Know any good online nurseries? Please share! Also seeking variegated Chinese elm

[tinyzigzag]

Hello all,

I’ve been trying to track down a variegated Chinese elm, either MrMaple’s “Mottled Molly” or “Frosty”. Does anyone know when they might restock the MrMaple one or where else to look?

Also, and this is just to help me expand my little personal nursery database so it doesn’t have to just be specific to the elm, but can you please share links or contact info for any good nurseries for rare trees/plants? Or nurseries with high-quality specimen trees and/or affordable pre bonsai for sale. Especially if you know of any that you wouldn’t really come across in the first page of a Google search- those hidden gems that mostly get spread by word of mouth (or keyboard). Ones that offer shipping are ideal, I live in New England but wouldn’t really travel outside of that region. I mostly like maples and elms but I do like all bonsai so please just share any good ones that you know of! Thank you!!

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Might want to Mr Maple and get the lowdown directly from them.

One nursery has been a key supplier to bonsai hobbyists for quite awhile. Evergreengardenworks.com

Another one, just a bit newer. https://kaedebonsai-en.com/collections/all

Both have extremely high quality pre bonsai stock.

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[rockm]

FWIW, won't be all that easy to find variegated Chinese elm at bonsai specific nurseries. They're not used all that much for bonsai, as the variegation isn't necessarily great for bonsai since it tends to look a bit odd in practice.

MAtt Ouwinga's Kaede En in Maryland is an excellent source, but you have to be quick to get seedlings from him. They tend to sell out quickly in the spring depending on species.
Evergreengardenworks in Nor Cal. is another excellent source that has been around a while.
Bill Valavanis' International Bonsai in Rochester, NY also has a nice selection of bonsai specific seedlings. They also sell quickly.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I have a number of variegated Chinese elm cultivars, including 'frosty' 'Lois Hole' and 'snow'. Generally speaking they aren't often used in bonsai because the foliage looks a little strange on larger trees. However I think for shohin and mame they can be quite pretty - almost like a flowering tree of some sort.

I just gave an un-named variegated cultivar to Horace at Maples n' More Nursery up in Burnsville and he said he is going to take some cuttings right now to try to kick off propagation - but he would be a few years out from offering any for sale.



Try Hoot Owl Hollow Nursery in New Marshfield, OH. I know they have several variegated Chinese elm cultivars - but I don't know the status of whether any are for sale.

 

[tinyzigzag]

Might want to Mr Maple and get the lowdown directly from them.

One nursery has been a key supplier to bonsai hobbyists for quite awhile. Evergreengardenworks.com

Another one, just a bit newer. https://kaedebonsai-en.com/collections/all

Both have extremely high quality pre bonsai stock.

Cheers
DSD sends

Oh awesome, thanks so much! I actually had heard of Kaede from somewhere but forgot all about it! Didn’t know evergreen though.

 

[tinyzigzag]

FWIW, won't be all that easy to find variegated Chinese elm at bonsai specific nurseries. They're not used all that much for bonsai, as the variegation isn't necessarily great for bonsai since it tends to look a bit odd in practice.

MAtt Ouwinga's Kaede En in Maryland is an excellent source, but you have to be quick to get seedlings from him. They tend to sell out quickly in the spring depending on species.
Evergreengardenworks in Nor Cal. is another excellent source that has been around a while.
Bill Valavanis' International Bonsai in Rochester, NY also has a nice selection of bonsai specific seedlings. They also sell quickly.

Ohh I guess that makes sense!! Huh, are Chinese elm (variegated or otherwise) common at non-bonsai specific nurseries? Anyway, thank you for the nursery suggestions!

 

[tinyzigzag]

I have a number of variegated Chinese elm cultivars, including 'frosty' 'Lois Hole' and 'snow'. Generally speaking they aren't often used in bonsai because the foliage looks a little strange on larger trees. However I think for shohin and mame they can be quite pretty - almost like a flowering tree of some sort.

I just gave an un-named variegated cultivar to Horace at Maples n' More Nursery up in Burnsville and he said he is going to take some cuttings right now to try to kick off propagation - but he would be a few years out from offering any for sale.

View attachment 559562

Try Hoot Owl Hollow Nursery in New Marshfield, OH. I know they have several variegated Chinese elm cultivars - but I don't know the status of whether any are for sale.

Thank you so much! Both the nurseries you mentioned were new for me, I already reached out to Hoot Owl Hollow

Are you selling or willing to sell any of your variegated ones, including any rooted cuttings? They’re just so beautiful! What variety is the one in the photo you shared?

 

[rockm]

Ohh I guess that makes sense!! Huh, are Chinese elm (variegated or otherwise) common at non-bonsai specific nurseries? Anyway, thank you for the nursery suggestions!

You're more likely to find variegated Chinese elms at specialty landscaping nurseries, like Mr. Maple etc. As bonsai they're too "flashy" to use, as foliage isn't meant to overshadow the tree, including its woody nebari/branching and twig structure (Which is more important than the foliage since foliage is temporary and replaceable)