Title image above is copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos

First published 23rd September 2025

The Prickly-leaved Paperbark (Melaleuca styphelioides) is native here and self-seeds readily. Its small leaves — prickly alright! — and charming bark make it a natural for bonsai.

Unfortunately and to my frustration I cannot find any notes or photos to indicate when I dug this specimen up, but I am guessing late 2023/early 2024? Whenever it was, it has only been in this 9.4 L Air-Pot bonsai training pot ever since.

It wouldn’t have been much more than 300 mm tall at the time.

Over time it became somewhat buried and hard to get to where it was, but seemed happy enough and just kept growing! Finally the other day, when clearing out that area, I decided it was about time I actually pulled it out for a good look, and I was so happy I made this post about it!

All photos below were taken on the 18th September, 2025. This one immediately below is of the entire tree which has never been cut, styled, or otherwise touched in any way. (I do intend to turn it into two by air-layering the top half sometime this spring.) It is currently about 1,350 mm tall from the base of the trunk and about 1,470 mm tall including the Air-Pot.

From hereonin I’ll let the photos and captions do the talking.


Prickly-leaved Paperbark (Melaleuca styphelioides)
copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos


Fine roots protruding through the base
copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos


Air-Pot wall (at right) removed to show roots (the base is resting on 1 L Air-Pot Prop-Pots to facilitate this)
copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos


Another close-up of the roots
copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos


Another close-up of the roots
copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos


Close-up of the leaves
copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos


Close-up of the leaves
copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos


Close-up of the leaves
copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos


The paperbark texture developing
copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos


The thin shoot on the right has twin trunk potential
copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos


Nebari (the visible surface roots in bonsai) development
copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos


Nebari (the visible surface roots in bonsai) development
copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos


Nebari (the visible surface roots in bonsai) development
copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos


Nebari (the visible surface roots in bonsai) development
copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos

As mentioned above, my plan is to create two trees via air-layering. Enquiries to purchase either or both are welcome, as are offers on the entire tree if I haven’t begun or separated the air-layered part at time of enquiry.