Madrone Bonsai???

[jomawa]

Have been pondering local or native plants as possible "unique" bonsai, (Devils Club, just don't, you don't want to go there. Black Locust, puts out more suckers than you want and by default will not put them where you want them). What about that naked red tree? Became more familiar with Madrone when I was commisioned to build a matching cedar wood gate, (folks had bought a house that someone had removed one of two gates from). Needed Madrone branch on each side for the handle and a few pieces for lattice work in an upper "window" opening. Visited brother in wooded area of Ferderal Way and "acquired" the necessary Madrone material. Googled Madrone bonsai and found there's not many people doing it, (don't even recall seeing one in google). Let me guess, nakedness is not allowed in bonsai? No, leafless is considered naked. Non-character is not allowed in bonsai, hmmm, maybe? Just too durn difficult, maybe? Anyway, I know I'm just being nutty, but thinking outside the box, what would it take for a Madrone to have character enough to be a realistic bonsai? Would it's color (kinda brick red) be a/the major focus. Pondering? I know, stop pondering too "unique" a bonsai, right? Just stick to the norm, eh?

 

[sorce]

Looks nice!

Go for it!

Sorce

 

[Arcto]

Search and goggle Strawberry Tree. A European relative in the same genus. A number of people over there are working with it successfully. Don't know of anyone working much with Madrone yet. The barriers appear to be that it doesn't take well to root work and that the leaves don't reduce a lot. My best guess is that some people have tried unsuccessfully to this point.

 

[PaulH]

I love madrones. They're beautiful trees but I've never seen on as bonsai. If you've never seen a tree as bonsai it is not because no one has tried. But don't let that stop you. It wouldn't stop me from trying. I've searched for collectible madrone material an all I've ever found is mature trees or cane like saplings, nothing suitable for bonsai.

 

[yenling83]

Madrone lover here as well! Leafs might be a bit large, but I think it would be a good native candidate. Often, it just takes one person to become the champion for that particular tree. It just comes down someone going out there and figuring it out. I have no experience with Madrone, but I do with a few different varieties of Manzanita. Manzanita can be very finicky, the key to Manzanita Bonsai is all about keeping the roots happy which may be the same with Madrone. If you like Madrone you should do some experimenting with them. Try growing from seed, cutting, nursery stock or legally collecting. Let us know how it goes

 

[Bunjeh]

I tried one last year. They are pretty common around here being PAC NW and less than 50 miles from salt water. The one I dug did not survive the disturbance to the roots. I am still, however, intrugued. The bark seems awesome and it looks like it would put out some pretty good nebari. Good luck.

 

[dick benbow]

Nice to see some locals bantering back and forth...

The tree in the wild is in trouble. Lots of them dieing. Years ago when I went heads over heels into local trees, they were on my list. What I learned before giving up on them was they don't repot well and the leaves tend to continue oversized on survivors.

I have been working with a tree/bush that Northwest indians use the bark of for a laxative. cascara buckthorn, cascara, bearberry, and in the Chinook Jargon, chittem and chitticum

it responds well to everything I can think to do to it to become a nice bonsai. Vigorous, good break-back, leaves reminding me of hornbeam. I wanted something
to use with my tokonoma display to tie in with NW american indian tribes. It's deciduous so it works nicely in display with an evergreen, such as yellow cedar very well. Yellow cedar was used for lodge shelter, basket weaving an a multitude of other uses by NW tribes. Consider sacred in thier culture.

While I commend those that encourage the effort to learn with this NW species, I think there are other efforts that would be more justified for the time and effort spent.

 

[jomawa]

cascara --- I think there are other efforts that would be more justified for the time and effort spent.

Dick, appreciate your input. Cascara brought back memories of a generation ago when a buddy and I, while in high school, went cascara bark harvesting. Truly do not recall whether we were closer to Lacy/Olympia or farther south, west of Winlock but he knew where to go because his family had been doing it. "Don't lick your fingers." Found out you don't get paid much for a heap of gathering. I'm focused mostly on vine maples for bonsai and sorta keying in on rafts/forests (nurse log with trees) because of the v maple over abundance in SW WA just screaming to be ripped from the ground and made better. OK, due to my lack of finances I'm an opportunist. That's why on another thread I'm asking for input about rooting cuttings from a wind toppled 18"+ diameter Weeping Alaska Cedar. I don't think I'll be going right out and digging cascara, (maybe in the spring?). Sooo, back to the laxitive effect of cascara bark, if while wiring this cascara bonsai for a while - and you manage to draw blood on your finger(s) - and you happen to put it your mouth to handle the bleeding - how many times can I lick my wound(s) before it causes a laxative situation? Thanks again for "good" native possibles, and I like your last statement queuing me into what I should focus on, time and effort as it relates to outcome.

 

[JudyB]

I know that Dan Robinson has several manzanitas that he's been working with for some time.