Not necessarily, Nic. While roses are not traditional
bonsai, they have been used very effectively as bonsai for years
by a few. Lynn Perry has a photo of a very nice wild rose bonsai
described as 150 years old and 24" high on page 223 of her book,
BONSAI: TREES & SHRUBS A Guide to the Methods of Kyuzo Murata,
The Ronald Press Co., 1964 LOC #64-20123.
Japanese Rose (Bara/No-Bara) or Rosa multiflora is
reported to be commonly used for bonsai, but readers are
cautioned that in order to obtain a trunk with a substantial
diameter, is necessary to find an old specimen growing in the
wild. Dig it up in the spring, taking as much of the root system
as possible, and plant it in a large container that has good
drainage. Gradually reduce the root system over several growing
seasons until it is feasible to pot in a bonsai container.
Wild roses are most suitable for bonsai in the U.S.
because of the smaller leaves and flowers and also because wild
roses are generally stronger and less afflicted with disease and
insect problems.
Ms. Perry-Alsted also gives schedules for training, etc.
but they are geared to Tokyo climate (similar to St. Louis, MO),
so adjustments must be made. This is an older book, but the last
I checked, it is still available.
There is a plethora of rose culture literature available,
so I won't get into that.
Have fun with your rose bonsai.
Alan Walker
http://bonsai-bci.com http://LCBSBonsai.org
-----Original Message-----
On 16/09/2004 15:39:13,
wrote:
Has anyone bonsai'ed a rose bush? My new house has an empty lot
next to it that will be cleared of a bunch of roses, and I am
wondering if I could cultivate from them (possibly by air
layering them just to get the bonsai-esque parts of the top?
Would they generate tiny flowers or regular ones?
=====
If you have a micro mini, then you'd have tiny flowers. While
leaves may
reduce in lots of plants, flowers (and fruits) tend not to.
Bonsai roses can sometimes work, but a rose is a bush, not really
a tree,
and it is hard to train then as such.
Would definitely not give you the "typical" (in as much as there
is such a
thing) bonsai look.
Nic
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