TINTILLO

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Common Name: Tintillo, White Indigo Berry, Arbol de Navidad
Species: Randia aculeata

A spiny shrub or small tree native to Puerto Rico and its surrounding Spanish Virgin Islands, (including Culebra Island), the Caribbean, Mexico to Central America and South America as far south as Colombia. Its size can be between 10 to19 feet tall. Tintillo has a slightly fissured gray bark, opposite, often horizontal branches and rough appearance. The wood is hard and heavy. The plant is supported by an extensive tap and lateral root system. The roots have a corky, ivory colored bark and are stiff and woody. The spines are paired, and the foliage is crowded on the ends of short lateral twigs. In its native habitat the tree grows in most types of soils, but not poorly drained soils. In Puerto Rico Tintillo grows from sea level to 2 feet in elevation. In Florida, it grows in pinelands and along the margins of coastal hammocks. Before the arrival of pine trees, the Puerto Ricans used and decorated the Tintillo as a Christmas tree, hence the name Arbol de Navidad. The name Tintillo and Inkberry arose from the former use of the berries for dye and for ink. The fruits are used in herbal medicine to control dysentery. 

Foliage/Flower/Fruit: The leaves are mostly without petiole and are ovate (egg-shaped). They are approximately 0.04 inches long and 0.02 inches broad, slightly thickened, shiny green above and light green below. The solitary flowers are small, white, funnel shaped. The small spherical, light green fruits with a brittle shell-like skin, contains five to 10 round, flattened seeds. In its native habitat the tree blooms year-round, especially after dry conditions followed by heavy rainfall. The flowers provide nectar for butterflies and the berries provide food for birds.  

Fertilizing: Well balanced fertilizer year-round. 

Repotting: During the summer months.  

Soil: Well-draining soil. 

Insect/Disease: Fairly resistant to pests.

Watering: Moderate watering in a well-draining soil. 

Light: Full sun.

Training/Pruning: Tintillo is a slow grower, therefore it is best to obtain a collected species from a bonsai nursery, which imports Tintillo from Puerto Rico. Tintillo will bud back on old wood. Can be defoliated as well as wired. Growth habit, styling and looks is similar to Fukien Tea except the leaves are shaped differently. 

Temperature: Protect below 40° F. 

Propagation: Collecting is the best way to get a nice trunk. Grows from both green or woody cuttings as well as seeds. 

Styles: Suitable for most styles including informal upright, multiple trunks. 

Sources: 

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fp497

Common Name: Viburnum, Small-leaved Viburnum, Walter’s Viburnum,   
Species:  Viburnum obovatum 

Is a flowering evergreen shrub or small tree native to the coastal plains of the southeastern from South Carolina to Central Florida to Alabama. This species was named by Thomas Walter, an 18th century botanist, active in the Carolinas. He was the first to write a broad account of Southeastern plants, called “Flora Caroliniana”. As a tree the species grows 12' – 15’, as a shrub it is usually kept a 3’. It is easy to grow and compact. Songbirds like to nest in the tree and the flowers attract butterflies. 

Foliage/Flower/Fruit: For a few short weeks during spring Walter’s Viburnum puts on a spectacular show with pure white, attractive flowers, held in flat-topped clusters at the ends of the branches. Blooming can occur from late winter to the end of spring. The fragrant flowers are bisexual with 5 petals and stamens. The flowers are followed by hanging clusters of oval drupe*, turning from green to red and black when ripe. The seed is self-sowing. The small opposite dark green glossy leaves are somewhat spoon-shaped with the narrow end attached to the branch with red petioles. During the winter months the leaves sometimes blush purple. The bark texture is rough, reddish brown. 

Fertilizing: Regular fertilizing schedule for most of the year with an occasional acid fertilizer. During the fall Viburnum likes a high phosphate fertilizer to promote blooming. 

Repotting: Can be safely repotted in early spring when nighttime temperatures are above 55 F. 

Soil:  A well-draining bonsai mix with neutral ph.

Insect/Disease: Treatment with a systemic will usually take care of any fungal or mildew problem. 

Watering: Regular watering in a well-draining soil, somewhat draught tolerant, but likes water. 

Light: Grown in full sun to partial shade. 

Training/Pruning: The branches can be heavily pruned with normal wiring during the growing season. Moderate root pruning is advised. Viburnum develops suckers that need to be removed. 

Temperature:  Protect below 35° F. 

Propagation: Collecting is the best way to get a nice trunk. Grows from both green or woody cuttings as well as seeds. 

Styles: Semi-Cascade, Slanting . 

Sources:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/54621/#ixzz2S4b8MiV9

Common Name: Water Jasmine Wild Water Plum  
Species:  Wrightea coccinea, Wrightea religiosa    

Wrightea coccinea has short internodes and smaller 1” leaves. In its native Southeast Asia, Water Jasmine is used as a hedge and grows up to 20’ tall. It is widely planted because of its medicinal qualities. Wrightias are delightful plants with good bonsai character.

Wrightea religiosaas has leaves may be 3” long. This is one of the most beautiful, exciting, and useful plants among fragrant tropicals. Is thin and slightly hairy.  A very fragrant, enchanting shrub, flowers are fruity scented, pendant, are born along its twiggy branches. 

Foliage/Flower/Fruit: Tropical evergreen with opposite leaves and slightly drooping branches. Leaves reduce well in response to pinching and defoliation. Yellow leaves indicate a lack of fertilizer. Clusters of long lasting, fragrant, white pendulous flowers from early spring to late fall. Flowers form at the ends of new growth. The seed pod is slender, horseshoe shaped. Blooms may be forced by applying a bloom fertilizer every 2 weeks for 2 months. Then stop fertilizing and defoliate completely, leaving the petiole on the stem. Place in full sun.  Flowers will form in about 4 weeks. 

Fertilizing: The Wrightia bonsai needs a lot of nutrients and likes a high nitrogen fertilizer. Apply a good amount of solid organic fertilizer every four weeks or use a liquid fertilizer every week during the growing season. In winter when the tree grows less, feed only once a month. 

Repotting: The roots of the water jasmine grow very strongly. Check them every year and repot at least every two years when night temperatures are above 50° F with considerable root pruning. If a water jasmine gets root-bound and the water can't penetrate the root ball easily the tree will weaken quickly. Defoliation can help to reduce stress after root pruning. 

Soil: Use a soil with a good balance of drainage and water retention. It likes moisture but will not tolerate soggy soils.

Insect/Disease: Yellow leaves can be a common problem caused either by overwatering or underfeeding. The water jasmine is sometimes bothered by scale, mealybugs or aphids. Use a specific pesticide in that case.   

Watering: The water jasmine likes a lot of water and must be watered thoroughly as soon as the soil surface starts to get dry. The soil must never dry out completely, but also take care not to overwater the tree.

Light: Morning or full sun. Full sun works best to aid leaf reduction. 

Training/Pruning:  Larger branches can be pruned in spring before the new strong growth begins. Back budding will work well after heavy pruning. The water jasmine grows very vigorously, and, for the development of a good ramification, new shoots are constantly trimmed back to one leaf pair after several leaf pairs have developed. Flowers can appear after the third leaf pair has grown. In tropical climate the water jasmine bonsai can be defoliated several times a year to increase twigging and reduce the leaf size. The younger branches and twigs can be wired but because of the strong growth of this species you must take very good care to remove the wire in time before it bites into the bark. Guy wires or strings are a good alternative. 

Temperature:   Protect below 40° F. 

Propagation: Collecting is the best way to get a nice trunk. Grows from both green or woody cuttings as well as seeds. 

Styles: Upright, Hollow trunk, Forest, Rock planted and every other conceivable style. 

Common Name: Weeping Malpighia

Species: Malpighia pendiculata 

Named to honor Marcello Malpighia (1628–1693), a distinguished naturalist from Bologna Italy; there are more than 800 species of Malpighiaceae growing as trees or shrubs mainly in the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. Malpighia is related to the Barbados as well as the Surinam Cherry. 

Foliage/Flower/Fruit: It is a dwarf evergreen shrub with opposite, short petiole, spiny tooth leaves.  The flowers are rose-pink, often several together in a cyme**. Flowers appear during spring months. Its fruit is a small red berry. 

Fertilizing: This plant prefers heavy feeding during spring and summer months. In early spring feed super phosphate to facilitate blooming. A time release fertilizer works well the rest of the year. 

Repotting: Minimum night temperatures mid 60°F. Can be repotted through summer. 

Soil: Malpighia prefer a slightly acid (pH 5.5 to 6.5) rich, moist, well-draining sterile soil, as it is highly subject to nematodes. Never place on ground soil. 

Insect/Disease: Treatment with a systemic will usually take care of any fungal or mildew problem. 

Watering: Moderate watering in a well-draining soil.  

Light: Prefers full sun for small leaves, flowers and fruit. 

Training/Pruning: Will tolerate moderate root pruning but heavy top pruning. It does not bud back easily on old wood. Grow 8 to 10 sets of leaves, cut back to one or two. Always leave at least one set of leaves to prevent die back. Can be easily trained through wiring. 

Temperature:  Protect below 40°F. Cold sensitive. 

Propagation: Roots easily from cuttings. Also, can be acquired in nurseries. 

Styles: Difficult to develop bigger trunks, therefore suitable for small bonsai.  As the Malpighia pendiculata naturally grows weeping twigs and branches, it is suitable for cascade and semi-cascade styles, as well as other styles  

Sources: 

http://www.bonsai-bci.com/by-common-name/evergreen-flowering/569-malpighia-sp

Common Name: Weeping Yaupon Holly

Species:  Ilex vomitoria ‘Pendula’

This fast-growing Holly is an evergreen shrub native to North America from zone 7 to 9 but does well throughout zone 10. It is perhaps the most popular of all ornamental berry plants. The long-lasting berries are attractive to birds. The Yaupon Holly is unisexual. It is a good idea to have 2 plants, only the female plant produces flowers/fruit. 

Foliage/Flower/Fruit: The glossy green leaves are alternate. The tiny white flowers are arranged in clusters. The translucent red berries remain throughout winter. 

Fertilizing: Being a heavy feeder use a balanced fertilizer like 20-20-20 for most of the year. Good growth in early spring and summer has also been reported with the use of 9-6-6. During fall and early spring, a super phosphate is suggested to promote bloom. 

Repotting: Minimum night temperatures mid to high 50° F but can be repotted year-round. Care must be taken when reducing the root ball on nursery stock or pre-bonsai plants. No more than 1/4 should be removed at a time. 

Soil: Neutral pH 6.0 to 7.5. 

Insect/Disease: To ensure protection against leaf miners use a systemic to control this pest and protect the leaves. 

Watering:  It likes plenty of water and misting. Do not let dry out. 

Light: Holly is most compact and fruitful in full sun, but will tolerate some shade, especially during our hot summer months.  

Training/Pruning: The top can be pruned heavily as long as several leaves remain in order to prevent die back. The tree will back bud. The weeping holly can be wired according to its style. 

Temperature:  Protect below 40°F. Cold sensitive. 

Propagation: Roots easily from cuttings. Also, can be acquired in nurseries. 

Styles: Naturally very attractive in the weeping style.  

Common Name:  White Leadtree, Lead Tree, White Tamarind, Leucaena, Jumby Bean, Jumbay, White Popinac, Mimosa, Tropical Mimosa  

Species:  Leucaena leucocephala 

This deciduous shrub or small tree to 25 feet tall has an open, spreading crown Is a deciduous plant that can tolerate drought and is easy to grow. It is native to southern Mexico and northern Central America where it is widely planted for fodder and firewood. 

Foliage/Flower/Fruit: This quickly growing invasive plant is found worldwide in tropical regions.  It forms dense thickets, which crowd out native species. Compound leaves of 4-9 pairs have 11-17 leaflets about 1/4” long with grayish bark. In nature the tree is grows a very straight trunk. Flowers are formed first as tight balls that open into puffy white balls. Blooms can be found year-round.  In the wild the tree produces massive amounts of seeds. As bonsai tree rarely blooms, because it needs frequent foliage pruning. 

Fertilizing:  

Use a balanced fertilizer. 

Repotting:  Repot during the summer. It is safe to severe root pruning at least once per year. 

Soil:  Use a soil with a good balance of drainage and water retention. 

Insect/Disease:  Psyllid, pathogenic fungi, soft scale. 

Watering: This plant likes subhumid and humid climates. It can tolerate drought but grows best in moist and well-drained soil. Never allow for the soil to dry out completely. 

Light: Needs full sun. It can tolerate partial shade, but shading will reduce the growth.   

Training/Pruning: The branches and leaves are routinely pruned. Wire towards your individual style.

Temperature: Should be protected from temperatures below 40F. It is not tolerant of even light frosts which cause leaf to be shed. 

Propagation: Collecting specimens, cuttings and propagation from seeds all work well. Trees grown from seeds can be more easily bent or slanted than collected specimens. 

Styles: Informal upright, Cascade and Multi-trunk.