PatArizona

G'day all...

Just a word about why the botanical name is important...

From Jim Lewis... "...Ironwood can be the American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) which is an understory tree that likes damp soil. Ironwood also can be the American HOPhornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) which, while also an understory tree, likes quite dry soil. There is a Leguminous tree (whose name I cannot recall at the moment) which also is known as "ironwood." It likes tropical conditions, and somewhat salty water (it grows on the oceanfront). And then, there is the good old Casuarina that we've been taking about here. In some areas of the world (Hawaii for one) it too is known as "ironwood." It shares NO characteristics with any of the other ironwoods -- except perhaps for the tolerance to salty water, since it is extremelly tolerant of wind-blown salt spray. I think I checked once and found 15 trees in 15 Genera that were called "ironwood" in some area or another of this world...".


My added note: There is also the Olneya tesota, aka Ironwood, native to Southern Arizona at elevations below 2,500’.


Need I say more?

Pat

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BONSAI isn't about surviving in a storm, rather, how to dance in the rain.
THE ONLY WAY: Always remember, and don't ever forget, that whatever you read here is not cast in concrete... the intent of any advice is to help. In no way should you feel that I’m saying that my way is the only way…heaven forbid! I've seen far too much of the "my way or the highway" attitude in bonsai as well as in other areas of life.