Chinese elm, cork-bark variety, medium size. Height: 17 inches; Width: 17 inches. Pot size 10″ X 7.5″ X 2 Pot origin: Yixing, China. Trunk diameter at the base: 3 inches. Species: Ulmus parvifolia, Popular name: Chinese elm, cork-bark variety. This is a species native to East Asia (China, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam), growing up to 60 feet tall (18-20 m). An extremely popular bonsai medium, due to its versatility, small leaves, and quick response to training. I bought this tree as a young nursery stock, about 20 years ago from San Gabriel Nursery, in San Gabriel, CA. Planted in the ground for over a decade, and then trained it as a bonsai for another decade. It is a deciduous species, here in Southern California. It loses the leaves in winter, but quickly re-grows them in early spring. In very cold climates, it can be grown indoors, during winter. The branches have small inter-nodes, and the leaves are very small, when grown in bonsai pot. The bark is very corky and thick, creating the impression of great age. This is a gorgeous little tree, with balanced structure, and a light, playful appearance. The upward main branches add naturalness to the design, although the flat pads still look bonsai-ish. In order to look more natural, the pads need to be thickened and rounded, and the top part of the tree should be expanded, so that the final result is a rounded and lush apex. This is a fast-growing species, so the thickening of pads and the apex, should take no longer than a full growing season. Another great thing about this tree, is that both the front and the back views look equally good. You can see it for yourself. I had a hard time figuring out which one is the best view, when I took the pictures this morning. I re-wired the branches this past spring, but the wires should come off in about a month and a half, since this time of the year in California, the branches thicken very fast. But if the thickening is not quite as strong, then the new owner should take off the wires as soon as they start cutting into the wood, around mid-spring, next year. On a different note, if this tree will still be in my possession by next spring, by the time the wires come off, and the foliage fills out, the tree will appreciate significantly, both in appearance and value. The root-base (nebari) is very nice and strong, with a perfect structure. The tree has no scars whatsoever, and a great taper. I really love the pot, with the heavily textured blue shades. One would be hard-pressed to find a better match, if you like colors and creative displays. Overall, this is a beautiful little tree, one or two years away from show-quality. It can be a great addition to the collection of both a beginner, as well as an advanced bonsai enthusiast. The great thing about chinese elms, is that they are suited to all levels of bonsai knowledge, due to their versatility and forgiving nature. And, as a bonus for those who live in colder climates, but like to enjoy bonsai in the comfort of their home, chinese elms don’t mind being grown indoors, as long as they get enough light. The item “Chinese Elm, Cork Bark #1 (Ulmus parvifolia) bonsai medium size” is in sale since Monday, September 16, 2019. This item is in the category “Home & Garden\Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living\Plants, Seeds & Bulbs\Plants & Seedlings\Bonsai”. The seller is “world_of_bonsai” and is located in Altadena, California. This item can be shipped to United States.
- Foliage: Deciduous
- Type: Deciduous
- Climate: Temperate
- Bonsai Species: Ulmus parvifolia
- Indoor/Outdoor: Outdoor/Indoor
- Plant Form: Advanced bonsai material
- Sunlight: Full Sun
- Watering: Medium
- Genus: Ulmus
Tags: bark, bonsai, chinese, cork, medium, parvifolia, size, ulmus
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