Surinam Cherry

BonsaiSteve1

Hi all,

I recently purchased a very nice surinam cherry. It's about 7 years old. I will be keeping it indoors, when the weather warms I will put it outside. I know they like lots of light, like to be moist, and misted (especially in winter). Here are some pictures. I got it for $44.00, a great price if you ask me.



I have a question about pruning. I hear you can cut the leaves completely in half and the other half won't die (some of the leaves are exactly like this). Any thoughts here?

Notice the nice canopy - If I want to keep it roundly shaped, should I trim all the leaves like that, kind of like pruning a hedge? There is lots of new growth and I wonder if I should let it grow out for a few and then go about shaping the canopy.

If anyone has experience with these trees any advice would be greatly appreciated. I have looked online but there's not much info I can find...

Attached Images

	picresized_th_1207284739_P1020278.jpg (59.3 KB, 32 views)
	picresized_th_1207284943_P1020279.jpg (69.2 KB, 58 views)

Advertisement

Graydon

Are you sure that is a surinam cherry? I have them as hedges (and a couple in pots) and that is not what mine look like. Can you provide a better photo of the leaves? Has it bloomed yet?

__________________

BonsaiSteve1

I cannot provide a better photo due to the size limit of photos here. Is there anyway to post larger photo's?

I am very sure it's a cherry, it was bought @ BonsaiWest (a very reputable place).

Hawthorn

Found a link with some good info on them:
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/...nam_cherry.html
Just thought I would pass it on, doesn't really directly answer any of your questions, but it's informative non-the-less

Yandrosxx

It may be a "eugenia" or "cherry" of some kind, but I don't think it's a "surinam cherry." Attached is an older photgraph of one of mine. The leaves are entirely different than yours. Moreover, the surinam cherry has distinctive and edible fruit.

Attached Images

	Surinam-Cherry-2.jpg (69.6 KB, 23 views)
	Surinam-Cherry-1.jpg (69.6 KB, 31 views)

BonsaiSteve1

I am contacting the seller and I'll let you know what he says, could be they are wrong!

johng929

Its a Australian Brush Cherry.

Graydon

Here are some surinam cherry photos from a few minutes ago. Notice the red tinged new leaves and the distinct fruit.

Yes, the leaves will persist even if cut in half. I shear my hedges and they take to that type cutting well.

Attached Images

	IMG_4808.jpg (21.1 KB, 14 views)
	IMG_4810.jpg (19.6 KB, 11 views)
	IMG_4811.jpg (27.8 KB, 12 views)

__________________

october

Hello bonsaisteve1. Your tree is most likely an australian brush cherry or teenie geenie cherry. They make fantastic indoor trees and maintain their dark green foliage through out the year. They back bud well and from anywhere... Even the trunk will have new buds growing from it at different points.

If and when you prune it, cutting the leaves in half is a so so idea in my opinion. I guess this is somehow supposed to train the tree to grow smaller leaves. A better plan is, to just prune regualarly. If you decide to keep the round shape or any shape, cut the branch a little further into the interior of the tree. In other words, rather than cutting the branch so it looks leveled off with the rest of the foliage, make your cut further inside the branch. This way, when you get the new buds, they will fill in that area with healthy new small leaves.