Is Prunus mume the best flowering fruit tree for bonsai?

[Ohmy222]

Cuttings will be attempted this winter, plenty of good branches to try

I have never had much problem getting them to root. I actually have a minor struggle getting them past year 1 though. Seems they root probably 75-80% for me but then I might lose 10-20% over the course of a year. My math says that is about 60% make it to year 2.

 

[erich_raudebaugh]

Ume are great and I'd like to have one some day, but nice trees are pretty rare. I like prunus cerasifera because it's very common across North America and much of Europe. It has small leaves, flowers, and even the fruit is often in scale. Some trees have red or purple leaves. I do wonder how old the trees can get, at least 100 years from what I've seen but beyond that who knows?