BONSAI IN SOUTH AFRICA: UNUSUAL SPECIES by Carl Morrow, University of Cape Town ods of tree species indigenous to southern Africa have not boon investigated for their i growors in the country and these growers an enous plants is limited. Most nurseries do not stock Most of the many hund bonsai potential, The reason for this js that there are few bo conenntrated in the urban aroas and so their access to indi ‘weird and wonderful spectes, and tend to supply a very limited range of indig Having suid this, Iwas amazed to see the length of the list that developed when I sat down (o write this, the third article in tho sories, in which I look at southern African trees that have been used as bonsai nous material sol bs intresting for bons artist nsetigats [rest amit Sec ewer atta th ast leis tnporae dit tae rspond ats iring a0 that an otecyoe tal een at ol Suge pu compromise Weg tne aod space on something tat wil lseys ook od That ee eo otoriorleag oot ue pees te roth further inosigton: anal louis he pose of Ind recto powers of ea S00 el ee bald serncs ont teen aes ee itary at ag have ob filed but thoy do belp to achlove succoss. The following toes have bon ted es bona are less nd olen sre eglnily-selistle When comspeed Baobab (Adansonia This is a symbol of Africa and therefore many people want to grow this tree, [have sean some good results fram the northern arts of the country whoro the climate is suited to their eulti vation. In other areas, such as Cape Town, some growers have successfully maintained them but the winter rains and cool ‘weather are ryally not suitable for baobabs. During winter, the d.a very deep dormancy and so in Cape Town people ton put the troes in a garage to prevent them from getting rently grow easily from seed hut # dows take velop their distinctive bottle shaped trunk. ato) wet. Baobabs app time for them to ia natalensis and B. tomentoso) trees that havo attractive foliage, a small either white or yellow Bauhinia (Ban hi ‘These are pretty lit bilobod loaf and beautiful flow have not seen any large specimens and so feel that it is more small elegant trees. Bauhinias are hardy and are suitable for beginners. Num-num (Carissa These are enigmatic tres bacauso T have seen very fow bonsai Carissa in South Africa, while in the United States itis ofton Above Cape may, Coleonema album. This is an unusual design but mentioned in bonsai publications and occasionally seen in the Nowers make i mos alractiv. Artis Mike Guile photographs. They produce stiff woody growth and they have Belov A good example of Cape may, Coleonema albuin ‘icious spines on thoir trunks and branches. An added appeal AMI Isabel Hofmeyr rnc sor is thoir swootly scantod flowers followod by bright red Ett. Garissa bispinoscis usually mentioned as itis readily availabie in nurseries, but other smaller-leafed species may also work well as bonsai, Cape may or confetti bush (Coleonema album and G. pulehruen) his boautiful littio bush develops into bonsal with rugged. trunks tiny leaves and pretty white or pink flowers. The branches are brittle, so be careful when wiring or bonding them. If br 9 hilps by producing numerous buds from the mature wood. Coeonema trees Slawer well if they are kept slightly pot bound and they shouldn't be pruned aftor February because the Sowers aro setting at this fer flowering is @ good time to give an annual hard pprine into slape to maintain the compact beauty of the tree. potting should be done in spring. They produce massos of fine roots that fill the pot rapidly and it is best to romove only these roots rather than being too vigorous and bare rooting the tree as this will set it back considerably, h dows snap, the 80 feld & Flora June 2001Thorny rope (Dalbergia armata) This Fee is often used by bonsai artists from KwaZulu-Natal. The trunks can get as large as 13 em in diameter but this is rare in cultivation, The trunks and branches boar off as this encourages d disadvantage itis best to trim thes do branches below the cuts. O1 3 and cuts do aot heal very well. It strikes easily from s and should be grown in full sun in a sandy soi Bladder nut D. lycioides) This is another fine bonsai subject but as with Coleonem® it is more commonly seon in the Western Cape. Diospyros: n, glossy foliage that looks very good on a bonsai, The leaves however, do not reduce very ‘much making this tree mone suitable for larger bonsai It rows strongly but with a tendency to shoot upward which can ‘woaken the lateral branches, This strong apical growth should olled with regular trimming. It grows in scrub and forest and so it should be cultivated in a protected, cool, shedy nt There axe many species within this widespread genus, land some of the other species may also make goad b [fool that D. austro-africana may have groat potential 4 bluebush (Dlospyros whyteane a whyteana has beautifl, dark g be cont Coral tree (Eevthrina caffra, £, humeana, and E lyststemon) Coral trees develop into thick-stommod, powerful bonsai However, they do not develop fine branch ramification, It is best to grow them in full sum and dry conditions, as they are fleshy trees that can rot if kept too moist. & Immeana is a wart tive that ean flower when grown as a bonsai, In Cape Town these trees are difficult to grow attack by stem horers. This can be tre applications of systemic insecticide. Elsewhere this is less of « problem, ‘cause they are prone to ed with frequent Wild pride-of-Indi Cultivated specimens of Galpinia variation in their leaves - from lan smal-leafed varieties that should bo ¢ form very beautiful bonsai, showing exc ation within the canopy. The leaves are a spectacular (Calpinia transvaalica) nsvaatica show wide o to small -and it is the nsen for bonsai. The lent branch ‘oddisl colour in spring, followed by a deop green in surmiier tat changes to yellow and very bright orange in autumn, Diigent nipping of new growth throughout the growing season rong growth and the development of a superior compact, twiggy treo dentatis) ‘This is another toe that is under-used in its local environm yet is recommended overseas (I have just had to help a foreign author by sending her photographs of the tree). [tis an attractive too that can develop a canopy of small, light green Teaves and it has the advantage of producing its boautiful mauve flowers on the hansal, T have seen a fow small bons Grewia but having observed its development should also meke handsome larger bonsai, It strikes well from caultings and the branches are very exible allowing for easy Cross berry [Grewia ove training into bonsai forms, White milkwood (Sideroxyfon inerme) This is a protected species but can often be found in nurseries Milkwoods are slow to develop but they can be successfully grown as bonsai especially if you start with a troo with a lange trunk. After heavy pruning, buds will emerge from the trank and primary branches, and these cart be used to develop finer branches and foliage masses. Over time, milkwood trees develop a canopy that looks a lot ike a fig tree, Cut shoots should be loft 4-5 mm longer than tequired to allow for the. die-back that occurs ia the species. This is an attractive bonsal that has the added character of being « rarity and a tree that Is surrounded with history and iolklore, Sueculent bonsai South Africa is also famous for its wonderful succulent flora ‘and some of these plants can be trained as bonsal, while some of thom just have the instant bonsai look about ther Veld & Flora June 2001 One author has even called them “fun bonsai as opposed to real bonsai’. Some are good trees to experiment with because their succulent nature allows them to withstand a tre amount of mistroatmont while you are learning the te niques ‘tunately, some techniques such as wiring, of bonsai. Unto vory difficult to do on the to use directional pruning The succulent plants that develop into natural bonsai shapes can be very striking and have the appearance of great age. This is also an interesting avenue for collecting if you are interested in succulent plants, One can collect the species along with trying to find dramatically shaped and often very beautiful specimens although { don't think that these would sitietly be classed as bonsai Some plants, such as the round-leafed erassula (Crassula arborescens) and spekboom (Portulacaria fra), have a jointed growth form and the best way to trim them is to snap the twigs off at these joints. The tree will seal itself at this node and leaves will sprout out in the area. Care needs to be taken with their watering although many of the cultivated crassulas are tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions. echniques to achieve the desired We now got to the end of this nan next sue Iwill discuss some more species that have boon attenspted for bonsa flong with giving some advice on hovr to go about establishing @ taollection of bonsai Above, Bladder nut, Diospyros whyteana, This twee was collected from the Diospyros hedge that was removed during the construction of the new conservatory at Kirstenbosch. This isa Uh ‘wonderful through the th project ma sensitive sites. Artist: Len Redfern, Belew Wild prideof-india, Galpinia transvaglico. A good example of a bonsai, Artist: Rudi Adam, Maes Msrow tage ca agers on enviro a1