The Chinese Elm is a wonderful, forgiving species for bonsai known for tiny leaves and ability to produce dense ramification. These trees are suitable for all sizes of bonsai -their small leaves lend well to mame and shohin, but their fast growth rate can be taken advantage of to create large specimen trees. Another cool feature of this species is that they take from root cuttings, so if you cut off a root during repotting season, you can create a new tree from that. Grown from seed at Kaede Bonsai-en, these trees are well established in 2 1/4" containers. Common Name(s): Chinese Elm Latin Name: Ulmus parvifolia Type: Semi-deciduous broadleaf Native to: China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam Climate: Hardy in Zones 5-9, in cooler zones it will be a fully deciduous tree but in warmer areas it may retain some foliage over the winter. Care: The Chinese Elm prefers partial shade but can tolerate almost full sun if well-watered. For a deciduous species, they can take a fair bit of sunlight. When developing bonsai, be careful not to let too many branches grow from one point as it could lead to swelling and reverse taper. Size: 6-10" Notes: This is a deciduous tree and therefore will not have foliage during the winter.
