Tree ID, good for bonsai ?

[maroun.c]

I see a few of these trees on my morning walk, they have very nice bark and a foliage a bit similar to oak but softer. They seem to multiply by sending shooters on the ground from which branches emergence to form new trunks, like a natural raft. Plant snap identified it as Sargents barberry but I don't recall seing flowers or berries on it.

The main tree is rather big to remove so if I am to take one it'll have to be from the raft, do u think I can air layer it and cut a couple of trees from the air layers ? Do I do it now early spring ?

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

An air layer is definitely worth a try. Now is a good time to give it a go. Here are a couple links to help you on your research.

Barberry Bonsai Tree Care Guide (Berberis) - Bonsai Tree Gardener

Image Source

www.bonsaitreegardener.net

Hortipedia - Berberis sargentiana

Berberis sargentiana (<i>Sargent's barberry</i>) is a shrub. Berberis sargentiana is a species in the genus Berberis which contains between 595 and 798 species and belongs to the family of the Berberidaceae (Barberry Family).

en.hortipedia.com

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[maroun.c]

Thanks for the input and links. Any idea on ID ?
Thanks

 

[Crazy Diamond]

To me it looks like a wild Prunus or some plant in the Rosaceae family, but I dont know the Lebanon flora, could be Berberis also

 

[HorseloverFat]

Are there thorns on it?

Big thorns?

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Best I could come up with was Sargents barberry… very small flowers and variations.

cheers
DSD sends

 

[maroun.c]

Thanks for ur help. The flowers abd berries confused me as its spring and I don't see any. Yet from.what I'm reading seems they only show in May June.

 

[sorce]

Looks more like Hawthorne.
Or Pyracantha.

Sorce

 

[BrianBay9]

Looks more like Hawthorne.
Or Pyracantha.

Sorce

Never seen a pyracantha with serrated leaf edge.

 

[Eckhoffw]

I got Cockspur hawthorn. Courtesy of Picture this ID app.
cool looking plant!

 

[Crazy Diamond]

I got Cockspur hawthorn. Courtesy of Picture this ID app.
cool looking plant!

But is native to Lebanon? It grows wild in north america right? I dont trust very much those apps

 

[rockm]

I see a few of these trees on my morning walk, they have very nice bark and a foliage a bit similar to oak but softer. They seem to multiply by sending shooters on the ground from which branches emergence to form new trunks, like a natural raft. Plant snap identified it as Sargents barberry but I don't recall seing flowers or berries on it.
View attachment 427128View attachment 427129View attachment 427131View attachment 427132
The main tree is rather big to remove so if I am to take one it'll have to be from the raft, do u think I can air layer it and cut a couple of trees from the air layers ? Do I do it now early spring ?

You're really not going to have much success getting an ID here, unless someone who knows native Lebanese plants chimes in. The folks here are making guess based on European and North America guides and experiences...

I did a little search and came up with this article. #7 on the list is "Lebanon Oak" (quercus Libani)... As far as its suitability for bonsai, well, that's probably up to you, like most of us who are working with our own native oak species. It's new territory. Haven't ever seen a Lebanon Oak in bonsai culture. Might be worth searching Italian/Spanish/Mediterranean bonsai sites for it...

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Thanks for ur help. The flowers abd berries confused me as its spring and I don't see any. Yet from.what I'm reading seems they only show in May June.

Hmm…. Some folks actually check these things?

The worldwide range shows Berberis sargentiana exists in Lebanon .

Characteristic whorls of leaves etc. The questionable issue I have is the plants girth. I haven’t seen a barberry that thick, So 90%

cheers
DSD sends

 

[Tums]

Leaves (whorls, spiky shape) look like my Canada barberry but yeah that's a real monster you have there. Most of the barberries I see in the states are just twiggy messes that like to stab you when you're walking on the sidewalk.

 

[maroun.c]

Thanks for all the input. Will try to check with local nurseries to see if they know it. Or if barberry exists in Lebanon. Leaves do look a bit like oak but longer. I'll check the Lebanese oak as well l, I know we have manynoaks but never knew of a Lebanese oak. Heres an oak I picked from a guy that does bonsai here but it unfortunately died few months later for no reason..leaves branches and bark are very different. Leaves are spiky and more rigid

 

[maroun.c]

Th

You're really not going to have much success getting an ID here, unless someone who knows native Lebanese plants chimes in. The folks here are making guess based on European and North America guides and experiences...

I did a little search and came up with this article. #7 on the list is "Lebanon Oak" (quercus Libani)... As far as its suitability for bonsai, well, that's probably up to you, like most of us who are working with our own native oak species. It's new territory. Haven't ever seen a Lebanon Oak in bonsai culture. Might be worth searching Italian/Spanish/Mediterranean bonsai sites for it.

You're really not going to have much success getting an ID here, unless someone who knows native Lebanese plants chimes in. The folks here are making guess based on European and North America guides and experiences...

I did a little search and came up with this article. #7 on the list is "Lebanon Oak" (quercus Libani)... As far as its suitability for bonsai, well, that's probably up to you, like most of us who are working with our own native oak species. It's new territory. Haven't ever seen a Lebanon Oak in bonsai culture. Might be worth searching Italian/Spanish/Mediterranean bonsai sites for it...

Thanks for the link

 

[rockm]

There is a Lebanese barberry, but this doesn't look like one from what I can see in online reference. I highly doubt this is a barberry growing wild in Lebanon...I also think it's far too tall to be a shrubby barberry species...

Berberis libanotica - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[maroun.c]

One thing I'm not able to find online which might help with the ID is those roots/ branch /trunk ? Growing horizontal on the soil with new trunks emerging from them forming new trees, like a raft thing. Is this a common way barberry grows or is this just a coincidence on this specific tree where any trees can multiply in this manner. Does that indicate any species thats capable of this growth form ?
I'll ground layer it today and as we have a dry and hot spring and summer will water it every few days while walking. How long do u think it'll take for it to root? Can I expect to be able to pull it in autumn or next year ?
Thanks

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Most plants can raft, some easier then others, in fact I’m pretty sure all trees and especially shrubs, can do this.

cheers
DSD sends