What kind of pines and conifers can be successfully grown in southern california with vigor?

[justBonsai]

Hi,

Of recent I almost purchased an American Larch that I had intended to grow here in Southern California. After some reading on my own and some advice from the seller I had decided to forgo the purchase given that larches aren't well suited to my temperate winters and 80-100+ degree summers. That said, what kind of pines and conifers can I grow successfully in Southern California with lots of vigor? I have seen black and white pines successfully grown with plenty of vigor here, so those pines aside. Any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks!
Julian

 

[Smoke]

I suggest a trip to San Gabrial Nursery, minutes from you and ask the bonsai experts there. They have many pine varieties and I am positive you can have all your questions answered very easily.

 

[justBonsai]

I suggest a trip to San Gabrial Nursery, minutes from you and ask the bonsai experts there. They have many pine varieties and I am positive you can have all your questions answered very easily.

I've been their fairly frequently. Most of the time though, there is no staff around the entire bonsai area. There are some people managing the front desk and cashiers, but that's about it. Are there any specific individuals I should ask for? Anyhow next time I visit I'll try to ask around.

 

[Smoke]

Economy and the drought has caused many nurseries to cut staff. We have a couple nurseries up here in Fresno that are now only open on weekends because no one comes during the week. No one buys plants when the Governor says you can't water them.

 

[michaelj]

I actually went there for the first time today, since I had a work-related task in the area, and I'd been hearing a lot about their recent thefts. I love that nursery. Their bonsai area reminds me of the old bonsai nurseries that first got me interested in bonsai 30 years ago. They're all gone now, but San Gabriel Nursery almost makes up for that.

And yeah, we can pretty much assume that if it's thriving in San Gabriel, it'll do okay elsewhere in the L.A. basin.

 

[justBonsai]

I actually went there for the first time today, since I had a work-related task in the area, and I'd been hearing a lot about their recent thefts. I love that nursery. Their bonsai area reminds me of the old bonsai nurseries that first got me interested in bonsai 30 years ago. They're all gone now, but San Gabriel Nursery almost makes up for that.

And yeah, we can pretty much assume that if it's thriving in San Gabriel, it'll do okay elsewhere in the L.A. basin.

Yeah, they had a theft on the 17th or 18th in June. 20+ trees stolen and I remember some of them from the pictures. Pretty unfortunate and I hope the trees get recovered. While the variety and the stock they carry is quite nice I've been noticing quality issues--though maybe this relates to the cutting of staff? I never visited the nursery much until this year so I wouldn't know. I am often finding small white pines they sell with terrible wire scars, many root bound plants, thick moss and this fleshy green growth (forgot what its called) completely encasing the soil preventing drainage. I purchased a maple there too that had a fungal issue that resulted in a partial early defoliation, but its doing good now after a proper repotting and some fungicide. Back to the main topic I've seen black and white pines, and a few varieties that I am unable to recognize. Hopefully I can get some help next time I visit, but any suggestions are still appreciated until then.

 

[michaelj]

I was pretty happy about one of those problems - the rootbound stock. I got three catlin elms for about $50 and all three were rootbound, which means easy root cuttings for me. Also saw quite a few decent young developing white pines in stock. Actually, saw all sorts of good stuff. Almost bought a $125 shimpaku to give a client. Will probably go back for that.

 

[justBonsai]

I was pretty happy about one of those problems - the rootbound stock. I got three catlin elms for about $50 and all three were rootbound, which means easy root cuttings for me. Also saw quite a few decent young developing white pines in stock. Actually, saw all sorts of good stuff. Almost bought a $125 shimpaku to give a client. Will probably go back for that.

The selection of prebonsai elms are definitely very nice. They have several rows of stock in regular garden pots with prices ranging from a few dollars to a few hundred. On a note the white pines there are priced between $70-100+. Is this reasonable pricing for white pines? Many of them appear to be very young still with lots of work to get them to a presentable stage. I really want get some pines going this summer, but some of the pricing is a bit rough.

 

[Adair M]

White pines are very slow to develop.

 

[MaverickLancer]

Like people have said above, if its thriving at your local bonsai nursery, it will do well if cared for properly. If you ever find yourself in the more southern areas of LA, do stop by Chikugo-en and House of Bonsai. The first specializes in primarily shimpaku graftes junipers, but they have a selection of quality pines and evergreens. Gary's trees are the most well maintained I've ever seen at a nursery. The second nursery has a fairly large stock, with some differences from San Gabriel.

Happy bonsai hunting!

 

[michaelj]

Chikugo-En is a really outstanding bonsai nursery. Less of the inexpensive younger stock, but everything is outstanding, and there is no better source for grafted shimpaku anywhere in the U.S. I know Gary has pines for sale, although I recall mostly seeing Japanese black pine. So, obviously, that's another good species for Southern California. He's closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, which is a mixed bag for me. 95% of the time I get out that way, it's a Monday. OTOH, if I was constantly stopping by the nursery, I'd probably turn into an annoying lookieloo. As it is now, I tend to actually make a purchase about half of the time I go.

Back to the topic, though. I've seen ponderosa pines do okay here, too. Torrey pine tends to do best near the coast, and it's a tough species to use for bonsai, but when it's done, it's pretty cool and a little different from what everyone else has.

I've heard pinyon pines sometimes struggle when they come down from higher elevations where they grow naturally.

 

[barrosinc]

Like people have said above, if its thriving at your local bonsai nursery, it will do well if cared for properly. If you ever find yourself in the more southern areas of LA, do stop by Chikugo-en and House of Bonsai. The first specializes in primarily shimpaku graftes junipers, but they have a selection of quality pines and evergreens. Gary's trees are the most well maintained I've ever seen at a nursery. The second nursery has a fairly large stock, with some differences from San Gabriel.

Happy bonsai hunting!

Looking good at a nursery means nothing... I learned the hard way, the plants are not always grown close to where they are sold and can survive in the ground but in a pot it might be more difficult (doable, but harder)

 

[0soyoung]

Aleppo pines (p. halopensis) do well in SoCal.