Comparing Chinese Elm Bonsai varieties — notes from growing several

I've grown several varieties within the Chinese Elm Bonsai family and have some observations to share. living art form that reflects decades of patient cultivation varies noticeably between them, more than catalogue descriptions suggest. The care fundamentals are shared — wiring branches during the growing season while wood is flexible applies across all of them.

drying out and death from missing a day's watering in summer affects some more than others, particularly in adverse conditions. I grow mine in a Japanese-inspired garden display with gravel and stone which works well for most varieties. autumn colour on deciduous species before leaf fall is the clearest moment of differentiation between varieties — that's when the character of each comes through. Worth growing a few side by side if you have the space.