Most desirable ficus bonsai specie?

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ceriano

Shohin
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Location
Richmond, Virginia
USDA Zone
7a
I'm looking to order a ficus bonsai in $200 - $300 range. Which of these are more desirable? Willow leaf, Philippinensis or tiger bark?

www.wigertsbonsai.com

Willow Leaf Ficus '89 – One of a Kind Pre-Bonsai - Wigert's Bonsai

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Ficus salicaria '89 COMMON NAME: Willow Leaf '89 SPECIFICS: 20"(height) 5" (nebari) 2" (trunk at first branch) 12" (pot) UNIQUE
www.wigertsbonsai.com www.wigertsbonsai.com
www.wigertsbonsai.com

Ficus Philippinensis – One of a Kind Pre-Bonsai - Wigert's Bonsai

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Ficus philippinensis COMMON NAME: Ficus Philippinensis SPECIFICS: 19"(height) 6" (nebari) 3 (trunk at first branch) 12" (pot) UNIQUE
www.wigertsbonsai.com www.wigertsbonsai.com
www.wigertsbonsai.com

Ficus Microcarpa 'Tiger Bark' – One of a Kind Pre-Bonsai - Wigert's Bonsai

UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS: Ficus mircocarpa is imported from China. It adapts well to bonsai culture and will develop quickly. Can be grown indoors or in low
www.wigertsbonsai.com www.wigertsbonsai.com
 
There are dozens of excellent choices and all three on your list are great but they all have very different characteristics. I have all three and they are used in different ways. Decide first what style, size, environment and such. Then pick the one that best fits the intended direction you plan to carry it in.
 
ceriano said:
Is ficus nerifolia same as willow leaf?
Click to expand...

No. More important that 89 is a special Willow leaf. Better than regular...?

Also note, there are noticably better traits within some species. I have 3 different bens with 3 different growth habits, only one conducive for bonsai.

These are reasons to shop in person!

You may be better off getting to a close spot for yourself....@lancemac10 how far is your spot from him? Bonsai West?

Sorce
 
Willow leaf is F. salicaria but often it is listed as nerifolia and salicifolia which is wrong as they are their own species. Chance are though, if you see a nerifolia or salicifolia listed it will actually be a salicaria.

I'd say the willow leaf is definitely desirable, it took me ages to find one here in Spain but happy I finally did.

The other one I'd take in a heart beat is F. rubiginosa but can only seem to find large ornamental specimen trees.
 
sorce said:
No. More important that 89 is a special Willow leaf. Better than regular...?

Also note, there are noticably better traits within some species. I have 3 different bens with 3 different growth habits, only one conducive for bonsai.

These are reasons to shop in person!

You may be better off getting to a close spot for yourself....@lancemac10 how far is your spot from him? Bonsai West?

Sorce
Click to expand...
Bonsai west is in MA I believe. That's a good 8 - 9 hrs drive.
 
These are 3 specimens within my price range:

www.wigertsbonsai.com

Willow Leaf Ficus '89 – One of a Kind Pre-Bonsai

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Ficus salicaria '89 COMMON NAME: Willow Leaf '89 SPECIFICS: 20"(height) 6" (nebari) 1 1/2" (trunk at first branch) 10" (pot) UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS: Ficus salicaria 89, has narrow leaves (slightly wider than standard salicaria) making an excellent bonsai. They grow fast and...
www.wigertsbonsai.com

www.wigertsbonsai.com

Willow Leaf Ficus '89 – One of a Kind Pre-Bonsai

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Ficus salicaria '89 COMMON NAME: Willow Leaf '89 SPECIFICS: 19"(height) 3" (nebari) 1 1/2 (trunk at first branch) 10" (pot) UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS: Ficus salicaria 89, has narrow leaves (slightly wider than standard salicaria) making an excellent bonsai. They grow fast and...
www.wigertsbonsai.com

www.wigertsbonsai.com

Willow Leaf Ficus '89 – One of a Kind Pre-Bonsai - Wigert's Bonsai

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Ficus salicaria '89 COMMON NAME: Willow Leaf '89 SPECIFICS: 20"(height) 5" (nebari) 2" (trunk at first branch) 12" (pot) UNIQUE
www.wigertsbonsai.com www.wigertsbonsai.com
 
Tiger Bark is my favorite type of ficus.

I find them to be much more vigorous than my willow leaf. However, I only have one willow leaf and this could just be a result of that particular plant in my particular garden.

I also like the leaves on tiger bark much better.

The good news is that you can’t go wrong with either :) those are some good looking options. Have fun!
 
ceriano said:
These are 3 specimens within my price range:

www.wigertsbonsai.com

Willow Leaf Ficus '89 – One of a Kind Pre-Bonsai

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Ficus salicaria '89 COMMON NAME: Willow Leaf '89 SPECIFICS: 20"(height) 6" (nebari) 1 1/2" (trunk at first branch) 10" (pot) UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS: Ficus salicaria 89, has narrow leaves (slightly wider than standard salicaria) making an excellent bonsai. They grow fast and...
www.wigertsbonsai.com

www.wigertsbonsai.com

Willow Leaf Ficus '89 – One of a Kind Pre-Bonsai

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Ficus salicaria '89 COMMON NAME: Willow Leaf '89 SPECIFICS: 19"(height) 3" (nebari) 1 1/2 (trunk at first branch) 10" (pot) UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS: Ficus salicaria 89, has narrow leaves (slightly wider than standard salicaria) making an excellent bonsai. They grow fast and...
www.wigertsbonsai.com

www.wigertsbonsai.com

Willow Leaf Ficus '89 – One of a Kind Pre-Bonsai - Wigert's Bonsai

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Ficus salicaria '89 COMMON NAME: Willow Leaf '89 SPECIFICS: 20"(height) 5" (nebari) 2" (trunk at first branch) 12" (pot) UNIQUE
www.wigertsbonsai.com www.wigertsbonsai.com
Click to expand...

These are good looking trees! Now you’ve got me thinking I ought to pull the trigger on one 😂
 
@ceriano

I live in Richmond too, I wish I still had a bunch of cuttings, I'd give you one for free.

If you wait untill later on in the spring or summer when I take more cuttings, I'll give you one. They won't have much movement, but they'll be a foot or two tall and hey, free is free.... It will be a microcarpa (tiger bark).
 
Tigerbarks are groovy!

I was recently “transfixed” by photos of the Ficus “Burt Davii (Dayvi)”...

I think that will be MY “next fig”

🤓
 
Willow leaf can be finicky and for me tends toward deciduous. I like it for a single standing old oak look tree or for a forest grove.
Tiger Bark is a most attractive trunk and leaves and makes an excellent larger bonsai imo. It is very easy to train in multiple styles.
Philipinensis can't be beat for a banyan style bonsai.
Again, three very different plants that lend themselves to different styles.

I agree with Horseloverfat that Burt Davii is awesome and probably my favorite ficus for bonsai. There seems to be at least 2 forms. One has smaller leaves and I have seen listed as nana. Super easy to root though one cutting of a nana grew larger leaves for me as in a reversion.
Too many ficus and not enough space. If you have my disease every pruning gets you more plants. They can take over.
 
More info on the ’89 variety of salicaria, as well as to how to handle them. They are a really fun species (talking about saliaria in general, I doubt the one I have is ’89). I haven’t experienced any of the common problems people talk about.

I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the ones you posted, but it’s true the $100 one seems like a good deal, maybe just a tad smaller than the $200 ones.
 
It's more than just a species for me...but a specific style as well. It took me several years to find my tigerbark. Because I wanted a chunky monkey. But it was the mature bark that was my main reason. They are beyond gnarly when their bark wrinkles.

I love sumo style. Banyan is cool too. I think above all I search styles as well. To make it something extra than just a traditional looking tree. But, for those who know me. Know this is how I roll.

I also prefer a defoliated photo of the tree I am about to buy so there are no hidden surprises. If I'm spending money...I want to know exactly what I'm buying.

Jason Schley always has character trees. I like that about him. My ROR winged elm,Caitlin elm, pyracantha, kumquat and my Flying Dragon all came from him. All are not traditional looking. If I had the space...he's had a few ficus that caught my eye over the years. But my space is limited.

Link on my tigerbark.

Finally got myself a chunky monkey... tigerbark.

Though it's not an official "sumo" having Arial roots. It's a banyan style. But dang...that trunk base...is mesmerizing. I love the mature bark on this species...when it wrinkles...and I love the gnarly scars as they heal. It's better than a sumo...because it's mine. It has a history...survived...
www.bonsainut.com www.bonsainut.com
 
Last edited:
Cadillactaste said:
It's more than just a species for me...but a specific style as well. It took me several years to find my tigerbark. Because I wanted a chunky monkey. But it was the mature bark that was my main reason. They are beyond gnarly when their bark wrinkles.

I love sumo style. Banyan is cool too. I think above all I search styles as well. To make it something extra than just a traditional looking tree. But, for those who know me. Know this is how I roll.

I also prefer a defoliated photo of the tree I am about to buy so there are no hidden surprises. If I'm spending money...I want to know exactly what I'm buying.

Jason Schley always has character trees. I like that about him. My ROR winged elm,Caitlin elm, pyracantha, kumquat and my Flying Dragon all came from him. All are not traditional looking. If I had the space...he's had a few ficus that caught my eye over the years. But my space is limited.

Link on my tigerbark.

Finally got myself a chunky monkey... tigerbark.

Though it's not an official "sumo" having Arial roots. It's a banyan style. But dang...that trunk base...is mesmerizing. I love the mature bark on this species...when it wrinkles...and I love the gnarly scars as they heal. It's better than a sumo...because it's mine. It has a history...survived...
www.bonsainut.com www.bonsainut.com
Click to expand...
Hey! I know that tree!

🤣🤣🤣

It made me fall in love with tigerbark scars/knobs...
 
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