Spiraea Nipponica "Snowmound"

Marco B

Mame
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I like to show you the progression of my Spiraea. It was a very cheap tree, bought for only 5,99 euro. My choice of this Spiraea was based on the very small leaves this species has. I gave it a try.
I bought it as a small shrub in dec 2016. It was less than a meter in height.2016 dec.JPG

The choice of the front was based of the nebari and the way the small trunk moved. After the first prune, there was not much left; only a small trunk of about 6 cm in height.
2016 after.JPG
A also repotted it in a big plastic container.
In the first growingseason It shooted very well: this was in the end of june:
2017 june.JPG

This was the result of the winterpruning, in january 2019. I also repotted it now in a smaller container, after I cleaned and pruned the roots.
2018 jan.JPG
I wanted to "build" the tree with a minimum of branches needed for a good bonsai: one at the left, one at the back, one at the right, and a top:
In june 2018 I reached that goal.
2018 june.JPG
 

Marco B

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Later that season I changed my mind; first I wanted to make a formal Japanse style Moyogi. But my new goal was a more naturalistic, European style. So I had to grow more branches upward. August, 2019:

2019 aug.jpeg

Here is the bold version of it, in dec 2019:

2019 dec.jpeg

In 2020 I had the goal to get more branches on it, so clip and grow was a way to get that. Sept 2020:
2020 sept.jpeg


A year later: end of August 2021:

2021 aug.jpeg

Now in dec 2021, after it lost his foiliage, I did the winter pruning again. Every year a bit more refinement.
2021 dec.jpg

And ow, I have never seen a tree species with finer branches than this Spiraea. Take in consideration that this tree is only a bit less than 20 cm!

I also made a virtual so show my goal of this tree:

2021 spirea virt.jpg

…to be continued.
 

tangledtanuki

Yamadori
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Really cool to see the progression as well as the changes you made along the way when deciding to go in another direction.
 

Marco B

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Now it's exactly 6 years ago since the start of the development of this little one. The species has surprised me positively: Very fine branching is possible. I'm surprised that I never see this species as a bonsai. Nice that i Found a real tree that is a look alike!

IMG_2982.jpeg
34427615661_cf77d35007_o.jpg
 

InstilledChaos

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Very nice progression! I am impressed with how this species developed! Are you worried about inverse taper developing in the apex since so many branches originate from one spot?
 

Marco B

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Hey thats my Oak tree! I took the photo in Richmond park, theres a naked one of it floating around somewhere. Nice to see that you replicated it, good work😊
Ha what a coincidence! It is not that i'm replicate that tree, I spotted your photo after I made the design. About he naked version: You mean this picture? ;-) No idea where I found your pictures btw....

23599859409_9f08cee048_o.jpg
 

Marco B

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Very nice progression! I am impressed with how this species developed! Are you worried about inverse taper developing in the apex since so many branches originate from one spot?
Thats a really good point you made! Till now I wasn't worried about that..:)
I'm going to look critical to the top to see what is possible...
 

jradics

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very nice. we have many hundreds at work, I may look through them and see if i can find one that has a good start. You did that species proud.
What species of spirea is this exactly. the flowers are not like any spirea i know. they look exactly like philadelphus (mock orange)
 

ShimpakuBonsai

Chumono
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Very nice tree Marco.

I've got two of those as a bush in my front and back yard.
I assume that your tree is formed with a lot of clip and grow.

I've never thought about this species for bonsai because they grow very straight and long branches if you don't prime them.

I will have a look at my bushes because the base of those is rather big after more than 25 years of growing.

Maybe I can start with ons of them as a nice start for a bonsai.
 

Marco B

Mame
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Very nice tree Marco.

I've got two of those as a bush in my front and back yard.
I assume that your tree is formed with a lot of clip and grow.

I've never thought about this species for bonsai because they grow very straight and long branches if you don't prime them.

I will have a look at my bushes because the base of those is rather big after more than 25 years of growing.

Maybe I can start with ons of them as a nice start for a bonsai.
Thanks! I used both clip and grow, as wiring to shape this tree. But a strong bending is impossible because of the brittleness of the branches... When I began with this tree I choose it because of his little leaves. For the rest: I had no idea if this species was suitable for bonsai, but I gave it a try.. And this is the result so far.
 
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