Pinus thunbergii +

[WesB]

Which types are best suitable for bonsai?

Callie Jane, Koto buki, Ogi, Sun sho, Taihei, Thunderhead

What to look for in the white pine family as well if someone knows. There is a lot of names, I worry some will be grafts like with the Japanese maples business.

Thanks.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Which types are best suitable for bonsai?

Callie Jane, Koto buki, Ogi, Sun sho, Taihei, Thunderhead

What to look for in the white pine family as well if someone knows. There is a lot of names, I worry some will be grafts like with the Japanese maples business.

Thanks.

Seedling varieties are best. Seed from certain regions produce better characteristics for Bonsai, such as bark texture, needle color and length. Mikawa is one example.

Of those you listed, some of those cultivars are grafted onto JBP stock, which isn’t usually good for Bonsai. Kotobuki is a dwarf cultivar, with tiny needles and is very recognizable, but usually grafted. Thunderhead is not good for Bonsai, because the shoots are fat and coarse, with very congested foliage and dense clusters of buds. Taihei and shunsho are corkbark cultivars, likely also grafted. They’re fine if grafted well, but challenging to train and keep in strong health.

This is my Taihei. It resents being trained, so I basically ignore it.

 

[WesB]

Ok and thanks. I guess I will keep looking.