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Conifers vs. deciduous bonsai: evaluating different species

January 14, 2022 by Jonas Dupuich

For this fall’s Pacific Bonsai Expo, we have some judging categories for narrow groups of trees (Best Large Conifer is an example) and other categories (like Best Medium Bonsai Display) that include a broad diversity of species.

For these latter categories, it can be difficult to compare species as different as pine and beech.

One reason it can be hard to compare different species is that they show age differently. Conifers are known for displaying age in their bark and their deadwood. Deciduous bonsai can have great bark and deadwood, but they’re more likely to show their age, or at least their time in training, through branch density.

If raw age were the most important characteristic, conifers would often win as they typically live longer than deciduous trees in nature and in bonsai cultivation.

White pine

White pine estimated to be over 500 years old

Japanese beech

A much younger Japanese beech

When evaluating trees for an exhibition, I consider how well a tree conveys age based on species-specific characteristics. For pines, I look at the bark. For beech, I look at the branch refinement and density. For junipers, I look at the age of the deadwood.

What about when deciduous trees have interesting deadwood – does this make it OK to compare different species directly? Not for me. Instead of comparing juniper deadwood against ume deadwood, I’ll score junipers against junipers and ume against ume.

Shimpaku

Interesting deadwood on a shipmaku juniper

Ume

Deadwood and craggy bark on an ume

I take a similar approach when evaluating branch density. For example, needle junipers can convey time in training well through their branch density. Trident maples are also known for achieving great branch density, but the nature of the branch structures of these two species is different enough that I don’t compare them directly.

Needle juniper

Needle juniper

Trident maple

Trident maple

The same goes for comparisons among similar groups of trees. Like trident maples, zelkova are known for their ability to produce dense branching, but I wouldn’t expect to see trident maples with branching as dense as what can be achieved with zelkova bonsai.

Zelkova

Zelkova

The last example brings up a related point that even though branch density is great, we still get to decide whether or not it’s aesthetically pleasing.

Our aim in offering multiple awards is to incentivize submissions in different categories as this can make for a more diverse exhibition.

How this plays out depends on you as your submissions will set the tone for the event. The submission period is opening soon (next month) – I’m looking forward to seeing your submissions!

Reminder – the BABA exhibit is on this weekend

The Bay Area Bonsai Associates will hold their 40th annual exhibit at the Lakeside Park Garden Center in Oakland, California, this weekend, January 15-16. The event runs from 5pm – 9pm Saturday and 10am – 4pm Sunday. Club sales by the East Bay Bonsai Society and Marin Bonsai Club both days. Admission is free.

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Filed Under: Exhibits Tagged With: Pacific Bonsai Expo

Previous Post: « Cutback and wiring a root over rock black pine
Next Post: Highlights from the 40th Anniversary BABA Exhibition »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. David J De Groot says

    January 15, 2022 at 8:15 am

    Great observations, Jonas!

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      January 15, 2022 at 9:03 pm

      Thanks, David!

  2. Eli says

    January 15, 2022 at 8:34 pm

    Dang that white pine is magnificent!

  3. Michael Raska. says

    January 15, 2022 at 10:43 pm

    Just found you. Trees look really good. I’ve been doing it starting in the mid-1960. Went Professional in the 1970’s. Taught College and University Level Accredited Classes both in Oklahoma as well as many other States and Universities. My love was doing 3, 4, 5 ft. & Larger sizes. That is where the best income is. Have 1 or more trees that have been invited to come live at the U.S. John Naka Bonsai Pavilion in Washington D.C..
    I understand they rotate some each year and some get sold. That bothers me! After I’ve spent sometimes a half century growing them. So if I want to give them to my grandkids, “I HAVE TO BUY IT OR THEM BACK??? OH WELL!!! THAT’S NOT FAIR.
    Michael Raska.

  4. Holger says

    January 16, 2022 at 11:45 am

    Great article as usual!

  5. SteveNY says

    January 17, 2022 at 6:53 am

    Great article Jonas. How would you choose a tree for best in show, since you would have to compare unlike trees with each other?

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      January 17, 2022 at 1:47 pm

      Thanks, Steve! For Best in Show we’ll go with the entry that has the highest scores. As for applying the individual scores, I’d ask questions like how does this deciduous tree compare against other deciduous trees and apply a score based on that. I’d do the same for the other categories.

  6. jean-yves Guilard says

    January 19, 2022 at 10:04 am

    ses arbres sont tous simplement magnifique
    merci Jonas

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      January 19, 2022 at 6:08 pm

      Thanks, Jean-Yves!

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