Buttonbush

[dbrock]

I saw a picture of a Buttonbush in the Native tree list (it looked awesome). It was funny to see the person posting it stress that it was not a Buttonwood and that person was so correct. This is a picture of my Buttonbush when I first collected it. What was sad was the fact that I couldn't identify it when I collected it. I was on the edge of a swamp when I saw this tree with this wonderful hollow trunk. I contacted a good horticulture buddy and asked him what was it. Later when it bloomed, it confirmed what it was. This is when it was first collected 17 months ago.

[dbrock]

This is after a hardy 5 months of growth.

[dbrock]

In fall, after it's first styling.

[dbrock]

Early spring after repotting.

[dbrock]

And now. Forgive the grass, it gets hard to move these big trees around so I had procrastinated on moving them to mow and I don't like using wedeaters around the pots.

[lewisjk]

It was funny to see the person posting it stress that it was not a Buttonwood and that person was so correct.

That was me. Alas, I lost mine last winter.

Just as an alert, I'd just that year put it into a small (relative to the size of the tree) pot like yours. It leafed out fine, but then declined. It didn't wake up this spring.

Just an alert that they may not like such tight confinement. There is a very, very small amount of records for this species as a bonsai. If I could find another, I'd keep it in a larger pot -- it did fine in one for 5 years before I moved it last year. BUMMER.

You don't say where you live, but if it gets cold there, you may want to really protect the roots in this pot.

[plantmanky]

Very nice large trunk buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) Dale!

I know of 2 others besides yours and Jims that have been tried as bonsai. Of those 2, 1 died (Ashville NC) (not Jims) and the other is still living in Nashville which I'll see in a couple of weeks at the South East Regional show. I agree with you Jim, they are not for small containers. Their root system is aggressive and needs some room to be healthy.

I would love to keep a record on the Care of these plants. We have an MS Word Care sheet that I would be happy to send anyone to fill out with your information and send it back to me at my direct E-mail plantmanky@yahoo.com and I'll begin to record everyone’s experience in a master care sheet which when done can be added to the Care sheets we have already completed. If you have progression images of any work in progress that would be great to have as well.

[dbrock]

Jim, if you want another just come down here to Houston, TX area and we will dig you one right out of the swamp. I know where one is that will make an awesome Cascade or Semicascade, but it will take two people to carry it out. I will also see if I can find and collect some smaller ones.
Yes it did seem to like the bigger container more, but I thought it was because I used a soil more of gravel and volcanic rock than organic material when I repotted. It came out of a swamp with roots drowned in muck. I think they do better in conditions like Bald Cypress. I am slowly working in more organic into the soil. I didn't remove much of the soil when I repotted because it was only one year out of the swamp.
Randy, fax me one of those care sheets and I'll keep records. Throw me any other ideas that yall may have. This thing is old, I'm thinking 100 years plus. You can tell it still has alot of pot space but I don't want to lose it by any means. I have the good fortune to have Ryan Neil coming to my home in September (yes, excited) and I will run it by him as well.

[lewisjk]

Thanks for the offer, dbrock.

it will take two people to carry it out.

But that is MUCH to big for me. If I have to use two hands for a tree, it is a BIG one here.

In my experience with these trees I'd keep yours in soil that is MOSTLY organic. They live in swamp muck which is 1000000% organic sludge. Unlike bald cypress, which do fine as upland trees, I really doubt that they can survive for long without wet feet. I kept mine in a shallow pan of water for years -- then I stupidly repotted to a "more attractive" pot.

Randy, I'll fill out a care sheet too, if you can e-mail me a copy.

[dbrock]

Jim,
I can really tell it upset you too lose it. Had a few of those situations myself. I will find you a nice one hander(or maybe a small two hander, lol). Thought you might like to see this one. This is the first time planting on a slab and the angle needs to be much greater with the dead stump almost verticle. Sorry the front picture is blurry.