There is no place in my hometown that carries Shimpaku Junipers. I have glanced online and have found several smaller sites that sell them for a good price but don't know if I trust them. I am trying to find something in the 1 gallon container size for about <$20. It does not need to be trained just grown. I will probably plant this and let it grow for 5-10 years.

Thoughts?

Bonsai wrote:

There is no place in my hometown that carries Shimpaku Junipers. I have glanced online and have found several smaller sites that sell them for a good price but don't know if I trust them. I am trying to find something in the 1 gallon container size for about <$20. It does not need to be trained just grown. I will probably plant this and let it grow for 5-10 years.

Thoughts?

Really? where do you live. Here in Vermont they sell them everywhere, even at Walmart. You know it is the same as Junepirus Chinensis right?. There are different varieties, one of the most common is the "sargentii". 1 gal usually go for $7 at home depot.

I am dead serious. No one carries them and when I ask about them I get blank stares . Even with it's Genus Species name.

So no one knows where I could get online nursery stock of shimpaku? I have seen a website or two but I don't know if I could trust them. Anyone Bueller Bueller ?

Bonsai wrote:

So no one knows where I could get online nursery stock of shimpaku? I have seen a website or two but I don't know if I could trust them. Anyone Bueller Bueller ?

Buying online is usually not a good idea... you will probably get an overpriced young plant. I honestly can't believe you can't find Shimpaku. Where in the U.S. do you live? maybe they don't do well in your area?. I see them everywhere in the northeast. Here in Vermont there are plenty planted at my workplace, banks, houses, etc... In boston where my sister lives they are also everywhere. I recently visited western new york (north) and everyone has them too. It is a very common plant around here.

Bonsai wrote:

So no one knows where I could get online nursery stock of shimpaku? I have seen a website or two but I don't know if I could trust them. Anyone Bueller Bueller ?

They use to be every where, I haven't seen any this summer.

Try Rick's Foxwillow Pines nursery. It's located about 20 miles east of Rockford, Illinois.

eangola wrote:

Where in the U.S. do you live? maybe they don't do well in your area?. I see them everywhere in the northeast.

I live in South Carolina. Zone 8b. They do fine here. I have one that is about 10 years old that was handed down to me by my mentor. He has maybe about 100 shimpaku.

I found someone near me. Not much really under $20 but in that range. Nice guy.

www.greenthumbbonsai.com/index.html

So for my area I was able to get 2 for $20 this past Summer. They are scrawny little things but they are itoigawa shimpaku juniper. John Greene said they got a little dehydrated and heat stressed during one week of summer. They are doing well now and while they are maybe a decade or more from being bonsai there is one I am enjoying training now. Here are some before and after photos.

When I first got them.



My Favorite after wiring a month ago.