bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - Beginners, Enthusiam, and the Study of Species

I don't think there is any evidence that "native species" are by virtue of their nativity any better (or any worse) adapted to container culture in the grower's environment.

For instance, I live in an environment with lots of native oaks, pines, birch, redwood, and American Elm. None of these would be a particularly good choice for cultivation by a beginner, all for different reasons.

Oaks and pines are notoriously picky about the level of moisture and adequacy of drainage.
Redwood is a difficult species to manage foliage-wise, and you won't get a reasonable bonsai on a sapling. You'll need a decades-old trunk to support it.
I have a few American Elms growing nearby, but they themselves are threatened by disease. Every now and then the USDA folks drop off some pamphlets about Dutch Elm disease so I can recognize the symptoms and bring in the fungicide, tear gas or chainsaws. Ulmus parvifolia is resistant to Dutch elm disease.
Birch branches die off spontaneously in an infuriating way.

Someone else might live in an area where their native trees made excellent bonsai - however, there is no magic bullet. In some areas the imports are so successful that they threaten native shrubs (as say Tamarisk, Bamboo, etc)

Regards,

Matt

12-Jan-2006	#19
TreeBay Tips:5¢ Advice:Free *MODERATOR GROUP* Join Date: Aug-2001 Location: Silicon Valley Country: USA USDA Zone: 9 AHS Heat Zone: 4 Posts: 9,745	Can't agree that Native=Good for Beginners I don't think there is any evidence that "native species" are by virtue of their nativity any better (or any worse) adapted to container culture in the grower's environment. For instance, I live in an environment with lots of native oaks, pines, birch, redwood, and American Elm. None of these would be a particularly good choice for cultivation by a beginner, all for different reasons. Oaks and pines are notoriously picky about the level of moisture and adequacy of drainage. Redwood is a difficult species to manage foliage-wise, and you won't get a reasonable bonsai on a sapling. You'll need a decades-old trunk to support it. I have a few American Elms growing nearby, but they themselves are threatened by disease. Every now and then the USDA folks drop off some pamphlets about Dutch Elm disease so I can recognize the symptoms and bring in the fungicide, tear gas or chainsaws. Ulmus parvifolia is resistant to Dutch elm disease. Birch branches die off spontaneously in an infuriating way. Someone else might live in an area where their native trees made excellent bonsai - however, there is no magic bullet. In some areas the imports are so successful that they threaten native shrubs (as say Tamarisk, Bamboo, etc) Regards, Matt __________________ Want to be a seller on bonsaiAUCTIONS? Get authorized today! bonsaiTALK: Over 100,005.36 Megabytes Served this Month!