Nina Shishkoff wrote:

This sounds like a job for ANITA HAWKINS!!!!! CALLING ANITA!!!!

Alright, alrighty - I'm here, ya don't hafta shout

Sam -
Likely Nina is right, and you have some species of Privet. Ligustrum
is the genus, "Liggy" to its friends - what its enemies call it I
can't repeat on this family email list. You should consider Anton's
suggestion of Viburnum tinus, especially if you're in the Pac NW of
the US, but it's not a species I'm familiar with.

Which species you have will be easiest to decide knowing where you
live, but the most likely seem to be L. vulgare or L. sinense. Many of
the others have glossy, somewhat leathery evergreen leaves, which you
mentioned yours did not. Several species also have faintly hairy or
fuzzy twigs. Try looking at local nurseries that sell common hedging
plants for one that matches your neighbor's, but has a label still attached!

Privets are tougher than a bucket of nails (and not near as sharp)...
they take well to pruning (cut deep and cut often!) and transplanting.
Roots grow like crazy, so likely they could also be air-layered, if
you can't find enough to dig, take cuttings or grow from the
fruitlets. Outstanding material to mess around with!

There are some pretty decent mature bonsai here and there. The Natl
Arb collection in DC recently added a large semi-cascading privet, L.
ovalifolium (Nina wondered how their standards had dropped so low
). The "guest of honor" in the tokonama at last year's Denver Bonsai
Club show was a privet clump in full bloom... quite handsome! Here's a few:
users.raketnet.nl/tengubonsai/Pages/Bonsai/Ligustrum.htm
www.shohin-bonsai.com/az-500.htm
www.worldbonsaicontest.com/02la048.html
www.bonsai4me.com/SpeciesGuide/Ligustrum.html
(the last also has an ID and care guide)

And here's the best care guide for the species I've seen (tho it
specifies L. sinense, it's pretty much true for all).
http://www.bonsai-south.com/care/chineseprivet1.htm

You also ask about trunk size - that's going to depend somewhat on
your species - ovalifolium and vulgare tend to send up multiple
shoots, but others grow single trunks easily, and fast. Faster the
farther South you live... some of the evergreen (glossy-leaved)
species aren't hardy much north of USDA Zone 6.

Jim rightly mentioned privets are "invasive exotics" nearly everywhere
in the US, particulary warmer parts. Tho if your neighbors are growing
miles of them as hedging, you hardly need to worry about spreading
them with your one or two backyard bonsai. I generally cut the fruit
off mine before it matures; birds will spread it.

In my "collection" now is a Liggy vulgare, originally styled by lawn
mower and dug in midsummer years ago. It's survived a decade of abuse,
generally drying to wilting several times each summer (it's my "water
now!" indicator). Currently it is becoming a Chinese-style shohin
(seems to only grow straight, so clip and grow was the way to go).
Wiring would be tough, as this species seems rather brittle; the one
below isn't but seems reluctant to hold a wired shape, and the smooth
bark plus vigorous growth = easy to scar.

Several young leggy Liggy japonicum, grown from seed (!) before I know
quite what they were. Think of it as the poor man's camellia for
smooth grey bark, gently curving but vigorous growth, and glossy
evergreen leaves. Flowers are puny (and smell funky), but at least
they're in scale Best thing about this species - the roots make a
handsome radial spread from a young age, with no encouragement needed.

Last and most massive, a Korean (?) Liggy with slightly warty bark and
a real hunk of a trunk! This was a gift from Dr. N. S. of L.I. should
she care to admit she ever bothered noticing a Privet and reads
this far... besides the interesting bark, it is quite dense in growth
without needing pruning weekly, and the leaves turn purplish over
winter in my climate, anyway.

Best wishes in bonsai,
Anita
occassional contributor from North Harford County, Maryland (soon to
be neighbors with Nina!)

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