The "least appreciated species for bonsai" thread

[River's Edge]

Yellow Cedar, native to Vancouver Island and areas of the Pacific Northwest. Becoming more well known now that Bonsai enthusiasts have been working with the species. Vigorous tree that can be refined with similar approach as cypress. Debatable as to the exact accepted nomenclature over time. Cupressus nootkatensis. Excellent article in the ABS magazine 2019 Volume 53 Number 2.
They are known for interesting deadwood.
This one is coming along nicely, more refinement to come. I have been working with it for about five years, was collected seven years ago.

 

[Cadillactaste]

I know a few with winged elm...but not many. But now, when I pulled up a link it says common name is cork elm. Cork bark elm!?! This is more common in the hobby...yes? I've seen it sell on auctions So just asking...to make sure this link is correct. Did I know know this!?!


My winged elm...that I have begun to wire minimally. I am getting winged on the unwired areas. But need wire to for a bit of order.

Ulmus alata Michx

The texture forming on the trunk...

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Yellow Cedar, native to Vancouver Island and areas of the Pacific Northwest. Becoming more well known now that Bonsai enthusiasts have been working with the species. Vigorous tree that can be refined with similar approach as cypress. Debatable as to the exact accepted nomenclature over time. Cupressus nootkatensis. Excellent article in the ABS magazine 2019 Volume 53 Number 2.
They are known for interesting deadwood.
This one is coming along nicely, more refinement to come. I have been working with it for about five years, was collected seven years ago.

I've seen them here (in NC) in landscape nurseries listed as "Alaskan Cedar", though they are by no means wide-spread.

 

[Eckhoffw]

I know a few with winged elm...but not many. But now, when I pulled up a link it says common name is cork elm. Cork bark elm!?! This is more common in the hobby...yes? I've seen it sell on auctions So just asking...to make sure this link is correct. Did I know know this!?!


My winged elm...that I have begun to wire minimally. I am getting winged on the unwired areas. But need wire to for a bit of order.

Ulmus alata Michx

View attachment 367190
The texture forming on the trunk... View attachment 367191

That stand is ridiculous!!!
Would U b so kind as too tell me something about it?

 

[Cadillactaste]

That stand is ridiculous!!!
Would U b so kind as too tell me something about it?

A guy from Thailand made it. He is very talented.

Also learned why it's so important for botanical names. My winged elm...is NOT a cork bark elm which had a couple botanical names...and I'm sure someone else could explain each... but a winged elms botanical name is Ulmus alata. So totally different.

 

[andrewiles]

I'd love to see more mountain laurels, Kalmia latifolia. In my neck of the woods they grow quite well, if slowly, and many varieties have leaves under 1" in size. I have a few in my garden and they require no maintenance or special care. Most amazing are the flowers, which look like little ice cream cones before they open.

The tree below is, very sadly, not mine. But it shows the potential imho:


And the buds/flowers:


I also decided to try out a barberry this year. I know nothing about them, but they also seems somewhat underappreciated as a flowering specimen. I have "Darwin", seen here with unopened flower buds. On the downside they have thorns and are not afraid to use them.

 

[CreekChalk]

Bluewood Condalia, just found this on my property. Pretty excited to air layer one soon.

 

[Ohmy222]

I would say kurume azaleas. Satsukis get all the love and those with variegated patterns or strap leaves are awesome but most satsukis you see are solid colors and normally have large blooms. Kurume azaleas like coral bells or hinode girl have compact growth, smaller flowers, and often grow faster. The colors are often more bold too. Best part to me is how they completely cover the plant in flower. Weird part is you can buy them at any Home Depot but rarely see them. Below is one I believe from Nick Lenz who had a few of them.

 

[Carol 83]

I would say kurume azaleas. Satsukis get all the love and those with variegated patterns or strap leaves are awesome but most satsukis you see are solid colors and normally have large blooms. Kurume azaleas like coral bells or hinode girl have compact growth, smaller flowers, and often grow faster. The colors are often more bold too. Best part to me is how they completely cover the plant in flower. Weird part is you can buy them at any Home Depot but rarely see them. Below is one I believe from Nick Lenz who had a few of them.

This Nuccios "Plum Purty" is a kurume type azalea, almost engulfed in blooms.

 

[Forsoothe!]

I would say kurume azaleas. Satsukis get all the love and those with variegated patterns or strap leaves are awesome but most satsukis you see are solid colors and normally have large blooms. Kurume azaleas like coral bells or hinode girl have compact growth, smaller flowers, and often grow faster. The colors are often more bold too. Best part to me is how they completely cover the plant in flower. Weird part is you can buy them at any Home Depot but rarely see them. Below is one I believe from Nick Lenz who had a few of them.

Ya know, I've always loved 'Hino Red' and right now I'm thinking, why don't I have one?

 

[San Franpsycho]

I think under appreciated Species's include everything directly under our feet that gets left out in favor of anything almost "Japanese".

Sad thing is this is American Advertising to ignorant Americans and any other sad souls caught in the BS.

The kind Japanese man would say, "why do you foolishly try to grow shit you can't grow, to be like us, when in order to be like us and have successful artistic bonsai endeavors, you should use what you can collect, moron-san?"

The three hoops we jump through to make these things half way decent can be removed for no hoops and excellence if we wised up.

It's not the under appreciation, it's the false appreciation of "chinensis" and all that other BS in the seed packets.

Sorce

lol but what do you really think?

 

[San Franpsycho]

I know a few with winged elm...but not many. But now, when I pulled up a link it says common name is cork elm. Cork bark elm!?! This is more common in the hobby...yes? I've seen it sell on auctions So just asking...to make sure this link is correct. Did I know know this!?!


My winged elm...that I have begun to wire minimally. I am getting winged on the unwired areas. But need wire to for a bit of order.

Ulmus alata Michx

View attachment 367190
The texture forming on the trunk... View attachment 367191

I just have to say that is an amazing stand under the elm. love that.

 

[Cadillactaste]

I just have to say that is an amazing stand under the elm. love that.

Thank you. A gentleman from Thailand made it.

 

[Mikecheck123]

I'd like to start a thread to specifically suggest species that people simply may not be aware of... which may make excellent bonsai. So try to avoid suggesting common species... and suggest something that you work with that you think doesn't get enough attention.

I'm going to start with Q. lobata, aka "valley oak" or "California white oak". A white oak with surprisingly small leaves, it is endemic to California, and is the largest oak in North America. I have 13... and they are incredibly strong growers, even putting on girth in pond baskets. USDA zones 5-10, and I'll just say that all my trees in NC are loving it. If you plant in landscape, be ready... it will grow 4' a year, and a 20' white oak in 5 years is to be expected.

View attachment 366945

View attachment 366946

Another Valley Oak has by mysterious means made its way to the East Coast...... seems to love the Virginia humidity!

 

[VAFisher]

I know a few with winged elm...but not many. But now, when I pulled up a link it says common name is cork elm. Cork bark elm!?! This is more common in the hobby...yes? I've seen it sell on auctions So just asking...to make sure this link is correct. Did I know know this!?!


My winged elm...that I have begun to wire minimally. I am getting winged on the unwired areas. But need wire to for a bit of order.

Ulmus alata Michx

View attachment 367190
The texture forming on the trunk... View attachment 367191

I love winged elm. They're like weeds in central VA. I have 2 in pots and a couple more in the ground.

 

[Cadillactaste]

I love winged elm. They're like weeds in central VA. I have 2 in pots and a couple more in the ground.

View attachment 384205
View attachment 384206

Very nice indeed! That shallow pot...amazes me. I'm quite frankly afraid with watering by hand...having one that deep. Who is the potter on the deeper
one?

 

[VAFisher]

Very nice indeed! That shallow pot...amazes me. I'm quite frankly afraid with watering by hand...having one that deep. Who is the potter on the deeper
one?

The shallow one is an Iker and the deeper one is Sara Rayner. The taller tree looks 1000 times better in a really shallow pot because of the thin, feminine trunk. It doesn't dry out too fast either.