Description
This very beautiful small tree is a native of Japan, China and Korea. It is a naturally very variable species and that together with the fact that it has been cultivated by man for centuries has resulted in the existence of several hundred varieties. For bonsai the straight species is very often chosen although many different varieties are also to be seen coming from the far east as bonsai.
The species is very happy growing in UK conditions. It was introduced here in 1820. Like many fairly early flushing species spring frosts will always be something to watch out for. Otherwise it is quite easy to grow and keep as bonsai. It does have phenomenally good growth characteristics for bonsai. It responds great to pruning which helps the rapid development of branching. Like any number of deciduous species the branches are quite brittle requiring great care if wire is used. Happy in a pot with the correct care and treatment of roots. A must for any bonsai collection.
We do not know which variety of A. palmatum this bonsai is. It will have been been created from garden origin material and looks to have been a bonsai for some time. The bonsai is fairly simple in design with taper to the trunk and an established branch structure in place though obviously this needs to built on over a period of time mainly by way of ramification. The bark has quite an aged look to it, green bark well up in the canopy. The overall height is 68cm and the branching 44cm wide. The nebari or root spread is 13cm across at the widest, above this the trunk diam. is 4cm. It is in a Japanese blue glazed oval ceramic pot 28x19x5cm.
