Attributes:Broadleaf, deciduous, small tree that is fantastic in the landscape and for bonsai culture. It is fast growing and develops 'lace bark' or bark that becomes a mosaic of brown, white, green, orange patches with age. The leaves are small and the stems ramify quickly. It is easy to grow and highly eager to please.
Notes:This a bendy, fun little tree. Chinese elm 'bonsai' with s-curves are imported en masse and sold cheaply at box stores, giving this species a bad reputation. It is in fact an excellent species for bonsai and a stupendous example was featured recently at the 2024 Pacific Bonsai Expo. I try my best to make original, interesting trunk shapes in my production process in spite of any given species's reputation. I was inspired to grow this species when my first son was born; there were chinese elms in the parking lot of the hospital where he was delivered, and I couldn't help but get hooked on their bark. I was in love with my son and the trees' bark.
