Companion plants

Posted in Exhibits by Jonas Dupuich on February 1, 2013

Instead of showing bonsai on their own, Bay Island Bonsai exhibits trees in 6 foot displays with companion or accent plants. The addition of companion plants to a composition helps suggest a season or scene. My favorite accents typically feature a mix of varieties and just barely fit in their containers. Which are your favorites?

Feel free, by the way, to let me know the names of these – I’ll be happy to update the post with the proper names.

Accent #1 - Saxifrage stolonifera

Accent #2 - Saxifraga cuneifolia ‘Variegata’

Accent #3 - Gaultheria procumbens

Accent #4 - Saxifrage stolonifera, Selaginella tamariscina (or moellendorffii)

Accent #5 – Davallia tyermanii

Accent #6 – Equisetum, Selaginella tamariscina (or moellendorffii), Saxifrage stolonifera

Accent #7 - Sempervivum, possibly arachnoideum var. hookeri

Accent #8 – fern (Pyrrosia lingua?) Selaginella tamariscina (or moellendorffii)

Accent #9 – Sedum makinoi ‘Ogon’ and Saxifrage

Accent #10 - Lemmaphyllum microphyllum

Accent #11

Accent #12 - Selaginella tamariscina (or moellendorffii) and Saxifraga

Accent #13 – Pleione formosana – Peacock orchid

Accent #14

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Tagged with: art, bonsai, garden

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Nicola "Kitora" Crivelli said, on February 1, 2013 at 4:07 am

Reblogged this on Kitora no do.
Zack Clayton said, on February 1, 2013 at 5:43 am

It’s not with trees, but #9 would make a nice mame saikai. It looks like field edge with a path. It makes me want to follow that path on a sunny morning.
Juan said, on February 1, 2013 at 9:25 am

Very mice!
Danny said, on February 1, 2013 at 11:03 am

#7 is a Sempervivum of some sort, possibly arachnoideum var. hookeri, but I can’t say for sure.
On a side note it was good to meet you at the show Jonas, I’m the one who purchased your Cryptomeria. I’m looking forward to starting some air-layers on it soon.
Dave Martin said, on February 1, 2013 at 11:03 am

Pic 2 is Saxifraga cuneifolia ‘Variegata’
Pic 3 appears to be one of the Gaultheria family could be procumbens?
Pic 13 looks like a fantastic clump of dormant Pleione orchids or Formosa orchids. Come in a variety of colours but most common is an in your face pink
Dave Martin said, on February 1, 2013 at 11:10 am

Pic 5 looks like Davallia tyermanii. This a contorted variety of the rabbits foot fern, I have a pot of this but it is not easy to grow in Southern England.
Dave Martin said, on February 2, 2013 at 3:00 am

Accent 1 and 3 appears to be Saxifrage stolonifera in its autumnal foliage, also known as the Strawberry saxifrage. In pic 3 it appears to be planted with the Japanese golden fern? I don’t know that ferns name and would be interested if anyone knows its botanical name?
Tom Knoblauch said, on February 3, 2013 at 9:24 am

Jonas, thanks for asking for plant ID. Accent 4,6,8 &12 Includes Selaginella tamariscina. Accent 8 I think is Pyrrosia lingua Tongue Fern. Accent 10 is Sedum makiono ‘Ogon’ and Saxifragia stolinifera ‘Tricolor’.
Accent 10 is Lemmaphyllum microphyllum Bean Fern.
Jonas Dupuich said, on February 3, 2013 at 10:05 am

Thanks, everyone, for helping with the names – I really appreciate it!
Tom Knoblauch said, on February 3, 2013 at 12:16 pm

I could be wrong on the species of Selaginella, it could be Selaginella moellendorffii. I would be interested if anyone else can confirm.