Page 47 - BSAM 2015 Q4

Bonsai Care
Bucida sp.
Common Names:
Black olive, Dwarf geometry tree,
Ming tree, Prickly tree, Spiny black olive, Brier-tree.
General information:
Though commonly called black olive tree, this native of the upper Florida Keys (some consider it native, others do not) is not the edible olive we know and love, but does produce a small, black seed-capsule. Black olive is a 40- to 50-foot-tall evergreen tree with a smooth trunk holding up strong, wind-resistant branches, forming a pyramidal shape when young but developing a very dense, full, oval to rounded crown with age. Sometimes the top of the crown will atten with age, and the tree grows horizontally. The lush, dark bluish-green, leathery leaves are two to four inches long and clustered at branch tips, some- times mixed with the 0.5 to 1.5-inch-long spines found along the branches.
Bucida comes highly recommended by Paul Lesniewicz, who says, “This delicate tree from Florida and the Caribbean grows into a bonsai almost by itself.” An unusual bonsai subject which may increase in popularity as an indoor tree. It is very salt tolerant, making it a good choice for bonsai lovers by the sea.
Family: Combretaceae
Lighting: Full sun. Its natural environment is the hottest parts of Florida and the Caribbean. Temperature: Grows well in zones 10B through
11. Do not expose to freezing weather or better
yet, temperatures below 40 degrees. A tender plant which has been grown successfully as an indoor bonsai.
Watering: Likes to be well-watered and should not be permitted to stay dry.
Feeding: Likes frequent fertilization which pro- motes vigorous growth.
Pruning and wiring: New shoots need to be short- ened only by a little. It is best to pinch them back.
In nature, the Bucida is generally windswept, which makes this an excellent choice for bonsai style. The plant’s natural growth makes it ideal for bonsai. It changes direction at every internode, making a bend of 25 to 35 degrees, which can be incorporated into the styling.
Propagation: From ‘tip’ cuttings, as seeds are dif- cult to germinate. To propagate from cuttings, hard wood won’t work, even under a mist system. Soft
wood ones will, but one rarely gets a soft wood cut- ting longer than 2 inches.
They can be grown from ‘tip’ cuttings (two or three clusters of leaves from the end of the branch). How- ever, tip cuttings are best grown with an automatic mist system. Even then, many do not survive. Propagation from seed. The tiny ower progresses to green seeds, then tan and then brown in about two months. Gather the seeds as soon as they fall, for they are more vital and willing to germinate in the rst ten days after they ripen. Seeds should be plant- ed in large community pots in a well drained mixture of vermiculite, peat and loam, and allowed 25 to 35 days for germination. Be patient, for they grow very slowly. When they are 2 inches tall, transplant them from the community pot to individual pots. Cover each pot with a plastic bag for 5 days and put in the shade. Keep in the shade for 3 to 4 weeks, being careful to keep them moist, but watch for and avoid powdery mildew. Once they are growing well, if you wish to force them to grow faster and taller than their usual 2 inches a year, bend down the branches lower than the growing tip. (Quoted from page 20, Vol 4, No. 4 of “Florida Bonsai” magazine.)
According to tropical bonsai grower, Mary Miller, “The best way to grow them from seed is to allow the seed to drop directly from the tree into a tray of soil without touching the seed.”
Repotting: In the tropics most people wait until May or June to root prune and repot Bucida. The key to timing is longer days and warm nights. Use a fast draining bonsai soil with a high sand and lime content.
Pests and diseases: No pests or diseases are of major concern but occasionally bothered by sooty mold and bark borer. Eryphide mites cause galls but no control is needed.
Some species suitable for bonsai: Bucida buceras, Bucida spinosa
Bibliography: “Florida Bonsai” magazine, Vol 4, No. 4, page 20. USDA Fact Sheet ST-102, Mary Miller, South Florida.
Copyright © 2008 by D. L. Nickrent
Courtesy Wigert’s Bonsai Nursery
Bucida spinosa are a protected species, harvesting from the wild is prohibited in many areas.
Above is a typical specimen in a 8-inch pot grown by nurseries for the bonsai market.
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