OK, I'll buy a tree. Anyone have any Beech Trees?

[Jrmcmich]

Just got back from the Nursery and they had European Hornbeam and Monument Hornbeam. Either of those any good. There was an exceptionally beautiful Monument Hornbeam trunk.. about $200.

I like my European hornbeam as it seems easy and predictable. Still developing the apex and branches on mine but always has lots of growth. You take any pictures?

 

[Attmos]

One other note:
If you can find Korean hornbeam material, they are also a great bonsai candidate.

Thanks

Thanks.

 

[Attmos]

I like my European hornbeam as it seems easy and predictable. Still developing the apex and branches on mine but always has lots of growth. You take any pictures?

Didn't have my phone with me. I can do it tomorrow, I think I'm going back.

 

[Attmos]

I like my European hornbeam as it seems easy and predictable. Still developing the apex and branches on mine but always has lots of growth. You take any pictures?

It looked like all but one of the European had been grafted at the base of the trunk... is that common?

 

[rockm]

Just got back from the Nursery and they had European Hornbeam and Monument Hornbeam. Either of those any good. There was an exceptionally beautiful Monument Hornbeam trunk.. about $200.

Is the monument variety “fastigate?” I’d ask. if it is that means it adheres to a bolt right growth pattern which doesn’t make it good candidate for bonsai as all branching will push up from the trunk and will be hard to get to extend

Fastigate varieties are used for screening backyards etc. they grow tall and narrow

 

[MrBonsai19]

Huh.... Well OK then.
I hadn't heard anyone say anything negative about them yet and there's a really beautiful example down the street (full size) that I love seeing, so I thought it might not be a bad first tree, but I appreciate the knowledge. Better to know now. Dammit... lol
Maybe I will start with a Hornbeam as @The Barber suggested.

I think you may have misquoted me instead of August.

I will say I am only one year into the hobby and I am very happy with my European beech.


And Andrew Robson recently released a podcast about recommended deciduous bonsai species and he also suggested European Beech. I think there is a reason you see these being offered from places like Appalachian Plantworks and Left Coast Bonsai.

Check out this segment for more details. It is very specifically European Beech being discussed though :

beech discussion begins at 21 minutes into the episode.

They also discuss the beech leaf disease and suggest you shouldn’t let it discourage you too much unless you live in a beech forest.

 

[Attmos]

Is the monument variety “fastigate?” I’d ask. if it is that means it adheres to a bolt right growth pattern which doesn’t make it good candidate for bonsai as all branching will push up from the trunk and will be hard to get to extend

Fastigate varieties are used for screening backyards etc. they grow tall and narrow

What I read is that it's a cultivar of the European. I read that, if you could compliment it's Column-like trunk with its foliage, they make a bold Bonsai...

Think it might have been Bonsai Empire I read from. Probly not the best first tree, but the trunk is just so damn amazing. lol

 

[Attmos]

I think you may have misquoted me instead of August.

I will say I am only one year into the hobby and I am very happy with my European beech.


And Andrew Robson recently released a podcast about recommended deciduous bonsai species and he also suggested European Beech. I think there is a reason you see these being offered from places like Appalachian Plantworks and Left Coast Bonsai.

Check out this segment for more details. It is very specifically European Beech being discussed though :

beech discussion begins at 21 minutes into the episode.

They also discuss the beech leaf disease and suggest you shouldn’t let it discourage you too much unless you live in a beech forest.

lol Sorry about that.

 

[baldone]

For me, also a beginner the Chinese elm goes through weird stages and causes me some stress I fill the boxwoods, horn beams and for the most part Japanese maples are the easiest. But I am in a completely different zone and still learning.

 

[rockm]

What I read is that it's a cultivar of the European. I read that, if you could compliment it's Column-like trunk with its foliage, they make a bold Bonsai...

Think it might have been Bonsai Empire I read from. Probly not the best first tree, but the trunk is just so damn amazing. lol

They do not make bold bonsai. I’ll restate. They CAN make bold bonsai if you know what you’re doing. They probably WONT make good material for someone unfaimilar with beech and just getting started with bonsai

 

[Jrmcmich]

It looked like all but one of the European had been grafted at the base of the trunk... is that common?

I always wondered if these are typically grafted. I got mine at local nursery and do think it’s grafted. I asked guy I got It from and he said at one time was a larger tree in nursery that wasn’t doing well and guy there nursed it back to health and chopped for a pre bonsai which I picked it up as.