What is your favorite deciduous material?

[Njyamadori]

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

 

[leatherback]

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

 

[Njyamadori]

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

 

[BobbyLane]

Hornbeam

 

[Njyamadori]

Hornbeam

Do you like American hornbeam ?

 

[Vance Wood]

Hornbeam, Korean prefferably, J. Maples most varieties.

 

[penumbra]

Hornbeam, hands down.

 

[Njyamadori]

Hornbeam, hands down.

Looks like most people like them ! Do you know when the leaves drop in Nj/Ny ?

 

[LooselyWired]

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

 

[penumbra]

Do you know when the leaves drop in Nj/Ny ?

Leaves on some of mine have dropped but others are still in color.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

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?

 

[Jcmmaple]

American hornbeam has become my favorite native to work with.

 

[PA_Penjing]

love a good Japanese maple, I like mine straight up green variety from seed. Dwarf traits are ideal

 

[cmeg1]

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

 

[leatherback]

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

 

[BonsaiDTLA]

Trident maple and Chinese quince for its strength and vigor

 

[leatherback]

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.

 

[Mikecheck123]

which species people prefer NOT to use for bonsai

Cottonwoods are THE WORST.

 

[BobbyLane]

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