Bonsai Focus (English Edition) – July-August 2019

Carpinus

Moyogi Netsuranari Sankan Yose-Ue Hokidachi

O

riental hornbeam (Carpinus
orientalis), is a deciduous
tree or shrub native to the
south-east of Europe, the
Pontic region and western
Asia. It is found in southern parts of Italy,
Balkan Peninsula, Turkey, Syria, Caucasus
and northern Iran, usually appearing at
lower altitudes, or on southern slopes up
to 1,300 m in Europe, but growing at over
2,500 m in the Caucasus Mountains.
In eastern regions it grows at higher
altitudes tolerating lower temperatures
in more moderate climates. In south-east
Europe it is a typical element of the
sub-Mediterranean vegetation, and can
also be found in the inner regions with
continental influences (colder winters).

Its leaves are ovate-elliptic with evident
veins, serrate margins and short petioles.
The leaves are much smaller than with
other Carpinus varieties, so it's very suited
to bonsai.
The tree blossoms in April. Male flowers
are dense with short catkins, whereas
the female catkins are a bit longer with
leaf-like unlobed and coarsely toothed
bracts, which cover the flowers and later
the nuts.

Hornbeam is an exciting tree for bonsai

Text and photography: Marija Hajdic
About ten years ago, oriental hornbeam was an unknown species
of bonsai. Here, I present the development of one of the best of its
kind, a very imposing hornbeam called 'The Emperor'. Quite unlike
Andersen’s fairy tale, the Emperor here, has waited 10 years for its
new 'clothes', but now he is all dressed up and everybody can see it.
The tree has even won an award at the XX Trophy in Belgium

December 2008. In nature, the tree was a shrub,

about 3-4 m tall. But don't misjudge too quickly;

there is a very good reason why this exact tree was

chosen, rather than any of the thousands of other

trees growing around

March 2009. It was chosen because of its very good

nebari and taper, nice proportions, and the seven

trunks which merged harmoniously

NATIVE BONSAI

The root system is very well developed,

so Carpinus can easily penetrate into the

cracks in rocks, and can survive in harsh

conditions.

How to grow a hornbeam

The main idea of styling this tree is to

make a bonsai that looks like a very old

tree from nature and it is a great example

of naturalistic bonsai styling. There is no

triangle, or a flat horizontal clouds. The

crown is roundish, irregular and also a bit

transparent so that an observer can see

not only the trunk, but also the branches.

Oriental hornbeam tolerates a transfer

from nature very well. So long as you

follow certain rules, the surviving rate is

100%. One of the most important rules is

Carpinus - STYLES

April 2014.

During summer

12 Bonsai Focus