Roughleaf Dogwood - Cornus drummondii

[VAFisher]

Picked this one up this year, once again, from Zach. I felt like it deserved a thread, so here goes.

Here is the tree as offered. Great trunk, nice bark and a good start on a nice set of branches. The pot was a gift to Zach and wasn't for sale, so it would be shipped in a nursery pot.



I had this nice Sara Rayner pot that fit the tree well. I slipped it in, did a little wiring and stuck it in the shade.



And after a couple months here in VA. Looking forward to developing this one and hoping for flowers one day!

Will continue to update this thread with progress - good or bad.

 

[BonsaiDTLA]

The Sara Rayner pot is very befitting. Looking good!

 

[Zach Smith]

Looking good, Dan. I've been very pleased with how the Roughleaf dogwood performs. Strong growth, the branches don't get too stiff to bend for quite a while, and the leaves reduce well once you get the ramification going. Can't beat the bark, either!

 

[Joe Dupre']

Nice tree. It's got good movement.

 

[VAFisher]

Update on my dogwood. No repot this year and it is growing really well. I keep it mostly in the shade on the bench with my Japanese Maple. The form is pretty much set - just thickening branches and increasing ramification.

These pics are about a month apart.

 

[VAFisher]

2022 update. Just doing its' thing. I need to spend some time wiring this tree in the fall.

 

[VAFisher]

Cleaned up and ready for winter

 

[Joe Dupre']

Looking good. I've got one that's half that size but amazingly similar in shape. I scouted out a few this summer that are in the "are they too big to dig?" size range.

 

[VAFisher]

Looking good. I've got one that's half that size but amazingly similar in shape. I scouted out a few this summer that are in the "are they too big to dig?" size range.

Thanks. Curious how much sun you give yours. I've been growing this one next to my Japanese Maples so it doesn't get a lot of sun. Thinking about experimenting with some more sun next year to see if that speeds up development at all.

 

[Joe Dupre']

Thanks. Curious how much sun you give yours. I've been growing this one next to my Japanese Maples so it doesn't get a lot of sun. Thinking about experimenting with some more sun next year to see if that speeds up development at all.

Mine lives in full sun More sun equals more growth.......but the foliage gets ratty by the end of summer. I may move mine to the shade mid to late summer next year.

 

[VAFisher]

2024 update. I didn't do much to this tree this year. Basically just hedged it a few times. I'll be spending some much needed time with it after the leaves drop.

 

[August44]

2024 update. I didn't do much to this tree this year. Basically just hedged it a few times. I'll be spending some much needed time with it after the leaves drop.

View attachment 572162

Very, very cool tree, pot and what you have done with it. Does this Roughleaf dogwood grow wild. I'd like to get one of those maybe. Who is Zach? Thanks for the updates

 

[VAFisher]

Very, very cool tree, pot and what you have done with it. Does this Roughleaf dogwood grow wild. I'd like to get one of those maybe. Who is Zach? Thanks for the updates

Thanks for the kind words. Here is a map of their natural distribution. Zach is Zach Smith of Bonsai South. He is a member of the forum and has/had a business collecting and selling a lot of nice trees. I'm not sure he's very active any more as I haven't corresponded with him in a while and his site doesn't seem to have anything new.

 

[Joe Dupre']

Thanks for the kind words. Here is a map of their natural distribution. Zach is Zach Smith of Bonsai South. He is a member of the forum and has/had a business collecting and selling a lot of nice trees. I'm not sure he's very active any more as I haven't corresponded with him in a while and his site doesn't seem to have anything new.

View attachment 572168

We have a bunch down here, too. I'm located at the farthest southeastern part of the green area in Louisiana. Until I got into bonsai, I didn't know rough leaf dogwoods existed and surely didn't know we have them here.

 

[VAFisher]

We have a bunch down here, too. I'm located at the farthest southeastern part of the green area in Louisiana. Until I got into bonsai, I didn't know rough leaf dogwoods existed and surely didn't know we have them here.

I haven't actually seen anyone but Zach talk about or use this species. I'm sure plenty of people do though. On a side note, I hope Zach is doing well - haven't talked to him in a few years.