Nursery find, I think

[Pattik]

Visiting my niece who works for a large commercial type nursery (not a box store like HD) I stumbled across this Magnolia. We certainly were NOT shopping for a Magnolia, but this one just called to me. I'm new to this site, but I lurk from the sidelines and read everything I can and have read that Magnolias are not the best tree for bonsai, and I believe this one is NOT a Star variety but a Spectrum. Anyone have any advice? I did chop it off so I could get in the car, but not much else.

 

[coh]

I've only seen one or two magnolia bonsai in person, but have seen some beautiful examples in books and magazines. International Bonsai had a feature on them some years ago. They do tend to have somewhat coarse growth and large leaves, and I'm not sure how much the leaves reduce. I think they are probably best treated somewhat like wisteria - their best season would be in spring as the buds swell and then open. The winter branch structure can also be nice.

I'm working with two specimens but both are in the early stages (one in the ground) so I can't offer too much advice. They do seem to respond well to both root pruning and top pruning (in early spring, at least). Yours looks to have an interesting base but I'm not familiar with the variety. I'd want to see it in bud/bloom in the early spring, that might help determine if it's worth working with.

Chris

PS did you check out previous threads on magnolia, such as http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?10090-Anybody-Ever-Try-One-Of-These&highlight=magnolia on this forum...there are also several threads on IBC.