Northern Red Oak Bonsai
Mature bonsai oaks ranging from three to 15.
Northern red oak bonsai. February 11 2018 andrew giles. The distinctive deeply lobed foliage changes colors throughout the growing season. Even though most oaks used for bonsai are evergreen trees their soil needs are similar to deciduous trees because they are broadleaf evergreens. So it would only be natural finding myself a bonsai farmer to try and.
The accomplishment of developing any tree into an extraordinary bonsai should be acknowledged and awarded less we run the risk of taking on some other form of bonsai fascism. It should reach an established shade height of 20 feet after 10 years. A quick overview of collection for two trees with a focus on our northern red oak from grandpa grandma s property in holland mi. Specific bonsai care guidelines for the oak bonsai tree.
The large trunks and small leaves of the oak create attractive miniatures of old full grown trees. They do well in a mixture of 60 aggregate and 40 organic matter. Oaks can be an excellent choice for a first bonsai tree. Oak is not traditionally used for bonsai in japan but its use began in california in the 1950s.
Living in florida for the greater part of my youth i ve climbed and admired live oaks just as any respectable southern boy should. Open grown trees do not get as tall but can develop a stouter trunk up to 2 m 6 ft in diameter. Northern red oak quercus rubra is very suitable plant for outdoor bonsai. Although they prefer moist soil they can tolerate a range of soil moistures and a range of climates and temperatures.
The northern red oak becomes a wonderful presence to the landscape. Northern red oak is one of the fastest growing high value oaks. Oak trees prefer an airy place in full sun during the growing season the european oak the white oak and other northern oak species are frost hardy when they are growing in the ground but they need winter protection when they are planted in containers. Chinkapin oak quercus muehlenbergii northern red oak quercus rubra black oak quercus velutina pin oak quercus palustris northern pin oak quercus ellipsoidalis.
Creating a live oak bonsai a nursery stock tree in year five of training. In many forests this deciduous tree grows straight and tall to 28 m 90 ft exceptionally to 43 m 140 ft tall with a trunk of up to 50 100 cm 20 40 in diameter. Oaks are resistant to insects and diseases and many will produce miniature fruit and acorns.