U for Ulmus

You’ve finally reached the majestic Elm genus I mentioned before, swapping it from E to U. You’ve no doubt heard about the Chinese Elm, which is the most popular one to grow as a bonsai. The serrated leaves are stunning, and it also presents lovely flowers in the spring or in late summer, depending on how warm it is. 

There are about 40 species of Elm trees in the world, so you have more to choose from than simply the Chinese Elm. As a bonsai, they’re easy to keep small the more you prune and cultivate them. It’s one of the easiest to grow and propagate, and it just loves growing quickly in spring. This feature makes it ideal for beginner bonsai enthusiasts who want an easy tree to manage.

I have two Catlin Chinese Elms. The one is the parent bonsai I bought earlier this year from the Bishopsford Bonsai Nursery, which is a mature bonsai already. I read online that it’s easy to grow these species as a shohin, which means keeping them smaller than two inches. I managed to propagate a cutting, which now has roots and new leaves. It’s one of my successes I’m really proud of.