Shepherdia argentea

[Tycoss]

This tree is growing quickly at this moment. Given the results with this one so far, I'll have to collect more next year. Root growth has been very strong. It seems very fast draining substrate and lots of water works well on the two I have dug out so far. Nice, dense small leaves. I plan to start branch selection this year.

 

[Tycoss]

I had planned on getting a couple more of these this year, but spent all my collecting time on spruce and lodgepole pine.

 

[Tycoss]

Here is my little tree now, as well as some observations.
The buffalo berries do not seem to Calus over damaged areas very readily. They seem to die back and then grow around the wounds, leaving a dead area below like a potentilla or juniper. Cut branches appear to die back if there is no green on them, but bud back on the trunk readily, like their relatives the olives. They also have very rigid branches. I just put some guy wires on mine to pull them down a bit. Movement will be accomplished with clip and grow. I am aware I really need to work on my wiring, trying to get it tighter and more efficient.

 

[Tycoss]

Since it doesn’t seem to heal very well, I carved up the deadwood on mine. Further refinement to come. Though a broadleaf, this is a rugged species that usually has deadwood in the wild, so I don’t see a problem with it.
Source, I took most of the advice you gave earlier in the thread. Good thoughts. It seems very happy. It seems that fast draining soil and lots of water seems to do the trick. They live in dry areas here, but I think the water helps when the taproot is severed.

 

[Potawatomi13]

Trick learned on personal oak. These may be similar. Wire of lignified branches hard because of stiffness, however--------decided to try new branch before hardened up and works better. However brittle and can break/snap easily. Short window between too soft new growth and woody comes about time leaves just matured. Have had 4 breaks! Bent no further put on cut paste and all healed just great even one snapped to right angle. Remove cut past after a couple months so huge scar tissue does not grow.

 

[Tycoss]

I plan to develop the branching using clip and grow, primarily because of how these grow in the wild. They seem to have very sharp angular turns to their branching. That combined with their thorns reminds me of a hawthorn. Only the females get berries. I don’t know what mine is.

 

[Tycoss]

These have some of the tiniest and earliest flowers. If the plant is female, I might get some berries.

 

[Tycoss]

Took off wire and did some branch selection in May. It is growing fast at the moment, so I’ll do a bit more branch work later. Last year’s branches have thickened nicely. By leaving lots of growth, I’m thinking they should catch up to the older branches before long.

First picture the present “front” the second one the “back”.

 

[Tycoss]

My little sheperdia nearing the end of it’s second growing season post collection. It’s got a long way to go, but it’s responding well so far. I think the genus may have a lot of potential as bonsai material. Feedback welcome.

 

[Tycoss]

I’m also thinking I’ll remove the top Jin, as it won’t be needed once the foliage fills in.

 

[Tycoss]

Looking healthy this year. I removed the top Jin and turned it around. The other side has the start of nebari and no scars. It flowered a lot this year. Here are some pictures:
the new front.
The base.
The old front. Lots of development to come, but the branches seem to be thickening/ramifying well.

 

[Tycoss]

Quick update: I'm quite pleased with the ramification and branch thickening so far.

 

[Crazy Diamond]

Very cool plant! When I saw it reminded me a Eleagnus and of course it did because they are in the same family

 

[Tycoss]

Very cool plant! When I saw it reminded me a Eleagnus and of course it did because they are in the same family

Thanks. These are quite similar, but have a more angular growth pattern, nasty thorns and smaller leaves compared with most eleagnus.

 

[thomas22]

Really nice job with this tree and a good reference for others who may want to give this tree a go.

 

[Tycoss]

Really nice job with this tree and a good reference for others who may want to give this tree a go.

Thanks. That's exactly why I posted it! They are widely distributed and common and I think they have some nice features. I'll keep posting as it develops

 

[Tycoss]

Leaves coming out now. This tree has already flowered and is, unfortunately, a male. It looks like I should be able to get some good branch ramification this year.

 

[Crazy Diamond]

Maybe grafting some female branches??

 

[Cosmos]

Very nice, Tycoss, good patient approach. I'm going to pay attention to this species from now on, it grows here too.

 

[Tycoss]

Maybe grafting some female branches??

I expect I will just continue to slowly refine this one as it is. Sooner or later I'll dig a female to work on as well.