Now, My favorite tree I own !!!

[A Random User]

Here is my favorite tree I own. It is a very,very, very old Buttonwood, that actually is both
a silver buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus var. sericeus) as well as a green buttonwood
(Conocarpus erectus). And retains both properties, which is evident, by both the silver,
as well as green leaves. It also likes to fruit.

The Deadwood is all original and has not been touched... other than the very top of the
tree where it was reduced in size, I will further address it at a later time cause it is just
a straight cut.

Pics of deadwood will follow, please wait to post until I have them up, thanks.

I am waiting for a pot that I just purchased to arrive, and it will be repotted as well.

 

[A Random User]

Pics of deadwood...

 

[cascade]

You are repotting your tropicals now?

Best,
Dorothy

 

[berobinson82]

You say it is 2 types of buttonwood. Is that because you grafted another variety on or is this a hybrid that demonstrates both characteristics?

 

[Poink88]

You are repotting your tropicals now?

Was curious too...since I plan on doing mine AFTER all my deciduous & evergreen trees are done. I thought Florida is that mild that you can do it now.

 

[Poink88]

Nice deadwood but I can't see why it is your favorite yet. I've seen some very nice trees of yours which I would pic over this.

Actually, my initial thought was to airlayer the top 2/3rd and have 2 trees out of it.

 

[A Random User]

You are repotting your tropicals now?

Best,
Dorothy

I know, seems contradictory... But, I actually repotted a couple of b-woods this same time last year and they did really well. Seeing that they slow down during the winter months and I don't have to disturb them any during the growing season. They obviously need to be protected from the cold, But I do that anyways...

 

[A Random User]

You say it is 2 types of buttonwood. Is that because you grafted another variety on or is this a hybrid that demonstrates both characteristics?

It's a hybrid.
In nature, sometimes they will be cross-pollinated and maintain both properties.
So it could theoretically be labeled as both...

 

[edprocoat]

I flat freakin' love the deadwood on that Buttonwood. Its an eye catching beauty for certain. It reminds me of those half dead trees I occasionally see that look like they should not be standing but have green growth on them.

I was over near Melbourne the other day and asked a wildlife officer if they grew in that area and he said further south as far as he knew. I told him I would love to get one for Bonsai and mentioned the Buttonwood lady I read about south of Sebring. He said as far as he knows they are now a protected plant, maybe that's why you hardly ever see them anymore. I seen a few small ones listed on Wigerts site, seemed pretty damned expensive for the size of them though.

ed

 

[Poink88]

He said as far as he knows they are now a protected plant, maybe that's why you hardly ever see them anymore. I seen a few small ones listed on Wigerts site, seemed pretty damned expensive for the size of them though.

Ed, I bought a couple from Puerto Rico and the price is really reasonable. I love working with Buttonwood but don't have any with as nice a deadwood as Stacey's.

 

[A Random User]

Nice deadwood but I can't see why it is your favorite yet. I've seen some very nice trees of yours which I would pic over this.

Actually, my initial thought was to airlayer the top 2/3rd and have 2 trees out of it.

Just different strokes for different folks I guess... Hey didn't they make a TV show
about this ???

What I love about this tree, is that the trunk standing tall, portrays a sense
of power and strength, not to mention age. I could imagine walking through
some mangrove into a clearing and there it is towering above me. When I
accidently step on a branch a group of birds just scatter from within it's canopy.

Art is about telling a story. The story that this tree tells me is that it is not a Bonsai...
It is a tree. Where as my other trees were Bonsai.

 

[Cypress]

Very unique tree! Love the deadwood. Are you considering changing the angle of the tree when you repot? Might I suggest angling it so the top of the trunk is pointing more straight up? I think it would give the movement of the trunk a more natural feel, as well as planting at that angle would give the "illusion" of a wider base and help negate what seems like a bit of reverse taper at the base. An old trick that could work wonders, and you've got the right type of movement in the trunk to justify planting at that angle. Here's a really high tech vert of what I mean:


Just a thought!

-Mike

 

[edprocoat]

Ed, I bought a couple from Puerto Rico and the price is really reasonable. I love working with Buttonwood but don't have any with as nice a deadwood as Stacey's.

Puerto Rico, I assume they were sent to you? Is it expensive to have them shipped? The ones I seen at Wigert's looked pretty small *8 inch pot $25 *10 inch pot $45, its hard to tell from a picture but the one they showed looked to have a 3/4 inch trunk and be about 14 inches tall, nothing special about it, it looked like an immature bush, sorta like a small boxwood you could buy for $7 bucks at a big box store. I do not know how fast they grow either but it looked liked a very long term project. The site said + 5 lbs for the shipping and I have no idea what that means, I would assume it would also have the cost of the container involved and, again assumed, I would be looking at near $100 for basically a stick in a pot.

ed

 

[Poink88]

Puerto Rico, I assume they were sent to you? Is it expensive to have them shipped?

Ed, Not sure if you've seen the one I posted before but mine is huge! About 6"-8" diameter trunk depending on how you measure it. It grow at a decent rate and I built my branches in less than 2 years. Not the right sizes yet but some are 1/2" diameter already. Considering that I butcher mine frequently, it should bulk up fast when left undisturbed. It propagate easily...even trimmings that fell under my shelving rooted actually. Backbuds like crazy too when chopped at the right time (warm weather). Now to get solid wood worthy displaying as deadwood eventually IS another story.

Shipping via USPS is comparable to those shipped here. I bought the huge one shipped for around $175 total (IIRC). Not sure if you can get similar sized tree for the same amount now though.