choice of trees for future bonsai

[wwtigraww]

I seems to be keep picking the wrong trees for bonsai, my favourite local shop have these fresh in stock, any of them you would recommend?
> Japanese cedar
> Siberian spruce
> Himalayan juniper
> Giant sequoia
> Sawara cypress
> Shore Juniper
I'm in Ireland btw

 

[TN_Jim]

Enter your location information -this is essential to getting the best answer to your question.

I personally would skip both of those junipers. Also, what is new in stock is not necessarily the best material your nursery will have for you.

 

[Forsoothe!]

Gotta be California...

 

[wwtigraww]

Enter your location information -this is essential to getting the best answer to your question.

I personally would skip both of those junipers. Also, what is new in stock is not necessarily the best material your nursery will have for you.

im in Ireland. it's a small shop and the Japanese cedar seemed to me like a good choice not as I said keep picking wrong ones so thought I'll ask first

 

[Forsoothe!]

Ireland. I knew that. I was just being ridiculous...

 

[wwtigraww]

v

Ireland. I knew that. I was just being ridiculous...

for a change

 

[Eckhoffw]

When starting out, I would say to just get low and look for the coolest base on the material offered.
Of course there are many “better” options for bonsai out there, but if they are at your local nurseries, chances are they are hardy for your area and care for them will b easy.

I would say train your eye to see the best potential in material available, work em hard, and see what happens!
I believe just getting your hands dirty is The most enjoyable way to learn.

 

[Anthony]

Public library, see the trees native to Ireland [ or were native ]
and make choices.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[BobbyLane]

if youre in Ireland i would check out this website https://www.nibonsai.co.uk/
they work with a lot of native material and some of the trees are outstanding

 

[sorce]

IMO...

You might just be at the wrong shop.

Those look like what our Monrovia plants are here...
To well groomed, grown, and expensive to make sense for bonsai.

You're better off buying these to replace old beat up shit found in old gardens. Trade up for both parties!

Sorce

 

[kale]

IMO...

You might just be at the wrong shop.

Those look like what our Monrovia plants are here...
To well groomed, grown, and expensive to make sense for bonsai.

You're better off buying these to replace old beat up shit found in old gardens. Trade up for both parties!

Sorce

Interesting take on the Monrovia nursery stock! I feel like that's all I've ever seen at nurseries.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

all the trees listed have or can potentially be made into good bonsai EXCEPT the Giant Sequoia. The giant sequoia has a poor tract record as bonsai. Grow is very rapid when healthy, it is not resilient in container horticulture - in other words - in a bonsai pot it is prone to dying. Very upright growth pattern. Best off as a large scale, rapid growing tree in the landscape. It can grow more than half a meter a year when planted in the ground. Not good trait for bonsai.

The rest all make passable trees. The better the material you start with the better the future outcome.

> Japanese cedar
> Siberian spruce
> Himalayan juniper
> Giant sequoia
> Sawara cypress
> Shore Juniper