Tree for Flat Top African Style

[penumbra]

Any suggestions for a tree to style after a flat top African tree? I am looking for a tree for zone 5 - 6 so I am not really interested in tropical plants. I have too many plants now to winter under lights. But alternately do you have suggestions for a tropical or subtropical if I can't find a temperate tree to do what I want.

 

[Bolero]

The tree is a South African Acacia Tree... Giraffe's tend to eat away all the lower foilage leaving a flatish underside while the tops just grow flat, no crown....they are available online, google it....you would have to prune/shape/style to get the African look....
They are my favorites in all of Natures trees. that African Acacia look is Haunting,,,,

 

[WNC Bonsai]

I have a BRT that I have been considering training as a flat top. Right now I am just letting it grow to thicken up the trunk and develop the branch structure. It has been growing like crazy since it got hot outside and I have to trim off the new thorns every couple days!

 

[Forsoothe!]

Your picture is probably of a Camel Thorn/Giraffe Thorn, Acacia erioloba. A Honey Locust, Gleditsia triacanthos can do the trick for you. You need to train it to long branches which will then droop outwards.

 

[penumbra]

I saw an old thread of a BRT flat topped and it looked great. I am going to train one I have for that as a tropical. THe honey locust is a great idea but I am not sure how much the leaves will reduce. Nothing to loose and it is hardy here so I will be looking for one.
Thanks everyone, great ideas.

 

[HardBall]

Some dogwoods kind of tend to grow like that here in Missouri zone 6.

 

[Tieball]

Korean Hornbeam responds well for flat topping....well mine is doing that anyway. It’s a tree in development. It sat for many seasons on a bench with a shelf above it. It began to grow out on all sides instead of up. I’m in a 5-6 zone depending on the particular winter weather and the tree is outdoors in a wood box all year....no special winter treatment at all.

 

[penumbra]

Korean Hornbeam responds well for flat topping....well mine is doing that anyway. It’s a tree in development. It sat for many seasons on a bench with a shelf above it. It began to grow out on all sides instead of up. I’m in a 5-6 zone depending on the particular winter weather and the tree is outdoors in a wood box all year....no special winter treatment at all.

I guess just about anything could work but I have 7 Korean Hornbeams and they are all much more like oaks, or hornbeams, than they are flat topped.

 

[just.wing.it]

Flat top BC.....similar, but different....I guess.

 

[amatbrewer]

My kid was playing with styling a locust in that style. It was looking good but I don't think it survived the move.

 

[Hack Yeah!]

I've got a crepe myrtle I'm letting grow out this year, it looks like it would make a decent flat top

 

[Colorado]

I’ve seen some old crabapples around town with a flat-ish top. Here’s a pic I found on google. Not exactly a flat top but I think it would look pretty good in that style, and would be hardy in your zone.

 

[J.Doolittle]

Any suggestions for a tree to style after a flat top African tree? I am looking for a tree for zone 5 - 6 so I am not really interested in tropical plants. I have too many plants now to winter under lights. But alternately do you have suggestions for a tropical or subtropical if I can't find a temperate tree to do what I want.

I used a green gem boxwood for a tree kinda like a flat top

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I did some digging, as far as I can tell, none of the Acacia, including Acacia in the wider sense from North America are winter hardy enough for zone 5 or 6.

This means that you will either have to resort to tropical acacia species, or to less closely related substitute species. Robinia, the black locust is a possibility. Also consider Kentucky Coffee Tree. Both have problems being grown as bonsai.

Best bet is to train a totally non Acacia like species, choose a species known to work as silly putty for accepting various styles. The suggestion of a boxwood by @J.Doolittle is brilliant. Boxwood are very accepting of various shapes.

 

[Bolero]

XXXXXX

 

[Michael P]

Nigel Saunders did an acacia-style serissa that was convincing:

But NOT cold hardy!

 

[penumbra]

XXXXXX

??????

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Nigel Saunders did an acacia-style serissa that was convincing:

But NOT cold hardy!

This tree looked much better before he made it into the forest... nicer tree on its own.

 

[penumbra]

I just got a thornless honeylocust to start training.

 

[woodworker]

Bald Cypress. I was going to dig one up here in Illinois that a homeowner wanted cut down. They realized that their electrical went right under the tree, so they decided to just keep it. While looking at pictures of them for Bonsai, I discovered several flat-top versions which I found to be quite beautiful. Next year I am going to pick one up because I loved how they look with the flat top styling.