Kingsville Boxwood – First BonsaiNut Post & Some Questions!

[Anthony_Jamez12]

This is my first post here, so I hope I’m doing it right. I’ve been into bonsai for about a year and wanted something flashy as a reward of keeping up with this hobby. A couple of months ago, I picked up a Kingsville Boxwood from Timeless Trees in Houston (awesome place, by the way). I know this tree is probably too nice for me since I'm still a baby in this field but I couldn’t resist—it had everything I wanted: great taper, small foilage, and solid branch structure. I figured something hardy would be a good fit since I still consider myself a beginner, and the seller said Kingsville Boxwoods are hardy.

I know they grow slowly, and that they need partial shade, but outside of that I don't know much.

Questions:​

1. Deadwood Concern – The seller mentioned the lower left half has some deadwood from a past mistake by the previous owner and that it won’t grow leaves again. He reassured me it won’t affect the tree’s health as long as I keep up with maintenance, but I didn’t fully catch the details. I plan to visit him for help jinning that section, but since he’s far away, I wanted to ask—should I be concerned about this? How does something like that even happen?

2. Sunlight & Heat – It's hard to get partial shade from where I am at. I know Kingsville Boxwoods prefer partial shade, but Houston gets really hot. Right now, it gets full sun until around 3 PM, then partial shade. Is that okay, or should I adjust its placement?

3. Tree Age – I know age isn’t the most important thing, but curiosity got the best of me. One worker told me 15–20 years, another said 20–25 years. The tree is 12 inches tall (top of the pot to top) and 16 inches wide (left to right). Any guesses on its actual age?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[The Barber]

I'd get it more cover from the mid day sun in the summer so it doesn't cook and dry out. You can always build a canopy and use shadecloth on it. That's a pretty decent sized Kingsville, wouldn't surprise me if 20 years is in the right neighborhood. I would think the living part of the trunk can still backbud, and regrow new branches, though the branches that are dead obviously won't.

 

[Anthony_Jamez12]

Thanks for the advice, I'll look into adding some shadecloth to give it better protection during the hottest part of the day. As for the backbudding, that’s reassuring to hear. Appreciate the insight!

 

[The Barber]

Thanks for the advice, I'll look into adding some shadecloth to give it better protection during the hottest part of the day. As for the backbudding, that’s reassuring to hear. Appreciate the insight!

As far as the deadwood, I'd just look online or in nature for inspiration. Always helps me. Good luck with the tree, I love boxwoods, especially Kingsville.

 

[rockm]

Welcome to the 'nut.

I like your boxwood. I'm doubtful that it's a Kingsville though. Although the leaves are small, they're not "Kingsville" small and not tight enough in their growth pattern. Also it's pretty large for a Kingsville. A Kingsville that large would be pretty pricey since they are very slow growers and larger examples are not common. It's Not uncommon for other small leaved varieties of boxwood to be labeled Kingsville. All this doesn't make that much difference though. IT's a pretty good boxwood to work with.

You have it in good fast draining bonsai soil from the look of things. That's excellent. Boxwood don't like soggy soil.

I'd work on trying to get the tree to push foliage closer the trunk. That can be encouraged by both pruning the outer foliage and hard pruning into older wood (Which can be tricky to balance with existing branching). Thin out the existing branching and foliage to allow some air circulation through the branches and to"lighten" the image. All that can stimulate backbudding on older wood further back towards the trunk. As for the deadwood, boxwood wood is among the most durable out there. It is dense and when carved lasts a very long time. Use you imagination, take things slowly consider where you want to go before you start carving (dremel drills are great to use for shohin sized trees)

 

[Anthony_Jamez12]

Thanks for the welcome and the insightful advice! I’ll focus on encouraging backbudding, thinning the branching, and carefully planning any carving—really appreciate the guidance!

 

[pandacular]

Agree on it being a different boxwood. Some photos of my boxwood for comparison, lady bug for scale.