Sugarberry (Celtis laevigata) #1

[Cmd5235]

You all helped me to identify this trunk last year up here in Southeastern PA (well outside of the native range). The property this was located on has sadly been cleared for a residential development. I collected this thick trunk in the spring in a rush, and it finally started to leaf out a few weeks ago. It’s now producing multiple new shoots on all sides of the trunk, so I’m hoping it’ll survive this winter. I’m starting this thread to document the progress if it does.

Rings indicate an age of approximately 35 years.

 

[Cmd5235]

This tree really woke up this week and is continuing to throw out new shoots everywhere. Unfortunately this is creating a few large clumps of shoots, but I am reluctant to thin these out given how late the tree was to leaf out. I’m debating even leaving the super low buds on, but I am unfamiliar with how the trunk will heal and cover the scars.

If it survives and wakes up next spring, my plan is to reduce the height by about a third, carve the top into a deep “v”, and develop it as an informal broom. I’d love to chop it low and get taper, but I don’t want to take away more of the great bark texture.

 

[Doogliebop]

If they're anything like my native sugarberry it will recover very easily. The ones I collect, survive with minimal aftercare. They'll drop leaf with quickness but always come back np. Yours has especially nice bark.

 

[Cmd5235]

If they're anything like my native sugarberry it will recover very easily. The ones I collect, survive with minimal aftercare. They'll drop leaf with quickness but always come back np. Yours has especially nice bark.

Thanks for the info. This is the first Sugarberry I’ve ever found. We’ve got tons of other types, but it seems this one was fairly north for the species.

Have you worked on yours the year you collected? I really want to remove some of those branches that are all growing from the same spots, but I don’t want to compromise overall vigor.

 

[Doogliebop]

Thanks for the info. This is the first Sugarberry I’ve ever found. We’ve got tons of other types, but it seems this one was fairly north for the species.

Have you worked on yours the year you collected? I really want to remove some of those branches that are all growing from the same spots, but I don’t want to compromise overall vigor.

Yeah I have but they were smaller trees and recovered from collection. Idk if that counts for or against it. I would actually let it flush out and gather all the energy it can before dormancy. Sounds like it may have a long winter ahead.

 

[Cmd5235]

Depending on branch dieback this winter, I’m debating two possible styling options for this tree come next spring. One (blue marks) would be a heavy carve at the top, removal of bottom shoots, and keeping this as an informal upright.

The other (red marks) would be a deep v cut and development into an informal broom, which I feel is a more natural style for deciduous. I’d keep more of the lower shoots (not the very bottom ones) and wire them to create lower foliage pads.

Either way, I don’t want to chop it super low, as I want to preserve the bark.

 

[Cmd5235]

I've been really on the fence about this tree since last fall. Part of me wants to cut it pretty hard and short to develop more taper. However, that would probably lead me to remove most of the bark, which was what caught my eye in the first place and lead me to collecting it. On the other hand, I've been studying the images of the Mirai Yatsubusa Elm by @MACH5 https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/mirai-yatsubusa-elm.28814/. Granted, the bark on that tree is even nicer and it has a wonderful slant to the trunk, but the remainder of it looks to be fairly uniform in thickness all the way up. I'm being very indecisive now, and it's not helping this tree.