Shortleaf pine

[Rusty Davis]

Does anyone happen to be working with the shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata)?
I picked up a cone and am going to be planting some in the spring.
Any experiences might help me on my way

 

[jeanluc83]

I don't know anything about shortleaf pine but if you want to start from seed I would recommend starting far more than you want. Some won't grow and some just won't make it. I would start a minimum of 50 but 100 would be better.

Good luck.

 

[GGB]

Always wanted to give it a try, the common name is basically "good for bonsai pine".

 

[Rusty Davis]

Thank you, I just have one cone and 25ish seeds. GGB I was thinking the same. I'm limited on space but wish I had grabbed a couple more cones!

 

[Grant Hamby]

I saw this shortleaf on a road trip the other day. I had to pull over and snap a pic. True to its name, the needles are extremely short on this guy. These things grow like weeds in my area, I always keep an eye out for one to dig! I still have no experience with them, but I'm hoping these photos can provide some kind of insight.




After reading a bit about them, it seems they have a tendency to form a J-shaped crook near the bottom as a seedling. This one definitely has the crook. I also read that they have some axillary buds down by the crook that are ready to spring into action if the top section is burnt or severed. That could be useful.

 

[Rusty Davis]

I didn't have luck with my collected seed but I will try again for sure!

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I had not thought to try this one because Sheffield's Seed listed them as zone 7 or something, I wanted more cold hardiness, but if they can "make it in Pekin, IL" they can make it anywhere.

They share a lot of traits with pitch pine, I including the ability to bud low on the trunk on older wood. Should be good for bonsai.

 

[Rusty Davis]

I may order seeds and get them planted quick. I'm still on a learning curve with my other little pines

 

[Rusty Davis]

Okay seeds on order!

 

[Random User]

After reading a bit about them, it seems they have a tendency to form a J-shaped crook near the bottom as a seedling. This one definitely has the crook. I also read that they have some axillary buds down by the crook that are ready to spring into action if the top section is burnt or severed. That could be useful.

If that's the case, I'd make a deflector shield to section off the top of the tree and scorch the top with a tiger torch in hopes of triggering bud-break down low... then jin the top and let it weather...

Sounds like a cool "experiment" to me...

 

[Potawatomi13]

I may order seeds and get them planted quick. I'm still on a learning curve with my other little pines

Why not check nursery for usable tree? Also internet search.

 

[Vance Wood]

You ought to try to get your hands on some Shore/Lodge Pole Pines. They are native to your part of the country and make wonderful bonsai.

 

[Rusty Davis]

Non of the nursery's do much with pines around me. I will try to find a couple though see if I can figure them out.

 

[Vance Wood]

Non of the nursery's do much with pines around me. I will try to find a couple though see if I can figure them out.

I read you live in Illinois? There should be a nursery of some kind around you and you should be able to find Mugo Pine at least. I realize that many of the trees you see discussed around here are not you standard nursery fare except in the area of very large landscape plants. Smaller Pines sadly are not much encountered except the Mugo and maybe some Dwarf Scots Pines. However those are legitimate species for bonsai.

 

[Rusty Davis]

@Vance Wood I have picked up a couple mugos after reading about all you have done. I will be adding them to the train at some point looking for help. They seem to do fine for me. I also picked up a ponderosa from Andy that's doing ok, I think the roots stayed on the warm side last year. I'll try something different with it this year. I also picked up a small JRP that seems to have gone to crap on me. Not sure where I went wrong on it. I'm still a baby when it comes to bonsai but I'll read and listen and take all the advice I can get. I'd like to have a couple types of pines but if I can only rock the mugos I will be fine with that!

 

[Rusty Davis]

I'm about smack dab in the middle of IL just south of Peoria

 

[Vance Wood]

I'm about smack dab in the middle of IL just south of Peoria

Big box or major nursery chains are unlikely to find. My folks lived in Quincy for many years, both have passed, but there are nurseries there and around and the situation with Pines is pretty much as has been described, Mugos and Goliath Pines for the landscapes. There are not to many nurseries that offer JBP's or JRP's they are not too popular for landscapes and can be sensitive to severe winters.

 

[Rusty Davis]

I recently found a nursery over in Rushville "Boehms" that does alot of native trees and he grows in the air baskets. After stopping there I'm on this major Blue beech hunt. Had I not had to take time off of work I probably would have just spent the money on one he had. I think it had alot of potential

 

[Grant Hamby]

Saw some amazing shortleaf pines this weekend. Very inspiring.




(I tried to get a little closer to that last one, it was only like 24" tall, but it was wayyy too close to the edge for me, haha)

I also tried to document a few details on the exceptional trees. For one, the bark on the older ones is incredible.




Then I observed some jins and noticed that the grain was very twisted as if the dying branch was hanging and torquing the grain for a while before it broke off.




The foliage appears to be two-needle, but I have no idea if they're single or multi-flush.



And lastly, I noticed some that had been either cut or broken near the base that were covered with new growth. One of them looked like it was all juvenile growth.




I hope this helps! I'm feeling more confident that shortleaf pine has a bright future in American bonsai!

 

[Vance Wood]

Where were these photos taken.