Tree - Erythrina lysistemon and it is very common found tree in South Africa although not so common as a bonsai. Sept 08 October 08 February 09

www.bonsainut.com

this is one of the nicest i've seen...