Juniperus horizontalis 'Prince of Wales' Bonsai?

[Vin]

Don't get excited I was looking around at Lowe's today and found a Juniper I hadn't seen before:
Juniperus horizontalis 'Prince of Whales'. The foliage was really interesting and I was wondering if anyone has tried it out as bonsai? I did a little web searching but didn't find much. The last time someone posted on the Nut about it was in 2008. Not much there.

 

[Vin]

Well, I guess no one has worked with it before. I'm telling you the foliage is really quite interesting! Even though the trunks on the ones at Lowe's are just little 1" nothings, I may pick one up and see how it takes to grafting. Wait, can you graft horizontalis onto chinensis stock? I think some research is in order this week. Back to the great soil debate..

 

[GrimLore]

I'm telling you the foliage is really quite interesting!

Not many people try Eastern Reds Cedars either but I have 5 When it comes to Junipers I try what ever I like the look of and that one I would try if they had them here.

Grimmy

 

[Vin]

Not many people try Eastern Reds Cedars either but I have 5 When it comes to Junipers I try what ever I like the look of and that one I would try if they had them here.

Grimmy

I hear you! I have three Reds in pots and a half a million more for the taking if I want more. I've given some away and now I'm just keeping an eye out for the "special" ones that have interest.

I'm going to pick up a couple of the Prince of Wales just to see how they are. Maybe their the best kept secret in bonsai Thanks for the reply.

 

[GrimLore]

I'm going to pick up a couple of the Prince of Wales just to see how they are. Maybe their the best kept secret in bonsai Thanks for the reply.

No problem! My Wife even encourages it by saying "try it, if it does not work out plant it in the landscape". Either way they is certainly no harm in learning new species.

Grimmy

 

[Paradox]

I had a J. horizontalis (different cultivar) a couple of years ago. I decided that the foliage would be hard to make workable because it didnt seem like it would make nice pads and I got rid of it.

 

[Vin]

I had a J. horizontalis (different cultivar) a couple of years ago. I decided that the foliage would be hard to make workable because it didnt seem like it would make nice pads and I got rid of it.

Good point. Maybe that's why I can't find any examples in bonsai form. I'm still going to pick up a couple. As Grimmy's wife basically says, worst case scenario I can use the in the landscape.

 

[Nwaite]

Why would you graft it Vin?

 

[Vin]

Why would you graft it Vin?

The trunks on them are very small and will take too long to grow into something interesting. I'm an old guy and won't be able to make something of them for many years without grafting. I have some procumbens and parsoni with decent trunks that I could use as donors.

 

[Nwaite]

I really need to start larning /practicing grafting.

 

[Vin]

I decided that the foliage would be hard to make workable because it didnt seem like it would make nice pads and I got rid of it.

I've given your comment some serious thought. What I came up with was a question for everyone. Just because it's a Juniper, must it have pads?

 

[Paradox]

I've given your comment some serious thought. What I came up with was a question for everyone. Just because it's a Juniper, must it have pads?

It wasnt just "pads". It didnt seem like the cultivar had much branching so fine branching at/near the end of larger branches wasnt going to happen.

 

[barrosinc]

For what I see online... if it isn't shimpaku/kishu/itoigawa that I am grafting to get soft, dense and dark green foliage, I prefer not to graft at all.

 

[Vin]

For what I see online... if it isn't shimpaku/kishu/itoigawa that I am grafting to get soft, dense and dark green foliage, I prefer not to graft at all.

I'm going to snap some photos this weekend of the foliage. It is really quite soft and beautiful in color. Maybe there are alternatives to what we all consider the "norm" when it comes to Junipers. I don't know, I'm just thinking out loud. A mad moment if you will.