Most difficult tree to bonsai?

anon user said:
I would argue that it is _you_ who are the one missing out on a lot when myself and others do not participate. _I_ am not missing out on much at all...there is a wealth of knowledge publicly available across the internet and in journals that I have access to. You, on the other hand, do not have access to the private knowledge those of us that get chased away have but don't contribute.

The way the OP was initially treated in this thread is telling proof that there are some in this community who feel themselves above others. These people just want their ego stroked. Were this question posed by Sorce or Lance or yourself, it would have been greeted with an entirely different caliber of response. That's pretty much the definition of a closed community. People can't freely participate without ridicule until they've been inducted by the powers that be...
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Maybe you are new here. No response I have seen was putting themselves above themselves. The question is just one that invites responses on a wide range of seriousnous. Some are joking, some not. If the OP has a sense of humour, which I think they do, considering how the question was pre-empted with a "maybe a silly question" they would take the comments in stride.

Only people with a short fuse take notice and are offended by a few jokesters.

My recommendation, lighten up and enjoy the ride.
Life is too short to be sour.
 
My vote goes to sumac. Leggy growth, long internodes, huge compound leaves...

Then I saw Kimura made a bonsai from one :) Granted, it is about five feet tall, but it still is quite attractive! (This photo is from a Google image search - but it is attributed to @William N. Valavanis blog)

sumac.jpg
 
VAFisher said:
Not much to look at yet. But the trunk is already about 1.5" thick and starting to bark up near the bottom. I wired a slight curve into the trunk when it was still flexible enough. Probably should have bent it some more though. Decent surface roots developing that are currently covered. I figure I'll need to let it get 10 or 12 feet tall before the trunk is thick enough for a 3 or 4 foot finished tree. Maybe taller. But they grow fast. Might be a waste of time but its fun trying something different.

View attachment 295864
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I ordered some 12-18" tulip poplars without doing my homework first. I was appalled at the leaf size! They're like baseball gloves, lol. If defoliated, they reduce well, as seen in this picture.
 
CrimsonA3 said:
Hey guys,
New to bonsai and excited to get started. Just wanted to ask a stupid question out of curiosity really.

What is the absolute hardest tree to bonsai?
Is it readily available or are there many trees that just don't respond to bonsai at all?
Thanks!
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Araucaria araucana😳.
 
Minnesota Madman said:
I ordered some 12-18" tulip poplars without doing my homework first. I was appalled at the leaf size! They're like baseball gloves, lol. If defoliated, they reduce well, as seen in this picture.
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Leaves can reduce, but it doesn't solve the big long internode problem.
 
I'm absolutely not saying that it is the most difficult, but for me so far it is the rainbow eucalyptus. I used to think that, with fast growing habit, it should be easy. It isn't. I can get one to prebonsai level fairly quick. But as I and many Australian bonsai peep have found, getting one to the refined bonsai status is tough. I have searched for years and have yet to find evidence of just one refined rainbow eucalyptus bonsai.
Among the things I have found difficulty:

  • Branches do not back bud unless they are fairly large. Smaller branches have long internode and will bud only at the nodes. If I trim a branch when it is still young, the tree simply drops the branch and grows a new one. I have waited until they turn woody before trimming yet some branches were still dropped. I now have to wait and find out.
  • Leaves don't reduce well. Soon as the tree finds good growing condition the leaves get big fast.
On the other hand, early in the spring with the tree is full of young leaves, it is gorgeous. I absolutely will keep my rainbow eucalyptus and try to get the trunk to shape right. Then I will only show it to people early in the spring :D The rest of the time it will be tucked away along with all my wisteria.
 
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I've (after 2 years of trying) abandoned developing any North American Fraxinus...

My Son still has the Green Ash
I was trying to work with...

But the internoding is completely random.. with always long petioles (?) between each compound leafset.... There are leaf trimming techniques to only DISPLAY the unfurling leaves, when still smaller, but I could never get ahead of MOST of the Issues North American Fraxinus...

I WAS told... but I still DID find out for myself.


Also... Parkinsonia...

I really love mine... but "bonsai" intent went out the window a while ago... MAYBE..

🤓😂

I've discovered that the Black Poplar Windfall I've been growing, in a 'plug setting' WILL reduce (leaves AND internodes) under stunt stress. Which I was previously assured WOULDN'T happen.

The same situation with Rose
of Sharon Windfall in a plug... seeing surprising results, DESPITE some things I've heard.

I'd share pictures, but my cell phone dies if I unplug it.

😂😂
 
Arnold said:
Definitely... the most difficult tree for bonsai is.. the Ginseng ficus 🤢😂

View attachment 450078
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I've got one of these suckas... (Gifted from family.. blah blah blah) 🤓

I was GOING to remove the big tuber "rump"...

I decided instead to "embrace the butt" and style a decent tree up top... It'llalways be a novelty tree.

😂
 
An 800 ft tree with a 15 foot diameter trunk.
 
The most difficult tree to bonsai is anything sold in a seed kit.

I got one for Christmas from a family member who meant well. Despite having tons of seed growing experience, only one sprouted.

I.e. it's not just a terrible idea, terrible execution as well. Hopefully the FBI soon arrests everyone involved with making those things.
 
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