leatherback
The Treedeemer
Someone is changing the yard and I have the option to dig some of the hibiscus shrubs. However I cannot find any non-tropical hibiscus bonsai. Should I just let it be?
Digging Hibiscus for bonsai
- Thread starter leatherback
- Start date
Hartinez
Masterpiece
hibiscus #1
Hibiscus, from a cutting made in Eilat in 1978 (!!), pot by Gabriele Wirth. Four weeeks ago the tree was taken form the living room into the...
walter-pall-bonsai.blogspot.com
Lazylightningny
Masterpiece
We have a type of hibiscus here in NY called Rose of Sharon. It has straight twigs, large leaves and flowers, doesn't bark up well, and doesn't ramify that well. I tried one years ago and wasn't impressed. Others may have had a more favorable experience with them. I see a couple of examples on google of decent looking trees, so maybe you'll have better luck than me.
leatherback
The Treedeemer
leatherback
The Treedeemer
Understatement!
True!
Looks like a tropical one though, considering he keeps it in the living room?
Wires_Guy_wires
Imperial Masterpiece
They always give me that hawaiian vibe, I wouldn't turn a free one down.
Lazylightningny
Masterpiece
a great example of taking a stick in a pot and turning it into something decentWalter Pall has one! Def not his best tree, and flowers make it a bit out of proportion, but cool none the less. IMOhibiscus #1
Hibiscus, from a cutting made in Eilat in 1978 (!!), pot by Gabriele Wirth. Four weeeks ago the tree was taken form the living room into the...
Hartinez
Masterpiece
Dig em up!!
Leo in N E Illinois
The Professor
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The winter hardy hibiscus most commonly used for bonsai is a shrub that went a recent name change.
Althea syriacus is now called Hibiscus syriacus, if you search under the name "Althea syriacus Bonsai" you will find many more images.
They are a little tricky, but some nice enough bonsai have been created, and in bloom the flowers trump problems with internode length and difficulties in getting multiple levels of ramification.
Althea syriacus is now called Hibiscus syriacus, if you search under the name "Althea syriacus Bonsai" you will find many more images.
They are a little tricky, but some nice enough bonsai have been created, and in bloom the flowers trump problems with internode length and difficulties in getting multiple levels of ramification.
just.wing.it
Deadwood Head
Colorado
Masterpiece
Flowers make it worth it. 
leatherback
The Treedeemer
Arizona bonsai
Shohin
How many did you get?
leatherback
The Treedeemer
Dzhokar
Mame
Wow, I love that.Walter Pall has one! Def not his best tree, and flowers make it a bit out of proportion, but cool none the less. IMOhibiscus #1
Hibiscus, from a cutting made in Eilat in 1978 (!!), pot by Gabriele Wirth. Four weeeks ago the tree was taken form the living room into the...
Leo in N E Illinois
The Professor
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Walter Pall's hibiscus is one of the tropical hybrids of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. He definitely treats it as a indoor for winter, outdoors for summer tropical.
There are a number of winter hardy hibiscus species, several, especially the north american native species are more or less die back to the ground perennials, where the roots are perennial, and the above ground stems die back when weather freezes. These tend to be poor for bonsai, as the stems tend to be long, without much branching. The Hibiscus syriacus (Althea syriacus) is one of the few tree like hardy hibiscus species, native originally to China but first described (by Europeans) from a specimen found in a garden in Syria. Europeans were not the first to import plants into their gardens from regions far from home.
So the Althea is more like Hibiscus rosa sinensis in that internode lengths, while variable, are not too long, or at least frequently enough you can get short enough to be useful internodes. Leaf size is okay, leaves will reduce as ramification increases. They are somewhat reluctant to ramify, but can be forced to do so. They bloom on the current season's growth, so you have to let them grow out to get flowers. But they don't have to grow out a large amount. So all in all, useful for bonsai.
There are a number of winter hardy hibiscus species, several, especially the north american native species are more or less die back to the ground perennials, where the roots are perennial, and the above ground stems die back when weather freezes. These tend to be poor for bonsai, as the stems tend to be long, without much branching. The Hibiscus syriacus (Althea syriacus) is one of the few tree like hardy hibiscus species, native originally to China but first described (by Europeans) from a specimen found in a garden in Syria. Europeans were not the first to import plants into their gardens from regions far from home.
So the Althea is more like Hibiscus rosa sinensis in that internode lengths, while variable, are not too long, or at least frequently enough you can get short enough to be useful internodes. Leaf size is okay, leaves will reduce as ramification increases. They are somewhat reluctant to ramify, but can be forced to do so. They bloom on the current season's growth, so you have to let them grow out to get flowers. But they don't have to grow out a large amount. So all in all, useful for bonsai.
leatherback
The Treedeemer
Great info Leo. You seem to have some idea re. hibiscus.
As such.. Any tips / recommendations for ramification? (Although I will spend the next 3 years just getting some branches in place,I am sure!)
As such.. Any tips / recommendations for ramification? (Although I will spend the next 3 years just getting some branches in place,I am sure!)
shinmai
Chumono
There is a syriaca cultivar called “Li’l Kim”, which produces small-ish flowers that are bright white with a crimson or bright magenta center. The flowers are reminiscent of the satsuki ‘hinomaru’.
I think it also comes with a stack of hip-hop CD’s.
I think it also comes with a stack of hip-hop CD’s.
Lazylightningny
Masterpiece
Are you referring to the lilac (syringa) Lil Kim?
