Hino Crimson Azalea- looking for advice

Dan_Cormican

I've never seen this particular variety as a Bonsai. While I'm not sure if that is a good or bad thing, I do know that this tree has very small leaves which seem perfectly suited to Bonsai and puts on a pretty good fall show as all of the leaves turn a bronze/reddish color (Which scared the heck out of me the first time it happened, since I thought it was dropping all of it's leaves).



Anyway, I'm considering this tree as Potensai material and wanted to get some feedback. I'm thinking a small shohin broom style tree, but I'm open to anything. I’m a relative newbie to Bonsai and have never worked with Azalea before, FYI.

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Dan_Cormican

A wider view of the shrub.

Candy_J_Shirey

Dan -

I have some hino crimson in development. They were given to me by Nick Lenz. I would say that this is an endorsement of the variety for bonsai.

You may want to start your design by reducing the number of branches (ideally, two branches) at each node, otherwise you will have a swelling/inverse taper at these nodes.

-Candy

Dan_Cormican

Well, if Nick uses them, I feel better about that. Is Azalea a species I can cut back hard and expect it to back bud profusely? I have heard to trim it to 2 branches at each node before, as I watched Chase Rosade work on a magnificent old Azalea once.

Candy_J_Shirey

Dan -

My experience with Hino Crimson is that it does back bud quite well.

-Candy

Bob O

Hi Dan,
That is a nice plant and a good selection to start. Hino Crimson is one of the Kurume varieties of azalea. They are all great material for bonsai. Kurume is one of the early bloomers, they have small leaves & blooms so are a good choice for shohin or mame. They do bud back well but don't cut them back hard until about March in your area. When you do cut it back, leave some foliage in the upper sections of the plant to keep it from dieing back. Then be sure to rub off any buds that start on or near the base. Remember azalea's are base dominant so they will try to produce most of their buds from the bottom after a major pruneing. You can repot at this time too but be careful not to remove all of the feeder roots. cut back hard on the major roots & it should respond well. Don't leave any flower buds as you want all of the energy to go into regenerating branches. Good luck with it.

Candy, I would love to see some of the ones you got from Nick, of the teachers I've had I have the most reverance for him. He completely changed the way I see a tree.

I have attached a picture of a Kurume, variety I think "Coral Bells", that I took at the National Arboretum bonsai collection last spring.

Regards,

Bob O

Attached Images

postKurume#3.jpg (64.0 KB, 55 views)

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Dan_Cormican

Not bad for $1.25 at an end of season sale. Thanks for the advice.

Candy_J_Shirey

Bob - Not much to see yet with my Hino Crimson.

Nick has also taught me much about bonsai. With regards to tree design, I have learned to expect the unexpected with Nick.



Nice flowers....

-Candy

bwaynef

Is that in March when he's cutting it back? Just wondering 'cause I've just snagged several satsukis over the last week.

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