I posted a blog back in January which featured this tree, a Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis). No one grows Sycamores for bonsai, because their leaves are quite large and the internodal distance daunting. There is a Sycamore maple, Acer pseudoplatanus, which is uncommonly grown, but it has quite large leaves as well.
This particular specimen was another one of those incidental bonsai-to-be that I encounter from time to time. I had a very large Sycamore removed from my property several years ago. This one was either a root sucker or a smaller specimen that grew up among the roots of the larger one. I didn’t really want another Sycamore where I’d removed the first one, so I dug it up and resolved to make it into a bonsai if possible.
I wasn’t especially surprised when it survived collecting.
Here it is today, with a nice first flush of spring growth.
I’ve only pinched it a bit to keep some of the shoots from getting out of hand.
Time to put some design to it.
Here it is, distilled down to the essence of a tree form. Sycamores tend to grow arrow straight. This one had some curves and taper to the trunk, which is another reason I salvaged it. And now, with a basic branch set and new leader selected and positioned, it remains to be seen how much back-budding and ramification I can coax out of it.
To reiterate the lesson from the other day with the Crabapple I styled, here are the numbers and branch selections for this one. The first branch, on the left side, emerges from the outside of a trunk curve. The right branch does so as well, and the back branch completes the trio. Notice in this case that the first branch, which is 10″ from the soil surface, is about 40% of the distance from the soil to the ultimate height of the tree, which is right at 25″.
The proportions for this tree are 40% open trunk to the first branch, 40% in the “body” of the tree, and the final 20% for the crown. This, along with the trunk taper, produces the forced perspective that makes our trees look taller and larger than they are.
So what do you think of this Sycamore bonsai-to-be? I have no idea how well this one is going to work out, but I will give it my best shot.
Wow this is awesome!!! The Sycamore is my favorite tree:) the spring growth on it looks great!
Thank you, Andrew!
How is it doing this year? I’m starting a bonsai project with my home-school kids. (It’s a long haul project. Hoping they have something to show for it in five-7 years for graduation) And we have this kind of tree. Wanted to get some ideas from you on how it’s going after two years.
I sold that tree to a client, so I’m not sure how it’s doing. The smaller one I kept is still growing, and I keep it cut back. I want to work with a larger specimen, especially considering the leaf size. I’m confident I can get some leaf reduction, but how much I’m not sure. Hence the desire to experiment. With that said, I would recommend that you start your home-schoolers off with Chinese elms. Chinese elm is probably the best single species for bonsai – period. They’re easy to grow and develop, which will help you keep the discouragement to a minimum. Good luck!
Thanks that was very helpful. Is aldera goodchoice for bonsai. For a bonsai.
Ps. I wouldhave “leaf a reply”
Boom boom!!!
Showing my vintage now I know.
Best regards,
Tanya
Just came upon your post. How is that tree looking now? Could you post more pictures. I have several sycamore trees and would like to start one too.
The tree was sold some time ago, so I don’t know.
Zac
It always seems that you are always able to come up with some unusual type of want to be bonsai trees.That Sycamore tree will be a good challenge with the larger leaves, with luck they
will come back smaller, might take several tries to get the right size “GOOD LUCK”..
Thank you, Robert. I have no idea what to expect with this tree. Should be fun or frustrating.