POSSUMHAW Ilex decidua

Poink88

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Anyone know why Possumhaw (Ilex decidua) is hardly used for bonsai? It is almost like winterberry (Ilex verticillata) but it is hardly mentioned in bonsai circles. :(

A few links and pics about it.

http://selectree.calpoly.edu/treede...ession=selectree:42F949490307e2C020rlw157DE57
holly_possumhaw-ro.jpg


http://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=17842
PCD3946_IMG0086.JPG


http://www.cheekwood.org/Gardens/Seasonal_plant_highlights.aspx?id=12
IMG_0989_420x315.JPG
 
This holly looks very promising for bonsai and would add a very nice winter color in your yard.

I am planning on hunting for a good sized landscape tree from nurseries this year. Unless someone tells me of a major problem with it (bonsai wise) :D
 
re: your post

Dang it Dario. I had not found that site yet. Now I will have hours of reading to make sure I haven't missed something wonderful by not browsing it. Looks like a very interesting site. Thank you for the share.
a.

Anyone know why Possumhaw (Ilex decidua) is hardly used for bonsai? It is almost like winterberry (Ilex verticillata) but it is hardly mentioned in bonsai circles. :(
 
POSSUMHAW (ilex decidua)---outdoor,
also called DECIDUOUS HOLLY and WINTERBERRY
A shrub with stout spreading branches that curve upwards at the tip. The bark is light gray-brown roughened by wart-like outgrowths. Its deciduous spoon-shaped leaves are thick and leathery, light green above, and pale and slightly hairy beneath.. Small flowers appear in May-June on short branches. Shiny red berries ripen in September and last through winter.

http://www.american-bonsai.com/product_info.php?products_id=3538
 
I see your planning to get a nursery tree...but seen where collecting them in nature. One need to plan years to take on the task. You would read about it on the third page. (Couldn't copy and paste for some reason)

http://files.meetup.com/1273803/Journal_Sundamizu Feb 2013.pdf

Thanks. :)

I heard the same for Ilex Vomitoria (Yaupon Holly) but I collected lots of it (old ones too) from yards and they hardly missed a beat. Roots on those were hacked & chopped hard. Some died but I learned/think/believe the reason is fungal attack, not root chop. All that I sprayed with fungicide survived...even the ones showing deterioration quickly recovered.
 
Dang it Dario. I had not found that site yet. Now I will have hours of reading to make sure I haven't missed something wonderful by not browsing it. Looks like a very interesting site. Thank you for the share.
a.

Which site? Thanks but I am a bit confused. :)
 
The main drawback would be the name, Possumhaw :( just does not sound very Bonsai-like. Then you would have to write Possumhaw each time you posted about it as there is no really good abbreviation. If you posted I just chopped and wired my Possum, the SPCA might get wind of that and be at your door with a lynch mob. :)

ed
 
The main drawback would be the name, Possumhaw :( just does not sound very Bonsai-like. Then you would have to write Possumhaw each time you posted about it as there is no really good abbreviation. If you posted I just chopped and wired my Possum, the SPCA might get wind of that and be at your door with a lynch mob. :)

ed

ROFLMAO....but that didn't stop people using pussy willow for bonsai. ;) You know people post about trimming their tree and all. :p
 
The bark is light gray-brown roughened by wart-like outgrowths. (To what extreme is this wart-like outgrowths?) It could either add a lot of character...or drive you nuts.
 
The bark is light gray-brown roughened by wart-like outgrowths. (To what extreme is this wart-like outgrowths?) It could either add a lot of character...or drive you nuts.

For me they add character. If they get worse than acceptable, I can always shave them off. :D
 
So it's so funny this came up. My local high end nursery just brought in three of these. They are about 6 feet tall and are meant for landscape plants. Right now they have no leaves but are covered with those awesome red berries. I sat down last week at the nursery and tried to google bonsai info about them but found nothing. I would love to know if anybody has experience with them. They were so cool looking in the winter the only reason I did not buy one is ,because I could not find something to show me how they are when the leafed out.
 
ROFLMAO....but that didn't stop people using pussy willow for bonsai. ;) You know people post about trimming their tree and all. :p

So, what would be wrong with trimming your willow, or trimming your... I get it ;)

ed
 
So it's so funny this came up. My local high end nursery just brought in three of these. They are about 6 feet tall and are meant for landscape plants. Right now they have no leaves but are covered with those awesome red berries. I sat down last week at the nursery and tried to google bonsai info about them but found nothing. I would love to know if anybody has experience with them. They were so cool looking in the winter the only reason I did not buy one is ,because I could not find something to show me how they are when the leafed out.
Missed your post (how did that happen?) :confused: :p

The leaves looks bigger than Yaupon but seems like a good compromise with the amount of berry you get in winter. Having many yaupon already, I won't force it but will not pass up a good one if I "accidentally" stumble on it in a nursery. ;)
 
Good grief now you have me contemplating going and picking one up. I was there today to buy a quince and went to look at them again. There is a nice one that could make a good clump style tree....
 
Do birds eat those berries :confused:

Grimmy
 
Get a few from a nursery or by collection. I found they did not take top pruning very well. In the end I traded all of mine away. YMMV.

I found bay-berry equally disapointing. :(
 
Get a few from a nursery or by collection. I found they did not take top pruning very well. In the end I traded all of mine away. YMMV.

I found bay-berry equally disapointing. :(

Thanks. I might stick with yaupon holly then. :(
 
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