Best species for bonsai in the southeast, specifically, central-west Alabama

[Guillermow69]

Hey guys, I am trying to get into bonsai and I am looking for the most resilient and easiest to maintain species that is native/easy to work with in the southeast, more specifically, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Also, if you have any tips or things you wish you knew as a beginner, let me know! I know most species where I am at, but I do not know what species work the best with bonsai in my area.

 

[crab apple]

If Bald cypress will grow where your at they are for me by far the easiest. You can keep them in garden soil for many years and dunk them in a large tub of water and go on vacation. Also if you can aquire a good collected one the base is already done for you, just develope the top then enjoy.
Some say dwarf Crape Myrtles are easy too, not real sure about that though.

 

[Guillermow69]

@crab apple I am in more of the Eastern/mountainous side of Alabama, I think the bald cypress is in the southwestern side of Alabama. Any recommendations for species that work well in the the less humid/lowland areas of Alabama?

 

[TomP]

Bald cypress will work anywhere in Alabama. They just need a lot of water, in the summer I stand mine in a tub full of it
American hornbeams are native and do well. I personally prefer korean hornbeams because the leaves are smaller, but Americans are easy to maintain and look very good as larger trees

The native loblolly pine is good--I have had a decent amount of experience with them. They are a double flush pine and technique is key to making them happy, but they grow like weeds. (I actually treat them as a triple flush pine here in Huntsville and decandle in May and July) If you don't aggressively decandle the needles are long and distracting, but if you are aggressive they have nice soft foliage like a red pine. The trees bark up nicely.

Those are my top choices locally. I am not aware if there is a club in Tuscaloosa, but Birmingham has a very active one that would be worth your drive to visit https://alabamabonsai.org/ Joining a club is one of the quickest ways to develop as a bonsai hobbyist