The powerful tree with its heavy flowing deadwood (it reminds me of melting wax) and luscious reddish bark is truly wonderful, but then there’s that little companion too. Have you ever seen a piece of deadwood used as a bonsai companion? This Taxus (yew) and charming little piece of deadwood belong to Mauro Stemberger. The pot is a Tokoname.
On the road again today, so we’ll go ahead and borrow from our archives once again. This one originally appeared in December 2012.
Species specific series. I’ve been thinking about starting a species specific series (in this case it’s actually genus specific). We’ve devoted posts to certain species before, but haphazardly and without any notion of doing a series. So we’ll consider this the first in our new series of species (or genus) specific posts. Note from the present: we’ve done a few on this series since I wrote this, but it hasn’t happened the way I planned. No good excuse and you can look for more soon.
In praise of the under appreciated yew. Bad puns aside, I know that I’ve praised yew before, still, at the risk of repeating myself, I’m a big fan. For landscaping and for bonsai.
Landscaping. Yews are often over-used in landscaping and as a result their beauty is not always appreciated. Another problem is that the wood is often hidden by the foliage. This is a shame as the color and gnarly shapes that the wood takes on can be stunning, especially with age. And then there’s that brilliant yellow green new growth in the spring.
Bonsai. Back in the day (it was a Wednesday) when I started bonsai, you didn’t see that many yews being used for bonsai and to some extent, you really don’t see that many still. Perhaps this is because they are under appreciated because they are so common in landscapes and the beauty of the wood is often hidden (especially on the low growing dense varieties, which make the best bonsai), so people don’t think of them for bonsai.
The extreme hardness of the wood probably doesn’t help either. Another note from the present; this is changing. Judging by the number of posts devoted to yews here on bark and other places, seems like more people are tuning into them. Even me. I have some old ones in the ground that are looking pretty good. Someday…
Conversely, they are very tough, and respond to pruning and root pruning with flying colors. Carving too, if you have the patience and strength (or power tools) to work their extremely hard wood. Once they are carved, the deadwood can be quite beautiful (especially in contrast to their striking reddish brown bark). As an extra plus, yews are more rot resistant than most trees. And then there’s that beautiful spring foliage.
Every time I open Bonsai Today issue 106 and lay my eyes on this wickedly powerful old English yew, my mind does a little double take. It may not look exactly like anything you’ll see in nature, but it certainly jumps off the page. It’s by Kevin Willson. Photo by Simon Carr.
The foliage on this one is not quite show-ready, but the rest of the tree, wild deadwood and all, certainly is. It’s by Mario Komsta (he’s been showing up here on Bonsai Bark a lot lately).
This dynamic Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata) with is fluid play of strikingly attractive dead and live wood, and its perfectly balanced foliage, is from cover of Bonsai Today issue 89 (below). Unfortunately, the artist’s name was lost somewhere in translation.
All back issues of Bonsai Today are currently 75% off at Stone Lantern.
That first picture is a killer; I think I could contemplate the tree itself (“in person”) for hours at a stretch!
I’m becoming very much a yew aficionado. (My wife’s heard enough about them that she sometimes makes yew/you puns herself.) I’d like to find sources for species yews at reasonable prices here in the USA, but no success yet.
I’ve got a page in my blog about yews and bonsai; wish I’d seen the picture of Stemberger’s tree when I wrote it!
Great article and pics. And thank you Wayne for sharing them. Reminded me I had to go back and check out a few you-tubes of Graham Potter from Kaizen Bonsai doing some carving on a few yew “stumps”. Fun to watch. I am always impressed with the before and after shots.
To my eye the visual weight of that splendid yew is too much for the somewhat delicate table.
Hi Bruce,
Strange the many times I’ve looked that tree and have never noticed. But you’re right. It is a little delicate. I think what saves it is that it’s so low, so you (I) don’t notice. Taller legs that light would be more obvious.