List of possible bonsai' s suited for zone 8 (USDA hardiness)

[EverydayDiesel]

Thanks for the advice. Last night I bought a japanese red maple, a japanese green maple and 5 dawn redwood metasequoias. They are all seedlings and I think the most I paid an average of about 4 bucks per tree.

I plan on keeping all of them outside in partial sun and I am working on electronics to monitor the soil conditions and automatically water as necessary. Do you think they will last here?

 

[rockm]

Don't think the maples will last if they're not cultivars that can take heat. Acer palmatum, for the most part, just aren't hot climate trees. They will probably grow fast at first, then take a few years to peter out. There are varieties that can take hotter conditions. Here's a pretty good maple place. I dealt with their predecessor Mountain Maples 15 years ago. A lot of varieties, including the hotter climate stuff
http://www.mendocinomaples.com/
And FWIW, skip the dawn redwood. It's nothing compared to the native bald cypress. Dawn redwood tends to be less graceful and is wonkier in growth than BC.

 

[Kandoloh]

Don't think the maples will last if they're not cultivars that can take heat. Acer palmatum, for the most part, just aren't hot climate trees. They will probably grow fast at first, then take a few years to peter out. There are varieties that can take hotter conditions. Here's a pretty good maple place. I dealt with their predecessor Mountain Maples 15 years ago. A lot of varieties, including the hotter climate stuff
http://www.mendocinomaples.com/
And FWIW, skip the dawn redwood. It's nothing compared to the native bald cypress. Dawn redwood tends to be less graceful and is wonkier in growth than BC.

What are some hotter climate palmatum cultivars? I was looking at the fireglow on that website.

 

[jk_lewis]

I am working on electronics to monitor the soil conditions and automatically water as necessary.

PLEASE do not rely on electronics to keep your trees healthy and happy. Bonsai is a hands-on sport that requires personal attention. Soil moisture meters do not work properly with bonsai soils; automatic watering systems will work to establish a regular schedule of watering, but it still requires YOUR attention to determine if or when that scheduling needs changing.

 

[M. Frary]

Bonsai is a hands-on sport

And sometimes full contact.

 

[armetisius]

Knew I had seen something about like this published once.
The list is in no way complete but it is an answer to your question.

http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/hrdzon4.html

 

[Txhorticulture]

What are some hotter climate palmatum cultivars? I was looking at the fireglow on that website.

I had a fire glow for a few years. It perished only because of neglect. It's a nice tree red all summer, like a smaller Bloodgood. In lieu of that website try east fork nursery. More reasonable price wise.

 

[markyscott]

Palmatum grow ok in Houston (9b). I keep them in the full sun until daytime temps hit 90 and then move them into the shade. It's about time to move them back in the sun. I've had mixed success with satsuki, but have several that are doing very well. Bennie Badgett from San Marcos really only grew two types of trees - acer palmatum and satsuki azalea. His had some spectacular trees, many of which he grew from cutting. I believe that some of them are (or were) for sale at Jade Garden in Wimberly.

That said, here is a partial list of some other species that may work for you (there are many):

• Yaupon holly
• Junipers - shimpaku, Ashe, California, prostrata, green mound, one seed
• Elms - cedar elm, winged elm, Chinese elm, American elm
• Hornbeams - Korean, American
• Maples - Japanese, trident
• Sweet gum
• Any ficus
• Pines - black, loblolly
• Brazilian rain tree
• Texas ebony
• Bald cypress, pond cypress, montezuma cypress
• Oaks - southern live, pin, bur, escarpment, white, red (i like growning virginiana)
• Bougainvillea
• Bahama black olive (tropical)
• European olive

Scott

 

[sorce]

Hell with trying to grow and baby trees that are not going to THRIVE for you.

BC. Cedar elm. All day.

I'd have like 50 of each!

If you like maples, there are plenty to look at online!

Sorce

 

[markyscott]

Also:

• Escambron (tropical)
• Buttonwood (tropical)
• Water elm
• Hawthorn - riverflat, mayhaw
• Chinese privet
• Water oak
• Crape myrtle
• Wisteria
• Mustang grape
• Silverberry
• Chojubai
• Boxwood (Japanese or Chinese - not European)
• Rocky Mountain juniper, ponderosa pine, and Japanese white pine have been grown in Dallas, but they don't do well in Houston - I'd guess Dallas is at the extreme southern edge of their adaptable range.

Many more

And honestly - Japanese and trident maple can grow well in Houston:

http://www.bonsainut.com/index.php?threads/time-for-some-root-work.13917/
http://www.bonsainut.com/index.php?threads/an-unusual-trident.16075/

But it's true that many people have trouble with them.

Everything I've listed I've either grown myself or have known someone else to have grown in either Houston or Dallas. The species I've indicated are tropical will need winter protection - there are some others that are semitropical so and will need protection from freezes.

Scott