Corkbark Elm Progression

I have grown really fond of this corkbark elm, and I thought the nuts on this forum would like to see its continued progression. I believe it is a ‘Corticosa’ based on the description on Evergreen Gardenworks website, and a conversation with @cmeg1.

This corkbark elm was grown by a veteran member of my bonsai club for approximately 30 years, and kept in her private collection. She allowed me to purchase it because she liked my work, and trusted me to move it forward. It was completely immobile because the tree had been in the same spot for many years, and very thick roots had grown deep underground from the nursery can. After some blood, sweat, and tears I removed it, roughly chopped the top to take some pressure off of the roots, and treated it like an air layer for the rest of the 2020 season. It had some fungus issues, and grew very slowly.



This season, the tree popped buds all over and exploded with new growth! @MACH5 and I looked at the tree for at least a half hour trying to find how to best use it’s character. We ultimately decided to air layer the tree and make it into a triple trunk chuhin size tree.



I recently separated the air layer and did some rough cutback. Next season it will get a more thoughtful pruning and wiring to move the design forward. Really excited to see it in its first pot after many years of preparation!


It is being slowly reintroduced to the sun and will be left alone for the remainder of the season. Next season it will get a full wiring/styling and at least one round of more thoughtful pruning. For scale, the trunk is approx. 3 inches wide, and the height is around 18 inches tall as of now.

Great call on the air layer and the planting angle is on point! Gonna be a good one!! So dope you are studying with Sergio. Top tier of Bonsai In This country no question.

Hartinez said:

Great call on the air layer and the planting angle is on point! Gonna be a good one!! So dope you are studying with Sergio. Top tier of Bonsai In This country no question.

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I have been a fan of his work for many years, and it is a huge honor that he took me under his wing!

WOW you got double lucky!

Great tree, and a great mentor.

Not jealous. Nope. Not jealous at all. @MACH5 when will you cross the sea again? Let me know. I think I should get you over to my place for a beer and bonsai weekend.

leatherback said:

WOW you got double lucky!

Great tree, and a great mentor.

Not jealous. Nope. Not jealous at all. @MACH5 when will you cross the sea again? Let me know. I think I should get you over to my place for a beer and bonsai weekend.

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Jelle, sure I'd love to! Actually I maybe be over next year in Germany to do an article for Bonsai Art magazine.


@Tidal Bonsai The elm looks great Sal!

MACH5 said:

next year in Germany

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Once you get things more firmly, let me know!

leatherback said:

Once you get things more firmly, let me know!

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Will do!

Made some selections, put some movement in branches, and left things long to thicken/heal wounds next season. The left side is still a bit cluttered, it will be simplified in time. All these branches will eventually be cut to a few inches when they thicken enough. Building primaries 101.

In the spring it will get root pruned.

I’m a little sad you got rid of the 3rd trunk. I feel it added depth to the tree. However, I’ll have to admit it is shaping up nicely without it. Nice work!

Really cool tree and thanks for documenting its progression. How is the nebari shaping up? Is that why you'll root prune in the spring or is it already outgrowing the pot?

strong move there!

Great future for this one Sal.

The tree was flippes to the opposite front from the initial picture. It's a little hard to see because the bark is so dark, but the third trunk is still there. I am working on growing out some pieces to hopefully make it more prominent/useable in the future.

Bonds Guy said:

I’m a little sad you got rid of the 3rd trunk. I feel it added depth to the tree. However, I’ll have to admit it is shaping up nicely without it. Nice work

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BonjourBonsai said:

Really cool tree and thanks for documenting its progression. How is the nebari shaping up? Is that why you'll root prune in the spring or is it already outgrowing the pot?

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The nebari should be perfectly radial and nice after the air layer a bit ago. The problem with elms is that the roots get chunky and ugly pretty fast. I am repotting to cut back the roots for better taper. I will post updates in the spring.

Tidal Bonsai said:

The nebari should be perfectly radial and nice after the air layer a bit ago. The problem with elms is that the roots get chunky and ugly pretty fast. I am repotting to cut back the roots for better taper. I will post updates in the spring.

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Looking forward to them!

how's this tree doing?

pandacular said:

how's this tree doing?

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Great! It is a bush now to heal wounds and thicken secondaries.

After I finish with my apprentice tasks this weekend at Sergios, I am planning on getting a pruning lesson with tree.

man, I was just reading Sergio's giant yatsubusa thread and saw he mentioned needing an apprentice some years back... awesome that you're the lucky one!

Tree looks very healthy and like a perfect subject for some expert pruning tips.

We ended up not making many cuts because most of the branches needed to thicken further, however we decided to go back to the original front, and chopped to build a new apex. The planting angle will also be pushed forwards in the next repotting. The third trunk was not working well with the overall design, and was better served as a back "branch."

Another season down, and some solid progress on this elm. After rough cutback and a little wire, this tree is ready for another season of vigorous growth.