Description
Amongst the deciduous tree species with which to do bonsai European beech, Fagus sylvatica, is one of the best, particularly if you are thinking of native tree species.
It is very hardy and easy to grow the tree responds great to bonsai techniques and develops quickly as bonsai. Several examples are to be found in the nursery’s private bonsai collection. It is found both as a planted tree and growing wild throughout the UK. and is developed from both nursery stock of all ages as well as wild collected material.
We recently purchased part of the collection of a local enthusiast who was reducing his numbers of trees and this was amongst them. it has been a bonsai for quite a while now and has clearly been shaped from wild collected material into something approaching a windswept style. I don’t think that the bonsai really needs much more in the way of branches but maybe the apex could be shaped a bit more to reflect to movement of the lower branches. May be just pruning or a combination of pruning and wiring would do the job. I rather like the simple design of this beech and the trunk exhibits some natural looking character which enhances the mature look. The twig close up photo should show the nice plumb healthy buds soon to burst into leaf. The bonsai has a height of 63cm. and a spread of 40cm. Surface rootage is 14cm. across at soil level and above this the trunk diam. is 4cm. The unglazed oval ceramic pot measures 36x25x5cm.
