Oak trees

[rockm]

Off-topic, but what's your favourite North American native for bonsai?

Cedar elm, by far. Underrated. not "fashionable" easily worked, quick on development, tough as nails, forgiving and not finicky about much of anything, from soil to overwatering. Far superior to American elm in leaf reduction and ramification. Superior to Chinese elm in character.

 

[M. Frary]

Off-topic, but what's your favourite North American native for bonsai?

I only use 3. Jack pine,tamarack and American elm. My favorite tree to work with that grows wild is Scots pine. It isnt a native but an invasive in a lot of areas.
I'll collect a good one of those before I go after the others.

 

[Aaronkslater]

I don't see anyone working with oak around here... not sure if any of the bonsai-able varieties can take zone 5

wish we had collectable oak material like this:

 

[defra]

I don't see anyone working with oak around here... not sure if any of the bonsai-able varieties can take zone 5

wish we had collectable oak material like this:

Look at page 1 of this topic.... paul uploaded a s load of pics of his oaks

 

[Aaronkslater]

Look at page 1 of this topic.... paul uploaded a s load of pics of his oaks

yes but he is in zone 9 at least and we are zone 5 here... as far as I have seen I may be able to keep english oak but I don't see anyone around here keeping it so I wonder if it is possible.

I have been looking for oak species to add to my collection... if anyone has zone appropriate suggestions I'm all ears!!!

 

[M. Frary]

I don't see anyone working with oak around here... not sure if any of the bonsai-able varieties can take zone 5

Because where you live you have the same of oaks as I have. Plus maybe pin oak.

 

[Rambles]

I have played with a few oaks, and the only one I had any luck with leaf reduction with was whiteoak. Still pretty big by bonsai standards, but much smaller than I could achieve with pin oak.

 

[Potawatomi13]

Currently working Northern Red Oak, Oregon White Oak, Cal Black Oak all pretty young. All show promise for smaller leaves. Plan for these eventual 2 1/2- 4' trees . Also slightly older Cork(?)Oak small leaves maybe 2 1/2-3' tree.

 

[Arvsmassa]

Collected in norway last year. Found a bit of land in norway where there was just hundreds of them. All oaks in the area looks really dwarfed. Some are very pretty. Collected two that was easy to lift, with loads of feeder roots for a testrun.