ButtonwoodThere are many plants with the common name of 'buttonwood'. But for bonsai enthusiasts, Conocarpus erectus (Combretum Family) is one of the most popular collected tropical trees in the United States.
IdentificationNot sure if your bonsai is a Conocarpus? The leaves can be quite different from one tree to the next.There are a couple of easy ways to tell. The first way is to identify by the flower (which has no petals). Secondly, by two distinguishing glands - one on either side of the leaf stem (petiole). Some say these petiole glands or “buttons” are where the name originates. Others insist the fruit with its round, compact, cone-like structure is the answer. An additional story credits the hard wood of Conocarpus, which made it valuable as ‘wood for buttons’ in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. They grow along the shoreline in Florida near the mangroves. Some mangroves have biologically adapted to grow in the water, while the Conocarpus prefers a little higher ground. Once you’ve seen Conocarpus as bonsai, you may think all buttonwood mature as gnarly, twisted, leaning trees full of driftwood. This is not the case. The tree is also used as a landscape tree inland and has a perfectly straight growth pattern. If you’ve ever been on the South Florida extension of the turnpike, you probably passed them by. Those used for bonsai are usually collected from the wild. They are old and have endured years of windblown sand, tropical storms, hurricanes, droughts and floods. Because of this environment, they often have unique shapes and ‘driftwood’ trunks. The Florida Keys are the perfect place for such beauties to develop.
Sometimes it can be difficult to identify buttonwood by it's leaves. Ed Trout collected these Conocarpus leaves to show the huge variations from one plant to another. National Champion
This amazing ancient tree resides on the corner of Leon and Washington Streets in Key West, FL. Scientists estimate it to be "hundreds of years old". 
Every time I go to Key West, I make a point of stopping by for a visit. I’ve seen it many times and in 2008, I noticed a recently added plaque. Nice going old tree!
Through years of experimenting and sharing knowledge, tropical bonsai artists have developed techniques for both design and culture. Conocarpus e. can be styled in as many bonsai styles as you can imagine. The late Joe Samuels, Miami Beach, FL always told us “if you listen to a buttonwood, it will tell you a story. It will tell you it is old, how many storms it has been through, and how many dry seasons. If you listen carefully, it will also tell you which style is most appropriate.” Joe called this bonsai his “life line”.What a story! And don't miss more
buttonwood bonsai tree pictures.
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The Bonsai Articles Page holds a few surprises!
Bonsai Beginners,
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There are a number of bonsai articles on this site. Two of them are especially good for newcomers.
The first is important advice from an old timer and has become known as
"The Stuff Article."
Many teachers and clubs have reprinted Ten Steps for their members and students. For reprint details contact BonsaiMary.
Before you buy your first tools, be sure to read it.
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