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bonsaiTALK Craftsman
Join Date: Feb-2004
Location: Winston Salem, NC
Country: USA
Posts: 72
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Brazillian Coral Tree (Erythrina crista-galli)
I just brought this tree in for the winter, because it is a tropical and it was 20F last night. That's the low end of it's hardiness range. I bought it this summer in Houston, TX from a road side vendor. It's called a Brazillian Coral Tree (Erythrina crista-galli), or Fireman's cap. I've never heard of this variety being used as bonsai, but couldn't resist trying it when I saw the trunk. It has deeply fissured bark, and is about 4" wide at the trunk base, 24" to where the first shoot emerges from the trunk. Seems to need a repot this spring, so I've been trying to decide how the initial styling should go. I could just trunk chop about 2" above the first fork and try broom style, or remove one of the trunks to introduce some trunk movement and try for an informal upright. Not being familiar with this tree, I'm inclined to go for the latter. I know it grows kind of like a rose; 3' canes. It flowered this year. Any coments or thoughts on this one would be appreciated. I have 4 side views near and far of each. I hope they are good enough to see clearly.
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