My wife and I are trying to find the name of a "garden tree" which we would like to greet our guests at our new home. We are having no luck on finding the name, let alone any information regarding the tree (habits, climate requirements) I have seen this tree many times before. It appears to be between 2'-5' high and basically looks like a giant bonsai tree. I am by no means knowledgable when it comes to trees/shrubs/well, anything regarding gardens. Any help would be much appreciated.
Re: hm....?? Further information required. Maybe you are talking about junipers or other conifers trained as topiaries (poodles, pom poms) by commerical growers.
Re: hm....?? Is ginat a Japanese word? Or do you mean giant? Are you thinking like a small Japanese maple?
Re: hm....?? here is a link to a picture that is similar to what I am talking about. http://www.ics.uci.edu/~ihler/photos/Travel/Japan/raw/2001-10-16 Garden Tree-Shaping Methods.jpg
Re: hm....?? Cincinnati, Ohio is in USDA climate zone 6, which helps guide one in choosing plants, which would survive the average low temperatures there. You are welcome to post a photograph of your front yard, where you would like to place such a tree. This will give us an idea of what is growing well in your particular microclimate and soil. If you identify exactly where in the photograph you would like to plant the tree, and tell us how many hours of sun that spot gets, that would be important information as well. Someone will be able to identify the exact conifer in your photograph, but this is "similar" to what you are thinking of. Are you looking for an evergreen conifer with an open branch structure? Or is a Japanese maple with an open branch structure what you had in mind? Bonsai are expensive, so you have to consider what you would like to spend on this addition as well.
Re: hm....?? I am not sure if you meant a specific variety of tree or a specific type of training (in this case, bonsai) of any tree. The tree in the picture you posted does not grow like that without years of deligent pruning and training. Left to it's own devices, it will attempt to grow into it's natural form. Even if you spend the money (I agree with Laurie - lots of money) on a specimen, you will need to know how to take care of it, prune and train it regularly. Or else hire someone who has the skill and know-how to do it. Something which will also give structure and interest are a topiary trees. They are still costly, but ought to cost a lot less than bonsai's. They, too, will need regular pruning to keep their shape, but most of the time, they don't require as much expertise as would a bonsai.
