rockm

Candy's tree is a nice example of what a good arakawa bonsai can be. However, it is exceptional in that it has some graceful trunk movement.

I have an arakawa in-ground at the moment, growing out the trunk. I've had it for five of six years. In that time, I have noticed that this cultivar tends to be rather upright and rigid in growth habits. It grows initial trunk and branching in angular fashion. That is why alot of arakawa bonsai out there have "long straight boring" trunks.

I can also vouch for the fact that the cultivar is extremely quick in intial growth, but slows as it ages. It took three years for a thumb thick seedling to develop a six inch nebari in ground. Supposedly, as the cultivar gets older than 10 or so, top growth slows dramatically. Bill Valavanis, I think, has had a big arakawa in his garden for some time and is very familiar with the cultivar.

By the way Candy, where did you get this one?, if you don't mind my asking. It's very nice.