Tree Of Heaven.

dankone

i know i know, everyone hates these trees. BUT i think they would look nice as bonsai. anyone tried and what were the results? should i grow from seedling or collect a large trunk, as that might be a little difficult. ANY THOUGHTS?

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eat a bonsai for breakfast.

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TCR

If you mean Ailanthus altissima, I don't think the leave would reduce.
You could try it and see-- (trying to be positive here but I hate it too)

IndieBookMan

I have to admit, as someone who loves to make treasure out of trash, and as an urban gardener surrounded by alanthis, I have thought about trying this.

I agree that the compound leaves are probably too big. It also seems to grow really fast too (that's good or bad I guess depending on you pov). I guess I have to admit that my general disdain for the species had also kept me from trying it.

As for how to propigate it... Just leave a pot of soil out on my sidewalk for a couple of hours and I'm sure one of those things will volunteer to grow itself in it.

Barring that, probably a cutting would do it. It seems its harder to get them to not grow than to grow.

Go for it, good luck with it, and for sure let us know how it goes!

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Brad Grochowski
AuthorsBookshop.com

BarbaraM

Beware of the sap. It can lower blood pressure. That is why the Chinese brought the Tree of Heaven(Hell) to our beautiful Sierras when they came as laborers durring the gold rush. It was both medicinal and good luck. Now the invasive species, with its toxic root secretions is killing native trees all over the place. Since you would be keeping it in a pot, and I hope pulling all of the seed pods without fail so they don't spread to your neighbors, it could be a redemption of purpose.

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"What I like about bonsai is that it has a beginning but no end. A bud today becomes a branch tomorrow. It is like searching for the rainbw's end; the farther it is pursued, the farther away it is." John Naka