How bad are box elders for bonsai?

[Joe Dupre']

I mean, are they just terrible? We have a lot of them locally and , quite often, they tend to have nice flared bases and interesting movement in the first foot above the soil line. I realize compound leaves are not great for bonsai, but are there any other things that really make them a "no go"? I'm not looking for show quality, just something I won't mind looking at on my benches.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Really, really bad. Yes, just terrible. Don’t waste your time. Compound leaves and huge internodes; neither of which reduce. I have observed a buddy struggle with several in our early years.

 

[coh]

They're pretty terrible as yard trees too. Very messy, and they attract those horrible box elder bugs which get in our house every fall. I've got one with a very large trunk if you want to try to collect it!

 

[Joe Dupre']

That settles it. They are off the list. Thanks guys.

 

[Crazy Diamond]

The bonsai community is an uneducated gatekeepy toxic community that regurgitates nothing more the confirmation biases half the time and largely uninformed subjective opinions at best. A quick google search will show they make great bonsai. I have several myself.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

The bonsai community is an uneducated gatekeepy toxic community that regurgitates nothing more the confirmation biases half the time and largely uninformed subjective opinions at best. A quick google search will show they make great bonsai. I have several myself.

I’m calling. Let’s see.

 

[Tums]

I’m calling. Let’s see.

I think the kids on the fashion forums say "Talk shit, post fit".

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

I think the kids on the fashion forums say "Talk shit, post fit".

Or, closer to home:

 

[M. Frary]

Box elder is good for firewood.

 

[Crazy Diamond]

HeY gUuyS ChEcKkKk MyY aCeR NeGuNdos 100% ReAAL nO fAKee!!! aLL aRE fRoMM sEeED

 

[canoeguide]

Could they have meant boxwood? I doubt it, but that's the most charitable explanation I can come up with.

 

[Hartinez]

 

[ABCarve]

Box elder is good for firewood.

Actually the wood is sought out by wood turners for It’s brilliant red streaks.

 

[just.wing.it]

The bonsai community is an uneducated gatekeepy toxic community that regurgitates nothing more the confirmation biases half the time and largely uninformed subjective opinions at best. A quick google search will show they make great bonsai. I have several myself.

You clearly haven't spent much time here.

Suck my penis ill show you in Spring fuck nuts

Wait!.....you have a penis!?!

Doubt it.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

 

[Crazy Diamond]

Suck my penis ill show you in Spring fuck nuts

 

[penumbra]

Back to the tree, I think it is one of the worst possible choices.
Prove me wrong.

 

[just.wing.it]

Back to the tree, I think it is one of the worst possible choices.
Prove me wrong.

Agreed.

 

[Hartinez]

Actually the wood is sought out by wood turners for It’s brilliant red streaks.

View attachment 413297

Ive seen slabs with some of the most brilliant flame pattern.

Wait a sec, maybe the OP could cultivate a bonsai box elder in order to harvest it as a mini slab to make a bonsai stand!! Brilliant! Talk about full circle!

 

[Shogun610]

Damn.. typically late to the party I see