BUCIDA SPINOSA, BUCIDA MOLINETTI, TERMINALIA SPINOSA

Height is about 3ft. It is not styled as bonsai, but a future bonsai material.

Exotic rare small tree that is valuable as unusual bonsai subject or specimen plant. This delicate tree grows into a bonsai almost by itself. Can be used as a potted indoor tree. It is very salt tolerant, making it a good choice for bonsai lovers by the sea. Bonsai shapes that are awesome. They have small leaves and thorns and and grow out erratically in all directions, forming diamond-like lace. The tree produces a small, black seed-capsule. In natural habitat, Black olive can grow as 40 ft tall evergreen tree with a smooth trunk holding up strong, wind-resistant branches, forming a pyramidal shape when young but developing a very dense, full, oval to rounded crown with age. Sometimes the top of the crown will flatten with age, and the tree grows horizontally. The lush, dark bluish-green, leathery leaves are two to four inches long and clustered at branch tips, sometimes mixed with the 0.5 to 1.5-inch-long spines found along the branches. The plant likes to be well-watered and frequent fertilization, which promotes vigorous growth. Pest problems seem rare. It may throw some leaves during stress (like shipping or cool weather), but will recover easily.

Plant specs

These unique trees can grow 15 to 20 feet, though it takes a long time. Part of that is because they grow slowly - and the other is that the growth pattern is often horizontal. In most home landscapes 8 to 10 feet is the norm.

Full to part sun works best, and the tree needs a well-drained area.

These are true tropicals and can suffer when temperatures drop below 40 degrees. They need the warmth of Zone 10. In Zone 10A you should provide cold protection with a sheltered planting area.

Even in Zone 10 expect some leaf drop in winter.

Dwarf black olive is a salt-tolerant tree and does fine on coastal properties.

Plant care

Amend the soil with top soil or organic peat humus and composted cow manure added to the hole when you plant.

Trim sparingly - it takes a long time for this little tree to grow out of a trim and it's always a crap shoot (unless you're a bonsai artist) as to which way it's going to go next.

Cold weather may cause some leaf drop. Wait till summer to decide whether branches will re-sprout or it's okay to remove them.

Water on a regular basis but don't keep the area overly wet.

Fertilize 3 times a year - in spring, summer, and autumn with a top quality granular fertilizer. Supplement feedings with liquid fertilizer during warm months.

Fertilizer that I include as an option is an excellent choice for professional growers or nurseries if you grow plant in a pot. I personally use it for all my plants. It has polymer coating to allow slow release during 8-9 months evenly. You don't have to worry about repotting the plant for about 1 year or worry about burning plant with your regular over the counter fertilizer. 

You need about 3-4oz per 3 gal pot or 4-5oz per 5 gal pot.

GUARANTEED ANALYSIS F1877

Total Nitrogen (N)**. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15%

8.0% Ammoniacal Nitrogen

7.0% Nitrate Nitrogen

Available Phosphate (P2O5)**. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9%

Soluble Potash (K2O)**. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12%

Magnesium (Mg)**. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.3%

0.8% Water Soluble Magnesium (Mg)

Sulfur (S)**. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.9%

5.93% Combined Sulfur (S)

Boron (B). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.02%

Copper (Cu). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.05%

0.05% Water Soluble Copper (Cu)

Iron (Fe)**. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.46%

0.08% Water Soluble Iron (Fe)

0.005% Chelated Iron (Fe)

Manganese (Mn)**. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.06%

0.05% Water Soluble Manganese (Mn)

Molybdenum (Mo)**. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.02%

Zinc (Zn). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.05%

0.017% Water Soluble Zinc (Zn)

Derived from: Polymer-Coated: Ammonium Nitrate,

Ammonium Phosphate, Potassium Sulfate, Magnesium

Sulfate, Sodium Borate, Iron Phosphate, Iron EDTA,

Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Molybdate, Zinc Sulfate;

Copper Sulfate, Zinc Oxide

Pictures depict grown up plants and its possible applications.

Height of the plants is measured from the base of the root ball.

No refunds, returns or exchanges