Cork elm bonsai potential?

[Matte91]

Hello.

I came bye this amazing cork elm the other day and was wondering if it could be used as a bonsai. The tree was very unstabil and it almost felt like I could break the trunk with a touch with my finger. The trunk are all cork from inside out and very lightweighted. Would it ever become a bonsai if i chop it down low, when the trunk is all cork? I mean will it backbud from cork?
I worked with other types of cork elms before. But this elm is cork from the inside and out. That's why i'm unsure. Amazing tree I must say!

Thank you and sorry for the bad pictures.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I am not familiar with all the species of European elms. Is this a mutation of a natural native species? It does look very much like Ulmus alata, native to southeastern USA. If it is a landscape plant, where someone planted the North American species, it should be fairly stable, and fairly easy to train into bonsai. If it is a random mutation of a native tree, like a mutation of Ulmus minor or Ulmus glabra, then I would think it is a tree worth propagating a few cuttings of, before attempting to train it as bonsai. It does not look like the corky bark mutations of the Chinese elm, Ulmus parvifolia 'Seiju' nor does it look like Ulmus parvifolia 'Corticosa'. So you either have Ulmus alata, or you have a unique mutation of a European or Chinese elm. Worth pursuing more information before "chopping it" to dig up and make into bonsai. Nice find.

 

[BrianBay9]

Perhaps Ulmus minor? Check out the thread here: https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/very-corky-american-elm.36222/

 

[Matte91]

@Leo in N E Illinois @BrianBay9
Thank you both for your replies!

Actually it could be a ulmus minor suberosa. That species is quiet common here in Denmark. But I never seen a ulmus minor with that much cork bark as this one and I own about 10 of them myself and they are everywhere in nature. Normally when I find them they only have that kind of cork bark as branches or trunks, not both. This one has cork bark from the buttom to the top and everywhere.

I post a picture now of another probably ulmus minor, with not that much cork bark. That's how they often look like.
I think the tree in the first post is pretty rare, with that much cork bark.

Ulmus minor make great bonsai. But can someone tell me if they budback when they have cork from the inside and out?
Thank you.

 

[BobbyLane]

its a winged elm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulmus_alata

one issue you will have is the branches will appear smooth for many years, while the bark is winged. ive not seem many used as bonsai for these reasons. i remember a chap wanting to sell his because the winged branches somehow looked odd, when they did appear.

 

[Matte91]

@BobbyLane
I'm pretty sure it's a Ulmus minor. We don't have Ulmus alata in Denmark. Also if you look at these pictures BonsaiNut posted in another thread, then you can see that my tree look thesame as the Ulmus minor. The branches are not smooth on the tree i found, they are cork from the inside and out.

Cedar elm wings:

View attachment 218866

Winged elm wings:



View attachment 218867

U. minor cork:

View attachment 218868

 

[BobbyLane]

quite possibly yes, some ulmus minor do develop these wings. have you seen any good bonsai examples with the wings included?

 

[Matte91]

quite possibly yes, some ulmus minor do develop these wings. have you seen any good bonsai examples with the wings included?

Not many. But one guy from my country made this. I think it's pretty nice.

 

[Hack Yeah!]

Wings included

 

[BobbyLane]

the wings arent really my cup of tea, but if you like them go for it.

 

[Matte91]

I like them. That's why i'm asking if they backbud. But it looks like they do. Thank you all!

 

[Davidlpf]

I mean will it backbud from cork?

Of course It will backbud, It's an elm!!

I have some ulmus minor with corky wings in young sooth

But when this shoots grow strong, normally the cork fall apart and is not part of the bark anymore.

In really old bark, appears another kind of texture, that last more, despite the fact is not so spectacular.

This four elms are from the same original tree, which from I took three airlayers

The old bark that grew in the field is rough, but the new shoots are too smooth or too corky

Good luck!

 

[MrWunderful]

Of course It will backbud, It's an elm!!

I have some ulmus minor with corky wings in young sooth

But when this shoots grow strong, normally the cork fall apart and is not part of the bark anymore.

In really old bark, appears another kind of texture, that last more, despite the fact is not so spectacular.

This four elms are from the same original tree, which from I took three airlayers

The old bark that grew in the field is rough, but the new shoots are too smooth or too corky

Good luck!

Cool graphic.

 

[Matte91]

@Davidlpf
Thank you for all the information. Very interesting!

Can I ask you a question?
What time on year did you chop down the tree in the white circle on the attached picture?

I have some elms I wan't to chop down like yours, and I wan't as much new growth as possible.
Thank you!

 

[Davidlpf]

@Davidlpf
Thank you for all the information. Very interesting!

Can I ask you a question?
What time on year did you chop down the tree in the white circle on the attached picture?

I made and airlayer on 12/05/2016 click,click

And took it off on 20/11/2016 click,click

But you can safely chop an elm between the leaves start to turn yellow in late autumn, and the new shoots start to sprout in late winter or early spring. Sealing the cut with cut paste may help, but not is always necessary.

I´m glad you like it!

Greetings form Spain.

 

[Matte91]

I made and airlayer on 12/05/2016 click,click

And took it off on 20/11/2016 click,click

But you can safely chop an elm between the leaves start to turn yellow in late autumn, and the new shoots start to sprout in late winter or early spring. Sealing the cut with cut paste may help, but not is always necessary.

I´m glad you like it!

Greetings form Spain.

Nice! My plan was also to make air layers and seperate them in autumn. Good to see all that new growth you get.
Did you use cutpaste? Is it possible for the new shoots to sprout from the cut when you use cutpaste?
Thank you!

 

[Davidlpf]

Nice! My plan was also to make air layers and seperate them in autumn. Good to see all that new growth you get.
Did you use cutpaste?

Not that time.

Is it possible for the new shoots to sprout from the cut when you use cutpaste?
Thank you!

Yes, they are almost as strong that buergerinaum`s shoots, so they are capable to grow trough the cut paste easily.

By the way, you can see how are the four elms right now here click,click

Greetings

 

[Matte91]

Good to know. Thank you for that!
I like your trees. Especially the first one on the video. Perhaps make a progression thread? I would like to follow it.

 

[Davidlpf]

Good to know. Thank you for that!
I like your trees. Especially the first one on the video. Perhaps make a progression thread? I would like to follow it.

In fact, there are one here click,click

 

[Matte91]

Wathcing it now

How did you manage to get all that new growth below the airlayer? Perhaps the airlayer did that? By that way i don't need to count on new growth when I chop i autumn, the new growth already appear before I chop the airlayer of. Interesting.