Page 37 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2016Q1

efore starting to write this, we checked the
Internet to see if someone else had written
about a Brazilian pepper tree bonsai. We
found a few articles on bonsai, but mostly
Bfound a lot of curse words aimed at non-
bonsai pepper trees. Going by other names such as
Hawaiian Christmas tree (because of its red and green
berries), it is condemned as an invasive species that
grows to be 30 to 40 feet tall and is hard to kill. In
the U. S., the tree is invasive in California, Texas, Ala-
bama, and Florida. New trees spring up from roots,
new plants grow under the canopy where the seeds
fall, and old trees may put out new plants until they are
completely killed by chemicals. It is a serious menace
in Hawaii where it crowds out the native species.
The Brazilian pepper tree is not to be confused with
the California pepper tree, Schinus molle (Peruvian
pepper tree from the Andes in South America). It, too,
was imported as a decorative tree and also became
invasive.
The tree trimmers use the California method of
topping, and that just causes the tree to grow more
rapidly.
Shown top right is a branch structure that resulted
from topping and removing lateral branches. The tree
needed to be left alone to develop a mature branch
structure that could be very lightly trimmed to re-
tain a smaller size. Both of the authors have trimmed
well-kept Brazilian peppers without starting them
into massive growth spurts. Once the trees start rapid
growth, most arborists cannot keep from trimming
them long enough for them to slow down and return Top; The tree trimmers use the
to a more lateral set of branches. Obviously this tree California method of topping,
should not have been planted in that location because and that just causes the tree to
there is inadequate room for lateral development. Un- grow more rapidly. Here is the
fortunately, land developers want immediate greenery branch structure that resulted
from topping and removing
and ignore the long term consequences. lateral branches. Obviously
Well developed nebari (exposed roots at the point this tree should not have been
where tree meets ground) are sought after as they indi- planted in that location
cate stability of the tree. Old, textured bark is prized by because there is inadequate
bonsai enthusiasts as an indication of age. This mature room for lateral development.
tree provides excellent examples of both. Old Brazilian Bottom; Old, textured bark is
prized by bonsai enthusiasts
peppers growing on their own may have dead sec- as an indication of age. This
tions, but this must be approached with care in bonsai. mature tree provides excellent
In bonsai as well as in full grown trees, old wounds examples of both.
on trunks and branches may die back and rot in the
center, creating interesting blemishes.
The nebari are not well developed all around the
tree. Nor is that unusual for trees grown in the ground.
It takes extra effort to develop nebari. The bark is evi-
dence of its age, at least 35 years as of 2015. There are
a few berries sprinkled on the bark but they do not
do justice to the ends of the branches that have full
loads of berries.
The trees can grow in poor soil with relatively little
water. San Diego, California, is classified as a desert,
receiving less than nine inches of rain in a year. Its
soil is cobble, a mix of sand, small and mid-sized
stones, and is watered no more than necessary to
keep the grass green. As water becomes scarcer in

January/February/March 2016 | BCI | 35