Rooting out a ‘tree-mendous’ hobby

Cultivating bonsai plants doesn’t need to clip your time or bank account too much.

You'll probably do better starting with the more common plants that can tolerate abuses more exotic plants can’t. Try these common but hearty plants readily found at local nurseries.

Firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea or P. fortuneana): Small leaves; ever-green; red or orange berries in autumn; recovers from over-pruning; branches bend easily.

Cotoneaster (C. dammed, C. conspicua 'Decora', or C. microphylla): Characteristics similar to those for firethorn.

Dwarf pomegranate (Punica granatum 'Nana'): Deciduous; twiggy branches; tiny green leaves; red flowers and fruits.

Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum or J. virginiana): Hardy evergreen; heavy foliage takes to pruning; wide variety of forms.

CLASSIC CLIPS

The following classical plants can be clipped to make especially stunning bonsai.

Sargent juniper (Juniperus chinensis sargentii)

Graybark elm or sawleaf zelkova (Z. serrata)

Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii)

Flowering cherries (Prunus subhirtella, P. yedoensis)

Wisteria (Wisteria floribunda, W. sinensis)

Kurume azaleas

Hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa)

BRANCHING OUT

More specialist plants native to certain geographical areas and climates make fine bonsai. These examples may be available in your area.

In Hawaii successful bonsai have been made from the Queensland umbrella tree (Brassaia actinophylla), Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii), banyan (Ficus bengalensis), royal poinciana (Delonix regia), bougainvillea, Surinam cherry (Eugenia uniflora), ironwood (Casuarina, various species).

In the Pacific Northwest some growers have done well with mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana), alpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa), white bark pine (Pinus alhicaulis), Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii).

Another example is oregano, a fairly uncommon plant as bonsai material but like a few other woody herbs (rosemary, sage, wormwood) it can often be easily trained into a miniature tree.

ALL AROUND US

Bonsai country is anywhere, even growing on mountainsides.

You are sure to find many small specimens that have been dwarfed by nature in the vicinity of old trees.

For various reasons, some plants don't adapt well to life as bonsai. A few don't take to having their roots confined and some are too vigorous growing.

However, why not accept the challenge and see if you can get anywhere with any of the following that may be available in your area.

Western red cedar or giant arborvitae (Thuja plicata)

American mountain ash (Sorbus americana)

Madrone (Arbutus menziesii - seems to need more root room than it can find in a container)

Rangpur lime (Citrus aurantifolia 'Rangpur' - won't last with overwatering)

Chinese pistache (Pistacia chinensis - unpredictable; may take to container life, may not)

Manzanita (Arctostaphylos manzanita and other species - a handsome, gnarled shrub in wild, usually doesn't survive long as a bonsai)

Most of the very old bonsai you may see have spent most of their life in natural surroundings, growing in the earth or in cracks in rocks. Through the years they lived in the wild they were exposed to all manner of climatic extremes and physical abuses. Many of them have gone through a real struggle for existence.

Such plants make the best bonsai. They have developed a form that speaks of their environment; they look old (often older than they actually are); they have become adapted to surviving under adverse conditions. When such plants are put into a container, they invariably outshine any other specimens that may be around them.