REVIEW: Crimson Pygmy Barberry

Will_Heath

REVIEW: Crimson Pygmy Barberry
Berberis Thumbergi Atropurpurea 'Nana'

Crimson Pygmy Barberry Berberis Thumbergi Atropurpurea 'Nana'
Purchased from Local Nursery, Michigan
Purchase Type: One Gallon Container
Popular variety of Japanese Barberry
Cost: $9.50
Color: Blood Red Foliage
Size: Dwarf (2’ht x 3’w)
Habit: Compact
Bloom: Gold
Ease of Cultivation: Medium
Uses: Bonsai all sizes
Growth Rate: 3 inches per year

Noted for its glistening reddish purple deciduous foliage color, this Barberry has beautiful dark red foliage that gets even darker toward the end of summer. The flowers are tiny gold balls that cover the plant in the spring. In the fall they get bright red elongated berries, hence the name, that last until spring.Thorns and very brittle branches make this a hard plant to wire once the growth hardens. The trunk on this barberry is very furrowed and crossed with rough edges making for fantastic looking bonsai.


Will Heath

Attached Images

barberry 001.JPG (47.8 KB, 180 views)

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Attila

You've got some really cool shohin material right there!

Hope you'll make a great little masterpiece from that one, careful not to blow your chance when working with that nice trunk

Will_Heath

Thanks Attila, I do have high hopes for this one....one thing that sometimes bothers me is that darn root wrapped around the left trunk, it makes the two trunks look like they are mating, lol.

I posted a progression of this to date here.


Will

Attila

What if you cut it off? Would it leave a large gap or something?

Will_Heath

No, it'll come off at the next repotting. At the first repot that darn piece had 1/3 of the total rootage attached to it (as always) so I didn't chance it. Next time though, it's a bucket of cold water for these trunks.

Will

bonsaial1

I feel as if I have to tiptoe here, because I do not want my post misconstrued in any way. So far Will has said he has high hopes for this one, and Atilla feels that this is really cool material, and worthy of masterpiece bonsai in capable hands.

My question is this. If its not too much trouble, I would like to find out from both Will and Atilla what makes this interesting for them? I would be especially interested in what the form for the future tree would be, and just how to handle the extremes in trunk growth between the left and the right?
Further, If Will has a plan for the future and will be chopping or retaining the trunks in its present configuration? Would you mind letting us know where you might be taking this one? While the trunk is interesting, I am having a hard time visulizing a tree in there. Maybe some others could offer some help here too.

No critique from me, no bad mouthing, just interested in a point of view that would help me in my future in bonsai.

Al

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EarthgirlOK

Well, Al, when I first read your post here (after reading what seemed like a critical post on a similar thread), I was tempted to defend this little tree.

But, I'm afraid you asked a good question. I can't envision any of the classic styles with this tree except for a loose sumo style. I do think in the appropriate time the wraparound root needs to go. I find the width of the two trunks for the heigth to be convincing, and the texture of the bark is good. Now, as to the line(s) of the tree. I can't tell very well from the pic, but I think I'd be tempted to remove branch(es) leaving a clear shot of the elbow-branch. That has interesting movement...

Then maybe try and separate the two trunks a little to let the birds fly through...

Makes me think of starting a new thread...

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Will_Heath

Al,

Good trunk to height ratio, very small leaves, tiny flowers, and bark that looks like it is 200 years old. These qualitys alone seem to put this high on the scale of possibilities with a lot of options. These qualities and good nebari give me the "high hopes" I mentioned, but I'm all smoke, what do I kmow?

By your post I imagine that you see no future in this piece? Or maybe you do have an idea that you would like to share? I have been debating on a direction to go with this one but as of yet haven't decided. I have been simply letting it recover from the inital styling that was done last year.

I do imagine that I will most likely keep both trunks and have mulitple canopies, as outlined in the pic below. I guess that would then qualify it for the classical dual trunk style. Although I can also see possibilities in removing either trunk, why waste one? Besides I have 7 of these currently in the ground....

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I orginally posted this tree only as an example of the species for a "review." Since this seems to have turned into a styling option thread I'll run with that and see what develops.

Having given this some thought after the above comments, I think I do indeed see a tree here, using the branches that are currently there.

Although Al has said "I am having a hard time visulizing a tree in there." and EarthgirlOK has said "I can't envision any of the classic styles with this tree except for a loose sumo style." I have to disagree, I do indeed see a tree in here, in fact I see a bonsai here.

I am very interested to see what others have to say on this Barberry.


Will

Attached Images

	idea.JPG (49.0 KB, 78 views)
	idea2.JPG (44.2 KB, 61 views)

Joanie

I think that it is a quite handsome piece of material, and although perhaps it doesn't currently fit any of the traditional styles, it will with time and care become a wonderful tree. As it grows, you will see within it the soul of a bonsai and you will release it. That takes time, and paying attention to the growth pattern of the tree. You are already very far along the path.

The barberry is a really fun and interactive tree, they are born with "character"! Very cool fissured bark, bright purple red leaves, flowers and berries when quite young. They bud back readily, and they are tough.

I hope to find some more around here, I currently own the only one I have ever seen at a nursery.... having several would be a blast! How about a little group planting?

Good luck, Will, and congratulations on some darned fine prospects!

Joanie