CONIFERS FOR BONSAI 

Coenosium Gardens has been selling plants for twenty years. Located throughout the nursery are many plants that are easily overlooked due to their small stature. Upon closer inspection, many of these little plants have thick trunks, small foliage, and shallow roots. Such plants are very suitable for bonsai.

Several basic characteristics should be considered when selecting potential bonsai plants. Heavy trunk development and fissured bark at a young age, miniature foliage, multiple bud development, and a growth rate that may be easily stunted are among the most important ones.

EASILY ROOTED CONIFERS FOR BONSAI

Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Hage’- This cultivar grows more slowly than Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Nana’ and is relatively undistinguishable from it as a young plant. As a young plant, ‘Hage’ or ‘Nana’ is an excellent choice for mame or bonsai. The small foliage, slow growth, spreading branches, and rapid trunk development all combine to create an excellent miniature tree.

Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Kosteri’- A slow-growing form with horizontal, twisted foliage occurring in layers, ‘Kosteri’ is quite popular with some bonsai growers. Growing upright, this plant can become a most attractive formal or informal bonsai.

Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Nana Gracilis’- Its dark green coloration, dense foliage, and bumpy texture make this plant a most popular one for choice landscapes. These same characteristics also make it a number one choice for many bonsai enthusiasts.

Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Plumosa Compressa’- This is an extremely dwarf form of Sawara cypress with a globular shape and small, needle-shaped leaves. Everything is in scale for the creation of aesthetic, miniature trees.

Chamaecyparis Pisifera ‘Tsukumo’- Developing into a low, bun-shaped bush, ‘Tsukumo’ has light green, fan-shaped sprays that are glaucous on their undersides. Its trunk thickens quite rapidly, and a pleasing branch structure soon results.

Chamaecyparis thyoides ‘Andelyensis’- Although this plant is not a dwarf, its growth rate is somewhat restrained. Taking the shape of a narrow, pointed column with upright branches, it is an excellent choice for Saikei. The plant pictured here is 'Andelyensis Conica', which has juvenile foliage at its base.

Cryptomeria japonica ‘Jindai Sugi’- The branches on this compact, conical bush are erect and spreading. The short, stiff leaves are light green. The trunk thickens rapidly with a good taper. ‘Jindai Sugi’ can be used either in a forest planting or as a formal upright.

Cryptomeria japonica ‘Lobbi Nana’- Although quite similar to ‘Jindai Sugi’ in many respects, ‘Lobbi Nana’ develops into a conical form that is somewhat broader.

Cryptomerii japonica ‘Tansu’- ‘Tansu’ possesses a very distinctive foliage that is small needled, light green, and very dense. Its denseness and broadly conical growth habit make this plant a natural for bonsai training.

Cryptomeria japonica ‘Vilmoriniana’- This dwarf, globular plant has a very fine needled foliage. When trained as bonsai, the branch structure and small needles of ‘Vilmoriniana’ produce a rather choice specimen.

Juniperus x-media ‘Blaauw’- A densely growing, upright form with very vigorous leading shoots, ‘Blaauw’ has a characteristically rugged outline. Its blue-gray foliage is quite attractive and densely tufted on the short, sub-lateral branches. Used rather extensively in bonsai, its popularity is increasing.

Juniperus x media ‘Shimpaku’- Although it possesses many of the same characteristics as ‘Blaauw’, ‘Shimpaku’ has several distinctive features that make it a favorite for bonsai. It is more broadly growing with greener foliage. When trained as bonsai, it consistently creates very fine specimens. The plant pictured here is the golden form of 'Shimpaku' named 'Plumosa Aurea'. Purists prefer green conifers for bonsai but this plant can create an attractive golden bonsai.

Juniperus procumbens ‘Nana’- Prostrate with thick stems and short leaves, this plant is probably the most popular bonsai plant in North America. The branchlets are ascending and the shoots turn up at their ends. Surprisingly, many of the plants sold under this name are actually Juniperus squamata ‘Prostrata’. Both are excellent for bonsai, but the true procumbens ‘Nana’ grows more rapidly and has a more open habit. In this picture, squamata 'Prostrata' is on the left while procumbens 'Nana' is to the right.

Juniperus squamata ‘Loderi’- Forming a dense, columnar bush, this fastigiate plant can be used in group plantings to create a most attractive miniature forest.

Juniperus squamata ‘Prostrata’- Of all the conifers used for bonsai this is perhaps the most versatile. Slower growing than procumbens ‘Nana’, it is a very tidy plant and stays green through the winter. A selection available at nurseries labeled procumbens 'Green Mound' is actually squamata 'Prostrata'. This cultivar is pictured above.

Picea abies ‘Gregoryana Parsonsii’, ‘Maxwellii’, ‘Nidiformis", and ‘Pumila Nigra’- These cultivars are grouped together because each may be used is a similar manner to produce formal bonsai. When planted in the ground for a few years, each of these cultivars will develop a thick trunk. All transplant easily and respond very well to bare-rooting and training for a bonsai container. They are relatively short-needled and make strikingly beautiful bonsai when cloud-pruned. The three plants pictured to the left from top to bottom are: top- Picea abies 'Maxwellii' at about 10 years old.  Center- Picea abies 'Nidiformis' at about 10 years old.  Bottom- Picea abies 'Pumila Nigra' at about 150 years old.

Picea abies ‘Little Gem’- A miniature in all aspects, ‘Little Gem’ is outstanding when used as a Mame or Penjing. Young plants respond very well to this sort of treatment. The small needles and dense branching habit create a miniature with all aspects in scale. This plant is about 20 years old and grown under optimum conditions in Oregon.

Picea glauca ‘Conica’- The Dwarf Alberta Spruce is a common plant in garden centers throughout this country. An upright growth habit and short, juvenile foliage make this cultivar a natural for Saikei. A single specimen can be trained into a bonsai special enough to enhance any collection. A single specimen can also be planted on its side and trained into an exceptional forest planting. The cultivar shown in the picture is 'Pixie', a miniature glauca 'Conica'.

This list of bonsai conifers is by no means intended to be complete. These are some of the choicest bonsai cultivars grown on their own roots.

Not only are these plants excellent for bonsai, but they are also very good choices for the landscape. Many maintain the dwarf habit when grown in the ground while others will show an accelerated growth rate but are naturally oriental in appearance and add a definite Asian flavor to the garden.

In the future I will present a number of conifers for bonsai that are more reliably propagated by grafting.

Counter Started March 31, 2002