Description
The Common juniper, Juniperus communis, is one of only 3 conifer species native to the UK. It makes a good bonsai subject.
The species is one of the most widespread in the world and in the wild takes many forms from a creeping, prostrate shrub to a small tree a few metres tall. In a few locations in the UK. wonderful ” natural bonsai ” can be seen growing but it is a protected species and the areas that it can mostly be found are the likes of National Parks. It is known as a juniper with needle type foliage rather than the scale foliage of most other junipers we see in bonsai. It has long been cultivated for garden and horticultural use and as such many different varieties exist.
This han-kengai or half cascade style example really has a lot of potential but is crying out for a bit of refinement. It may well be of yamadori or wild collected origin judging by the character in trunk and branches. It is chuhin in size category with a height of 30cm. and an overall spread of 68cm. As the photos show there are masses of branches with which to form defined foliage pads. Rather than having to grow a lot of ramification it is more a case of pruning excess and positioning the remaining. The surface roots are 10cm. across and the trunk above that is 3cm. in diam. It is potted in a very nice handmade Walsall Ceramic round that measures 25x8cm. A nice example of a hard to get native species of bonsai. It came from the collection of one of our long standing regulars who had to give up due to poor health.
