What is (are) your dreamed tropical bonsai?

Fidur

Fidur

Chumono
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Location
Canary Islands , Spain. Europe
USDA Zone
12
I happen to have a climate that let me grow almost any kind of species. So far I have conifers, maples, decidious, and tropicals (ficus, fukien, bougies, jade, tamarind...).

In the last times I've developed some taste for tropicals (flower and fruit). So I'm tryind to decide wich new species I'm gonna atempt. I only have some preconditions....they must be sold in my island nurseries. Here, there are a good bunch of tropicals for sale, but always as little saplings. I know it will take time, so I want to stick to only 5 to 10 projects.

There is not much information about beautiful, flower and fruit, tropicals that naturally lead to great bonsai....

So, wich would be those that stand out as better tropical projects?...so far I know I will try Ixora and Carissa
 
So many to choose from friend. All those mentioned are great though jade would be toward the bottom of my list. Carissa is a good one that develops interesting bark. I love my acacias and powder puff is excellent but unruly. My favorite right now is Escambron, but hard to find. I have a smaller one but recently bought a large one from Wigerts. Smaller one just got its summer haircut and large one is just running wild right now.
I'll post pictures when new leaves flush out in a couple weeks.
Ficus is King of tropical bonsai in my opinion. I have at least a dozen different types.
 
My dreams are:

A brazilian rain tree that is show worthy
I for some reason gravitate toward citrus trees, I have lemon, grapefruit, and tangerines on the go.

And the one tree that I have not been able to find for 2 years now is a Jacaranda Mimosifolia or Blue Jacaranda tree. One of my favorites but extremely hard to find a cutting in Canada.
 
My all-around favorite tropical is probably Brazilian Raintree, though I also happen to have a soft spot in my heart for citrus - kumquat and calamondin specifically.

db679a321505a485084c2a58e6f7b75f.jpg

LemonBonsai said:
And the one tree that I have not been able to find for 2 years now is a Jacaranda Mimosifolia or Blue Jacaranda tree. One of my favorites but extremely hard to find a cutting in Canada.
Click to expand...
Trust me... you aren't missing anything. These were all over in landscape in Southern California. Last tree to bud out in the spring, first tree to drop leaves in the fall. Leggy, weak, spindly growth. Large compound leaves that make for almost impossible bonsai development. For two weeks out of the year they are amazingly beautiful... and then they go back to being a PITA.

I was a member of our HOA landscaping committee, and we were busy swapping them out whenever possible.
 
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Bonsai Nut said:
My all-around favorite tropical is probably Brazilian Raintree, though I also happen to have a soft spot in my heart for citrus - kumquat and calamondin specifically.

View attachment 447564


Trust me... you aren't missing anything. These were all over in landscape in Southern California. Last tree to bud out in the spring, first tree to drop leaves in the fall. Leggy, weak, spindly growth. Large compound leaves that make for almost impossible bonsai development. For two weeks out of the year they are amazingly beautiful... and then they go back to being a PITA.

I was a member of our HOA landscaping committee, and we were busy swapping them out whenever possible.
Click to expand...
Thats a beautiful tree 😱😱

And I have heard this haha. Ive always been one up for a challenge to my own detrement 😬. I absolutely love the flowers, and its probably the only thing I would grow the tree for. This is why I want to find a cutting not grow one from seed. If I do ever get my hands on one, I will probably make a pretty big bonsai out of it to combat the large foliage.
 
LemonBonsai said:
And I have heard this haha. Ive always been one up for a challenge to my own detrement 😬. I absolutely love the flowers, and its probably the only thing I would grow the tree for. This is why I want to find a cutting not grow one from seed. If I do ever get my hands on one, I will probably make a pretty big bonsai out of it to combat the large foliage.
Click to expand...
You would definitely win the "prove me wrong" challenge! LOL! I'd love to see it!
 
Those aren't like the palm trees in Florida...Looks like Hawaii to me. Am almost certain it is. I guessed you must be from Michigan if you're dreaming of palm trees. I almost laughed out loud when I saw that you are from Michigan. Funny. We have palm trees in our yard so don't need to dream.

Ironically, I'm headed to MI soon and am not exactly looking forward to it. I'm sure it's wonderful though when you live there.
 
Badge30 said:
BRTs are my favorite now. I have 3 and this will be the first winter for them in Ohio. Wish me luck lol.
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Get some grow lights, they will do fine.
 
Katie0317 said:
Those aren't like the palm trees in Florida...Looks like Hawaii to me. Am almost certain it is. I guessed you must be from Michigan if you're dreaming of palm trees. I almost laughed out loud when I saw that you are from Michigan. Funny. We have palm trees in our yard so don't need to dream.

Ironically, I'm headed to MI soon and am not exactly looking forward to it. I'm sure it's wonderful though when you live there.
Click to expand...
Nice! You nailed it Hawaiian palm trees. Not sure of your Enchanted Mitten destination, but we have a lot more to offer than most realize. We have about 12,000 inland lakes, 300 waterfalls, 38 deep-water ports, and more miles of coastline than any state but Alaska, and more lighthouses than any other U.S. state. We also have tourist-friendly fare such as cherries, blueberries, peaches, apples, wine, Vernors & BetterMade Potato chips. :cool: lol I love MI!


Going back here at the end of August. Pictured-Rocks-Grand-Portal-November-2016.jpg
 
I just want a ficus that not a damn Benjamina, that's all they sell up here.
I also want one of those weird contorted thorny oranges, something trifoliolata I think. Not sure if it tropical but almost everything seems tropical to me.
 
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Being myself in the tropics , here goes my list:
- Brazilian Rain Trees (there are many cultivars).
- Calliandras (powder puffs) many different cultivars also.
- Kumquat for the fruit. I hate the thorns.
- Jaboticaba
- Pitanga (Eugenia Uniflora-Barbados Cherry?)
- Ficus Green Island
 
A landscape tree in some areas, does well under lights in my zone. Young growth must be wired quickly because it will harden fast.

Australian Brush Cherry

www.budgetplants.com www.budgetplants.com
 
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