Welcome
to the Satsuki Azalea Society Down Under Report:
Our 'Downunder' representative, Wendy Gibbs,
will be making regular updates, to this page, from New
Zealand and Australia and we hope that you will find her
reports both interesting and informative.
Article 120/07/2007
GROWING
SATSUKI BONSAI IN NZ
In
New Zealand growing satsuki bonsai is not as easy as it might
be.
Unlike
the UK & Europe, we cannot just drive to our nearest bonsai
nursery & purchase an imported Satsuki bonsai. While importing
most plants to NZ is not illegal, IT IS very difficult & costly,
involving acquiring permits & a lengthy quarantine. Strict
phyto-sanitary treatments involving bare-rooting & drenching,
dipping & spraying in a variety of chemicals ensure that very
few bonsai survive the treatment in any case.
So,
we have, at present, to work with the already existing varieties
here in NZ. Acquiring a Satsuki in particular can take some
doing, as most nurseries, even some specialist rhododendron /
azalea nurseries know virtually nothing about them. Propagation
from the correct type of growth is scarcely considered. Some of
the modern hybrid varieties derived from Satsuki are sometimes
available, particularly at smaller or specialist retail
nurseries. The only Satsuki regularly stocked by major nurseries
is one or more varieties of the dwarf Gumpo. Mail-order or
specialist nurseries seem to be the best source, with 2
nurseries that are known to have a range of varieties
available. For most NZ bonsai hobbyists, it has been even more
difficult as you need to know exactly what to ask for - many of
the nurseries do not list plants as being specifically of
Satsuki origin. There are also several Satsuki varieties
known to be growing in Botanical Gardens, and old gardens around
NZ & efforts are being made to have these put into propagation.
At
present the vast majority of azalea bonsai grown in NZ are of
the smaller flowered Kurume (or sometimes kaempferi or indica)
cultivars. And most are styled in a sort of informal clump or
multi trunk style, as the multi-trunked ‘ball shape’ is the form
in which all nurseries currently sell azalea plants, for
landscape or container use.
Apart
from their rarity, the other area where Satsukis are at a
disadvantage in NZ, is the very deep-rooted idea that azaleas
are mainly a flowering bonsai, and that the flowers must be
small to be in proportion with the bonsai. It is only the few
people who have seen Satsuki bonsai in UK, Europe or Asia, who
realize the particular ability of the Satsuki to develop a thick
trunk and impressive nebari, and to look so much more
‘tree-like’ than other azalea varieties.
As Satsuki in NZ were
mostly imported for their ornamental qualities, there are many
cultivars with larger size flowers, and these larger flowers
still result in Satsuki being mostly passed over for bonsai
purposes in favour of the smaller flowered Kurumes.
Following is a list of the Satsuki, and Satsuki –derived or R.
indicum-derived, varieties that are known to be currently
present in NZ. Unfortunately, some of them are no longer
available commercially. The list is likely to be expanded in
future as more plants/varieties are located.
Satsuki
Glen Dale
/ Back Acres
Beni
Gasa
Ben Morrison
Buho no Tsuki
Constance
Chinzan
Debonaire
Daishuhai
Festive
Eikan
Hearthglow
Eikan (Pink-fir)
Joan Garret
Gumpo
Martha Hitchcock
Gunrei
Pearl Bradford (& sport)
Issho no Haru
Saint James
Kohan no Tsuki
Vespers
Shiko
Solstice
Harris
Tama no Hada
Fascination
White Shiko
Frosted Orange
Yama no Akebuno
Other
Robin Hill
Otemeno
Betty Ann Voss
Pink Pancake
Jeanne Weeks
Carla
Nancy of Robin Hill
Balsaminaeflorum
Robin Dale
Nuccio’s Razzle Dazzle
Robin Hill Gillie
Nuccio’s VooDoo
Nuccio’s Wild Cherry
Nuccio’s Treasure Chest
Obviously, with the lack of
imported trees, all Satsuki bonsai have to be started from
‘scratch’, either by re-shaping nursery plants (sometimes rather
radically) or by growing-on from cuttings or layers. As a result
NZ Satsuki bonsai are very young & still in the basic training &
trunk-thickening stages.
Known
commercial sources for Satsuki -
Cross
Hills Gardens,
www.crosshills.co.nz near Kimbolton in the North Island sell
a number of cultivars, be aware that not all cultivars shown on
the website will be available at any one time.
Islington Gardens, Rowberrys Rd, RD 3, Blenheim, also stock
various cultivars, including Beni Gasa, Chinzan, Gumpo, Shiko,
Tama no Hada, White Shiko, Pearl Bradford Sport, Ben Morrison,
Festive, Nuccio cultivars, Balsaminaeflorum, Carla & others.
Again, not all cultivars are available every year.
Unlike
the UK & Europe, we cannot just drive to our nearest bonsai
nursery & purchase an imported Satsuki bonsai. While importing
most plants to NZ is not illegal, IT IS very difficult & costly,
involving acquiring permits & a lengthy quarantine. Strict
phyto-sanitary treatments involving bare-rooting & drenching,
dipping & spraying in a variety of chemicals ensure that very
few bonsai survive the treatment in any case.
So,
we have, at present, to work with the already existing varieties
here in NZ. Acquiring a Satsuki in particular can take some
doing, as most nurseries, even some specialist rhododendron /
azalea nurseries know virtually nothing about them. Propagation
from the correct type of growth is scarcely considered. Some of
the modern hybrid varieties derived from Satsuki are sometimes
available, particularly at smaller or specialist retail
nurseries. The only Satsuki regularly stocked by major nurseries
is one or more varieties of the dwarf Gumpo. Mail-order or
specialist nurseries seem to be the best source, with 2
nurseries that are known to have a range of varieties
available. For most NZ bonsai hobbyists, it has been even more
difficult as you need to know exactly what to ask for - many of
the nurseries do not list plants as being specifically of
Satsuki origin. There are also several Satsuki varieties
known to be growing in Botanical Gardens, and old gardens around
NZ & efforts are being made to have these put into propagation.
At
present the vast majority of azalea bonsai grown in NZ are of
the smaller flowered Kurume (or sometimes kaempferi or indica)
cultivars. And most are styled in a sort of informal clump or
multi trunk style, as the multi-trunked ‘ball shape’ is the form
in which all nurseries currently sell azalea plants, for
landscape or container use. 
As Satsuki in NZ were
mostly imported for their ornamental qualities, there are many
cultivars with larger size flowers, and these larger flowers
still result in Satsuki being mostly passed over for bonsai
purposes in favour of the smaller flowered Kurumes.