Need Opinion: best Shohin formal upright or broom

breravin

Hey,

I posted this at another site (in case it looks familiar), but just found out about bonsai talk today so I thought i'd ask here as well . Anyway...

I was wondering what some people consider a good canditate for a relatively small (7-10") deciduous 'Chokkan'/'Formal upright' bonsai. I'm looking to create a bonsai that imitates something along these lines:

Tall Tree
Tall Tree 2

So...something with a somewhat bare trunk with top heavy foliage. I'm not opposed to a coniferous type tree if it works well. But I'd prefer deciduous/tropical if possible. Any thoughts on good species?

(I was also informed that what I'm looking for is really more of a 'broom' style than formal upright. I definitely want more of a bare trunk than tapered foliage. I almost wonder if what i'm looking for would lean toward a literati style. i.e. tall and lean with foliage at the top)

Thanks for any feedback.

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Ralph

Picture # 2 is of a bald cypress. Images likes this one, created as bonsai are referred to as a flat top style, and are a popular style for bald cypress.

A couple of excellent flat top cypresses can be seen here:

http://images.google.com/imgres?img...2004-04,GGLD:en

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breravin

Now, would it be possible to take a tree like that and keep the trunk thinner and the foliage more sparse and top heavy, while still keeping the tree relatively small (7")? I'd assume it would be, and at that point just a matter of how someone chose to style it, but wonder if sparse foliage at that size is enough to keep it healthy.

Any other good species?

Thanks

Ian_Homer

Hello Breravin, Welcome to bonsaiTalk.

It will help the membership to know your location details and a little bit about yourself.

If you can go to "User CP" in the top left hand side of the menu bar. Here you will see a "profile" section, where you can fill in...

1. General Location
2. Heat Zone
3. Experience Level
4. Hobbies and Interests etc.....

and see links for quite a few other features you can use, like "Private Messages".

You might like to visit the "Introduction" thread that can be found by clicking this link here

Do not be afraid to ask questions, the membership here are always willing to help.

Best Regards.
Ian.

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breravin

Profile updated

Any other thoughts on a good skinny/sparse/broom species? I should probably also mention that i'd prefer a hearty/resilient tree as opposed to elegant tree that is picky/more difficult to maintain (eg Cotoneaster). I realize that request is relative, but the point being that I'm not necessarily looking for a 'challenge'.

pootsie

Breravin ... I think I recognize that name from my gardenweb days. Howdy, and welcome to bonsaiTALK!

pootsie

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sauce

And you want deciduous too. Sounds to me like Bald Cypress is your tree. They are very easy to grow and if I'm not mistaken pretty much disease and bug resistant. They grow in swamps and to a certain degree in drought like conditions so they aren't finicky. I have read they grow as far north as Wisconsin too so cold weather is apparently not a problem either.

breravin

Hi Pootsie, you are correct ! If I remember right, you're a native Ohio-an like myself (as I confirm by looking at your "location" :Þ), good to see you're still around!

Thanks Sauce, Looks like I'll be looking into bald cypress.

<edit> Ralph, I just noticed tree 10 and 11 in the link you provided. Those are almost exactly what i'm talking about! Thanks.

ozzerbon

Clearly the style considered should be Literati. Any tree species can be used, whatever your choice. Alas your email is NON too clear [to me that is] as to what you actually want to do?

You can email me privately if you want?

Nigel

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