Olive bonsai (Olea europaea) – Small-leaf variety. Height: 11 inches; Width: 11 inches. Pot size 8″ X 2″ Round; Pot origin: Dick Ryerson, California potter. Trunk diameter at the base: 5 inches. Age: over 40 years; In training for 15 years. This is a medierranean tree, from Europe, but also Middle East and South Africa. California is its adopted home, but it is very prevalent around here. As a bonsai, it is very common in Calfornia, but they are usually created from old stumps. The uniqueness of this little tree, is that it was grown in a nursery pot from the beginning, and for a very long time. It has tiny leaves and even smaller internodes. This variety is highly sought after among bonsai enthusiasts, because of the superior quality of the leaves and small internodes. It was grown in a nursery pot, for many decades. I trained it for the first eleven years, as a much taller tree. But for some reason, I didn’t like the design, because I could not reconcile the massive trunk base with the rest of the tree. Then, one day, about 4 years ago, I had a revelation that completely changed the look of this tree. I cut off half of the trunk, and used a side branch as the trunk, to create a much smaller tree. And from then on, I loved the direction it was going. Today, it looks like a very promising bonsai. Some branches are still wired, but with olives, the wire shouldn’t stay on for more than 3-4 months. So, they should all come off this fall. Some call it a “Sumo-style” tree, because the massive trunk base. Sumo trees are supposed to create the impression of great age. Also, the lower trunk has some deadwood (shari) which adds character and interest. The lower trunk is the focal point of the design. A week ago I planted it into this Dick Ryerson pot, and it’s a perfect match. I see too often olives planted into dull pots, instead of colorful ones. I love how this pot brightens up the whole image and makes the tree look much bigger than it is. In the future, the foliage needs to become fuller and rounder. All you have to do, is to cut back the new shoots to the first pair of leaves, and the foliage will double in about two years. It’s a prolific grower. The item “Olive bonsai (Olea europaea) small-leaf variety small size Sumo-style” is in sale since Monday, May 27, 2019. This item is in the category “Home & Garden\Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living\Plants, Seeds & Bulbs\Plants & Seedlings\Bonsai”. The seller is “world_of_bonsai” and is located in Altadena, California. This item can be shipped to United States.
- Foliage: Broadleaf Evergreen
- Type: Evergreen
- Bonsai Species: Olea europaea
- Climate: Mediterranean
- Indoor/Outdoor: Outdoor
- Plant Form: Finished Bonsai
- Sunlight: Full Sun
- Watering: Medium
- Genus: Olea
Tags: bonsai, europaea, olea, olive, size, small, small-leaf, sumo-style, variety
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