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The Wonderboom
Style A South African
Inspiration
By Tobie Kleynhans, South Africa
he early bonsai pioneers in South Africa taught their semi-desert and desert conditions. That and the growth habits of
students to style their bonsai according to “classical” many of our indigenous species influenced a number of growers to
Japanese methods. Their teachings laid a solid foundation style their trees in a more naturalistic manner. More and more bonsai
in mastering the horticultural and artistic skills needed enthusiasts are now moving away from the classical Japanese style to
T to keep and care for bonsai successfully. This was a good a more impressionistic or naturalistic style.
reference point, but most of the trees ended up looking like rather One of these intriguing impressionistic plantings is the Wonder-
poor imitations of a typical pine tree. boom style.
The climatic conditions of Southern Africa vary from zone 7 to 8 The Wonderboom style is based on the growth pattern of a
at the coast and from zone 5 to 10 inland, from subtropical to harsh thousand year old Ficus salicifolia growing in the foothills of the
Below; Ficus natalensis,
Wonderboom style, 2014
April/May/June 2015 | BCI | 29
