Chamaecyparis obtusa "Gracilis Nana"

Dwarf Hinoki Falsecypress

Created by Lee Squires - April 1978

On a warm April morning in 1978 I made a visit to Yew Dell Nursery to meet with my friend, Theodore Klein, to purchase some plants for Cave Hill Cemetery. While touring the nursery I came upon a Hinoki Cypress that had been accidentally “bush-hogged” by Theodore. It was on the end of a row and was an unfortunate target. The shrub was cut off 6” above the ground and only three horizontal branches remained. Theodore asked if I wanted it as a bonsai subject and I willingly accepted it. We dug the butchered plant with Theodore's razor sharp spade and burlapped it.

I took the plant home and began my investigation of the trunk and roots. I pulled the burlap off to expose the surface roots and combed the topsoil until I found them. There was 4" of excess soil that I removed, exposing a fat 3” trunk with some dead branches below the three live ones. The roots were healthy and gnarly. Next, I removed 2/3 of the field soil and potted it in a four gallon nursery pot using a well-draining bonsai soil mix. Currently, the tree is planted in 2 parts screened baked clay, 2 parts small lava rock and 1 part sphagnum peat/perlite commercial soil mix.

Next, I began the transformation from nursery reject to masterpiece bonsai. I wired the largest horizontal branch into a vertical curving position using copper wire. The side branchlets on this branch were then wired into horizontal positions. The other two remaining branches were wired to give them some curves and movement for interest and future development. The tree has been re-wired 3 or 4 more times since 1978.

The white branches on the tree (shari branches) were created by stripping the bark and painting with lime sulphur solution to bleach and preserve them They, along with exposed surface roots, add to the illusion of age and environmental struggle.

In September 2010, the bonsai stands 30” above the pot and has a spread of 34” with a 4” trunk diameter. I have grown it in a pot for 32 years, repotted it around 11 or 12 times, trimmed it twice a year, fertilized it on a regular schedule, sprayed for pests, watered almost every day from May through October and protected it from freezing for 32 winters. Trees are tough if you treat them right.

I estimate this tree to be over 50 years old; 18 – 20 + years in Theodore’s possession and 32 years with me in a container as a bonsai. How long will it live ? This is hard to predict but there are many trees in Japan and other countries that, reportedly, are over 500 years old and passed down from generation to generation. The key to longevity is excellent care, of course, but , more importantly, regeneration of the root system by repotting. This tree should be repotted every 2 – 4 years, the long, older roots are cut back and fresh soil added on the bottom and around the perimeter of the pot. New feeder roots are formed and flourish in the fresh soil. You then have a 50 year old tree with a one year old root system.

After 32 years in my back yard, I thought it should come back home to Yew Dell where it was born. I am very pleased to donate this tree to Yew Dell so all of Yew Dell’s visitors can enjoy Theodore’s Hinoki as much as I have.