Dwarf Japanese Black Pine

GB_Bonsai

In another thread, a poster asked about a true dwarf Japanese Black Pine. Rather than hi-jacking the other thread, I thought I would respond here with some information.

The variety is kotobuki. It is a sport taken from a genetically defective branch. I do not know when the variety originated, but it was long ago. The defective branch exhibited very short needles that stayed short, naturally. Buds form normally, and budding is profuse. Candles are white and small. Needles emerge the same as any other Japanese Black Pine. Removing candles completely causes back-budding. Leaving the candles results in short branching and short needles typically 1" or less.

Growth is compact and slow. The short needles make kotobuki an excellent candidate for shohin trees. You can have a small tree look in-scale. Being a true dwarf, the needles remain short without employing reduction techniques.

They are resilient. They are also not easy to find, and are usually expensive when available.

I have been told, and never verified, that kotobuki can be reproduced only by cutting or air layering. Since I have never seen cones or seeds, I assume this to be true.

I am sure there are other members who have experience with kotobuki, and maybe they will add to this thread.

I attached pictures of a 22" tall kotobuki with 5" trunk base and 3" trunk above the base as an example.

Attached Images

	jbpkoto4f1resize.JPG (53.8 KB, 138 views)
	jbokoto4b1resize.JPG (67.1 KB, 115 views)

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Chadguay

Thanks for that info. I wasn't sure if kotobuki was another bonsai term I haven't heard of yet (still learning some of those) or if it was a variety. Thanks for clearing that up. I haven't tried a pine yet - perhaps that will be my first. I found a nusery that has them - but you were right they aren't cheap - even for the little ones.

GB_Bonsai

very short needles make the tree look much bigger than it is

Attached Images

buki3aresize.JPG (69.4 KB, 68 views)

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“Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain, and most fools do”
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GrumbleGuts

Thanks for that info very nice trees with the shorter needles I have a black pine, I wonder what level of nuclear radiation I need to expose myself and my children to to get one of those genetically mutated branches?

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