LF trees for bonsai.

[Easymode.rl]

I live in Zone 5A, but I’m really only interested in trees hardy to Zone 4 or colder. I don’t have much space, so I’m specifically looking for bonsai candidates that can survive year-round in a pot with no winter protection, no dragging them into sheds or garages, no babying. Just trees I can leave in place, even during brutal winters.

So far, Korean hornbeam has been the best one I’ve found. I’m also growing Siberian elm, common lilac, and mugo pine, and those are the only others that have actually survived my winters in pots.

If anyone knows of different varieties or cultivars especially small-leaved ones, I’d like to hear about them. Or really, if you’ve got any bonsai-suitable species or cultivars that can handle Zone 4 winters in a frozen pot, I’m open to suggestions.

Again, I’m not looking to move them or protect them in winter. I want to keep them in one spot all year and not make my place look like a plant rescue shelter every fall. I'm fine if I occasionally need to bring them in because it's negative 30 outside..

 

[penumbra]

American Larch and any type of White Spruce along with many other types of spruce ans fir. Many birch, and willows.
Plenty of others.

 

[Dav4]

Tamarack/American Larch, Rocky Mountain Juniper, and Amur maple are a few that come to mind. Even though these are cold hardy to USDA zone 3, I'd still advise at least mulching the pots of any potted tree on the ground for the winter

 

[Colorado]

Pretty much any Rocky Mountain native species. I don’t do anything to my trees over the winter other than put them on the ground and occasionally shovel some extra snow on the pots when it storms.

Colorado blue spruce, piñon pine (Rocky Mountain variety), limber pine, Rocky Mountain juniper, bristlecone pine, Englemann spruce, white fir, Douglas fir, mountain alder, aspen, Rocky Mountain maple are all great species in my opinion. Ponderosa can be fun and don’t need any winter protection, but definitely do NOT fall into your “small-leafed” requirement

Not sure about -30, but I can tell you mine were left out for -14 and didn’t skip a beat!

 

[Attmos]

Pretty much any Rocky Mountain native species. I don’t do anything to my trees over the winter other than put them on the ground and occasionally shovel some extra snow on the pots when it storms.

Colorado blue spruce, piñon pine (Rocky Mountain variety), limber pine, Rocky Mountain juniper, bristlecone pine, Englemann spruce, white fir, Douglas fir, mountain alder, aspen, Rocky Mountain maple are all great species in my opinion. Ponderosa can be fun and don’t need any winter protection, but definitely do NOT fall into your “small-leafed” requirement

Not sure about -30, but I can tell you mine were left out for -14 and didn’t skip a beat!

Golden Colorado.... Land of the Yamadori.

 

[penumbra]

I'd still advise at least mulching the pots of any potted tree on the ground for the winter

Ditto. If plant roots freeze dry, they are done.

 

[rockm]

Yep anything native to the Rockies or alpine conifers.

 

[Easymode.rl]

You know what, I’m going to agree with you on this. My Siberian elm survives no matter what, but even that tree’s probably paying a price for the lack of protection. From now on, I’m going to start insulating my potted trees for winter. I’ve been avoiding it because I didn’t want the extra hassle, but I realize now I’ve just been stunting their growth and slowing progress.

I might go back to Zone 5 trees like Japanese maples, Chinese elms, or Japanese black pines, the ones I actually want to grow.

I’m thinking of building a raised bed or boxing in the pots with wood planks and filling it with mulch for insulation over winter. It’s simple, cheap, and a whole lot better than leaving them fully exposed and just hoping for the best. Thanks for pushing me in the right direction.

 

[Dav4]

Japanese red pines are considered hardy down to zone 4 and behave much like jbp.