Rae's Redbud Bonsai

[Firstflush]

These are great trees! I have several saplings to be processed in the spring. They're all growing in a big pot along with some Korean dogwoods. But, did you know that there's also a Western redbud? Cersis occidentalis. It's native range is very limited to very northern California and SW Oregon, but they are available commercially. These are a very diminutive form of Cersis with the biggest mature leaves only about an inch to inch and a half. Maybe two inches on really healthy well feed specimens. Same awesome spring flush, maybe a bit more purple tinge in color.

We get them all the way down to central CA. Also, every botanical garden in southern ca has them. C. Occidentalis grows great here. Yes, much smaller leaves than the other more common forms.

 

[RKatzin]

We get them all the way down to central CA. Also, every botanical garden in southern ca has them. C. Occidentalis grows great here. Yes, much smaller leaves than the other more common forms.

Okay, I see what I did here. I was researching a few different trees, cersis and Tracy willow and I gave the range of the Tracy willow (off the top of my head without checking the book). Western Redbud is widespread throughout the SW US, but not common this far north.
I also discovered I don't have either type of redbud. Although I specifically asked the vendor if these were Western redbud and he said yes I find that they are C. siliquastram, which is the Mediterranean redbud and I think they have bigger leaves than the Eastern redbud! They're second year seedlings in a small pot and they're pretty small, but I potted them up and the new shoots are coming in a little bit bigger.

 

[BonsaiRae]

Decided to get up the nerve and check the roots of the redbud. When I put it in the pot I remembered having a few roots spread out and not a single tap root. I thought I would find the roots wrapped around the pot in circles. Very happy to see lots of fine roots.

 

[BonsaiRae]

I can actually expose some of the roots. Only one side with some possible girdling roots. Did not do any root trimming. It was just a check to see what was going on.

 

[BonsaiRae]

I left some roots exposed and added some fresh cactus soil to what was in the pot. I thought it may look better with a rock under her curve. That may change. She looks better raised above the pot a bit. See this spring if she liked the attention.

 

[rockm]

Now is pretty much the wrong time to be doing anything like this--root work (even with no pruning) shouldn't be done until early spring. Spring is almost two months away. Hope you have a place to store this that won't see temps below 25 or so.

 

[Underdog]

Umm what Rock said but I would say 35*
Is that the tap root growing sideways?
I've a couple I play with. One of my favorite signs of spring. I know the morels will be up.

When I cut the tap root on this one, huge dieback. I can keep 2 inch leaves w/out trying tho. I think potential in the species for sure.

Eastern Redbud Cercis Canadensis

Little thing makes me smile... Spring! Looking for a big one I can dig but no luck yet.

www.bonsainut.com

 

[BonsaiRae]

Now is pretty much the wrong time to be doing anything like this--root work (even with no pruning) shouldn't be done until early spring. Spring is almost two months away. Hope you have a place to store this that won't see temps below 25 or so.

It is kept in the garage. So the temps are in the 40 degree range. I was hesitant about the timing but it needed more dirt and I wanted to see if the roots were circling.

 

[BonsaiRae]

Umm what Rock said but I would say 35*
Is that the tap root growing sideways?
I've a couple I play with. One of my favorite signs of spring. I know the morels will be up.

When I cut the tap root on this one, huge dieback. I can keep 2 inch leaves w/out trying tho. I think potential in the species for sure.

Eastern Redbud Cercis Canadensis

Little thing makes me smile... Spring! Looking for a big one I can dig but no luck yet.

www.bonsainut.com

When I dug it up in 2019 it was growing on top of a weed barrier and the roots were spreading outwards. It never had a downward tap root. I have heard that they really don't like root work so I really was glad it wasn't circling and lots of fine roots.
Love the flowers on your tree!
I keep waiting for some flowers in spring. I am surprised every year it actually puts out leaves and I haven't killed it.

 

[Firstflush]

Just because you don’t have a tap they hate you messing with doesn’t mean you are free and clear with root work.
Still be careful.

 

[BonsaiRae]

If anyone is reading this thread...the redbud perished this winter. We had a really bad cold spell that even caused frost inside of the garage. I even had the trees placed by the one heat register. I learned a lot with this little one and vow to continue to learn going forward.

 

[Underdog]

Bummer. Mine both survived outside on the ground and one in the ground. I dug that one in spring a severely root pruned and replanted in the grow bed. Doing well. The potted one grew well but they both have been pest magnets.
'

 

[BonsaiRae]

Bummer. Mine both survived outside on the ground and one in the ground. I dug that one in spring a severely root pruned and replanted in the grow bed. Doing well. The potted one grew well but they both have been pest magnets.
View attachment 508782View attachment 508784'View attachment 508783

They look great. I will have to try again and leave them in the ground.