What is your favorite deciduous material?

Njyamadori

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What is your favorite deciduous tree to make into a bonsai ?
 

leatherback

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Old, mature trunks with decent taper, good movement and a great nebari without visible traces of prior work
 

Njyamadori

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Old, mature trunks with decent taper, good movement and a great nebari without visible traces of prior work
I was talking about species and of course everyone likes great nebari and movement with taper
 

Vance Wood

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Hornbeam, Korean prefferably, J. Maples most varieties.
 

LooselyWired

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I’m sure answers will vary partially based upon species that do well in each zone. For the cold winters here (Iowa), I like Amur maples. They are pretty bulletproof
 

Leo in N E Illinois

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Nobody can have just one.

FLowering quince - Chaenomeles hybrids - my favorite cultivars are 'Contorted White' and 'Iwai Nishiki', I have a love-hate relationship with 'Chojubai' - I love the photos of old 'Chojubai', I am regularly disappointed by the performance of my "live in person" young plant of 'Chojubai'. Also 'Scarlet Doubletake' which is a commercial nursery version of 'Iwai Nishiki', very lovely and nice and vigorous and disease resistant. Probably 'Scarlet Doubletake' is the best Chaenomeles for beginners.

Ginkgo - my second most favorite deciduous.

Dawn Redwood - Metasequoia - Like an even more vigorous bald cypress, with additional winter hardiness. Technically a conifer, as is ginkgo, but it is also deciduous.

Stewartia monadelpha - the redbrown bark of Stewartia is just lovely. Haven't had flowers yet. Good red & orange & yellow autumn blend.

Amelanchier x grandiflora - Serviceberry. The early spring flowers before the leaves - the middle summer red to purple edible fruit, and the nice orange autumn colors. The smooth gray bark reminds one of a beech or hornbeam when fruit and flowers are not in season. ALso incredible good winter hardiness. What's not to like?
 

cmeg1

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Hornbeam,JBP,Zelkova.....I have to say I developed a liking for good ole’ chinese elm.
Not to mention also my cryptomeria are growing faster than I initially thought they would.........kind of cool really...the foliage
 

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leatherback

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Zelkova, Cork Bark Elm, Japanese maples (Particularly arakawa and deshojo varieties)
 

leatherback

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In conclusion.. I think it might be better to ask which species people prefer NOT to use for bonsai. Each person will have their own favorite and their reasons. But there are a bunch of species to avoid certainly if you are just beginning. Think of wallnut, horsechestnut, platanus spp., Acer platanoides.
 

BobbyLane

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In conclusion.. I think it might be better to ask which species people prefer NOT to use for bonsai. Each person will have their own favorite and their reasons. But there are a bunch of species to avoid certainly if you are just beginning. Think of wallnut, horsechestnut, platanus spp., Acer platanoides.
There is already a thread like that somewhere that got tons of replies, no need for another please🥴
 
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