| Articles | Home Page | Images | Order Form | Plant Catalog | Tool Catalog |
The growth rate of the hornbeam species varies greatly. This is of particular importance if you are growing them out for larger trunked bonsai. From fastest to slowest they rank: C. betulus, C. turczaninovii, C. japonica, C. laxiflora, C. caroliniana, C. coreana. C. coreana is very popular because of its small leaves and very ramified growth pattern. However, it takes a signifcantly longer time to achieve trunk caliper. There is really not much difference in the growth rate of C. japonica, C. laxiflora, and C. caroliniana. Mature hornbeam specimen will produce hop-like flowers and seed pods. This is an especially attractive addition for bonsai. Cutting produced plants from mature wood are capable of flowering in a year or two as opposed to seven years or more for seedlings.
| 2065
Carpinus betulus (European
Hornbeam)S\M\Ls\B\-20ø? Pyramidal deciduous tree to forty
feet.
Yellow fall color, leaves two to five inches, will reduce nicely for
bonsai. This species is often used for bonsai in the west. One of the
fastest growing hornbeams. Our 2 3/4 inch pot size plants are
relatively straight and pruned down to about 16 inches. One gallon size
plants are grown out and pruned down to about 16 inches to force low
branching, and make excellent #1 trees for group plantings. 2 3/4 INCH POTS $8 ONE GALLON SIZE $30 |  |
2067
Carpinus caroliniana
(American
Hornbeam, Ironwood) S\M\Ls\B\-30ø A very nice tough shade
tree
to about 30 feet, round headed with the typical pleated leaves of
Hornbeam. This tree is somewhat drought resistant and is very heat
tolerant, but for some reason we in the west haven't yet discovered it.
Its fibrous root network and pollution tolerance make it a good street
tree as well. It will make nice bonsai, but the size of the leaves and
branching suggest it should be used for larger 2-3 foot bonsai. We grow
this tree out in 5 gallon containers then cut it back
to 18 inches to create a very nice native bonsai. The fall color is
usually yellow but sometimes it rivals C.
coreana
for a really good show. The difference seems to be fall temperatures
and water and soil mineralization. Our 2 3/4 inch size pot plants are
relatively straight and about 16 inches tall.
AVAILBLE AGAIN IN 2009
| 2070 Carpinus
coreana
(Korean
Hornbeam) -20ø? In our opinion the finest hornbeam for
smaller
bonsai. The tiny pleated leaves reduce easily to under 1 inch and it
attains a zig-zag twiggy character after only a year in a bonsai pot.
The real treat is in the fall when the leaves turn red, yellow and
orange, not diffusely but in stripes. We have seen leaves where one
half of the leaf separated by the midvein was red and the other half
yellow or orange. The striping will also occur between the side veins
of the leaves. It should also make a very nice small ornamental tree.
Needs protection from afternoon sun the hottest, driest areas. This is
a slower growing hornbeam and in general, it take twice as long as the
other species to achieve similar trunk caliper. Our 2 3/4 inch size
plants are thinner than the other hornbeams and rather willowy. They
will require staking and several years of growth to achieve the caliper
of our one gallon size plants. The one gallon size plants, when
available, are field grown, root pruned plants. They are grown out in
one gallon cans and then pruned down to about 16 inches. Trunk caliper
is about 3/4 inches, and they are nicely branched. 2 3/4 inch pot size
are about 6 to 10 inches tall with about 3/16 inch caliper. All sizes
are seedling grown. ONE GALLON SIZE $30 Available Sept '08 |  |
| 2080 Carpinus
japonica
(Japanese
Hornbeam) Similar to Korean Hornbeam but with longer, narrower leaves
and less twiggy growth, fall color is more diffuse and more yellow.
Long used for bonsai. In my opinion, this species has the finest leaves
of any hornbeam. They are perfectly pleated and have a lustrous deep
green color. Our 2 3/4 inch pot size are two to three year old
seedlings, relatively straight and about 12 to 16 inches tall. One
gallon size plants are field grown seedlings, root pruned, and then
grown out in one gallon size pots. They are then pruned down to about
12 inches. Trunk caliper is about 1/2 inch. AVAILABLE AGAIN 2009 |
 |
2090
Carpinus turczaninovii
Native to China,
Korea, and Japan. Full size leaves are 2 inches, but reduce nicely for
bonsai use. Very nice furrowed bark in about ten years. New foliage is
a deep bronze color. This is a faster growing hornbeam and will give
you a larger trunk quite quickly. Our 2 3/4 inch pot size seedlings are
relatively straight and pruned down to about 16 inches. These are
excellent for group plantings or may be grown out to larger sizes for
specimen bonsai. One gallon plants are grown out and pruned down to
about 16 inches to force low branching. Caliper is about 5/8 inches.
FOUR INCH POTS $12 Available June
'08
| Cedrus
(Cedar)
S\D\-10ø? to 0ø\Ls\B Evergreen trees. True cedars
are
native the Mediterranean and the Himalayas. They are easy to grow,
tough, drought resistant plants. Cold hardiness depends on the species.
Showy 'wood roses' seed cones, medium growth ultimately to 60 feet or
more except for dwarf and weeping types which can be shaped and are
very valuable for bonsai. True cedars, Cedrus
species, should not be confused with so called false cedars, Chamaecyparis
and some Juniperus species. For more information see the article Cedars for Bonsai |  |
2150 Cedrus
atlantica (Atlas Cedar) -10°
Pale blue green foliage in tufts, much used for formal upright bonsai.
Native to the Atlas mountains of North Africa. 2 3/4 inch pots are 6 to
10 inches tall, 3/16 inch caliper. Seedling grown plants.
2 3/4 INCH POTS $8
FOUR INCH POTS $16
ONE GALLON ON SIZE $30 Available Sept '08
2152
Cedrus
atlantica 'Aurea Robusta' (Golden Blue Atlas
Cedar) Identical to 'Glauca'
below, except that the needles have a pronounced and striking golden
yellow cast where they are exposed to bright sunlight. The effect is
most striking in winter.
ONE GALLON SIZE Grafts $35
| 2155
Cedrus
atlantica
'Glauca' (Blue
Atlas Cedar) -10ø Slow to moderate growth; open
angular growth in youth; silvery blue needles less than an inch long in
tight clusters along the branches. Very popular for upright and cascade
bonsai. We have had difficulty in grafting these trees and good grafts
have been hard to find. We hope to have them in stock again as soon as
we can find a reliable source or can solve our grafting problems. ONE GALLON SIZE $35 |
 |
2157 Cedrus
atlantica 'Glauca Pendula' (Weeping
Blue Atlas Cedar) Similar to above in needle length and color, but this
cultivar is perfectly prostrate and must be staked or trained. It can
be worked into any shape but continues to grow and
develop a large caliper just like its tree counterpart.
ONE GALLON SIZE $35
2165
Cedrus libani
(Cedar of Lebanon) -20ø\Ls\B Slow growing; needles slightly
longer than C. atlantica at just
over 1 inch long; Bright green, but still has a faint bluish cast;
spreads picturesquely as it matures. Excellent bonsai subject.
Seedlings.
2 3/4 INCH POTS $8
FOUR INCH POT SIZE $16
ONE GALLON SIZE $35
| 2170 Cedrus brevifolia
(Cedar of Cyprus) 0ø\Ls\B As 'Brevifolia'
(small foliage) implies, this rare tree is similar to the Cedar of
Lebanon but smaller in all aspects: needles, cones, height. It is also
greener than C. libani, which
has a bluish cast. Rarely
found in cultivation, we have obtained seedlings of this tree that are
very short needled and remarkably uniform. The lack of a graft also
makes for superior bonsai, and a more economical value. Pictured is 2
3/4 inch pot size. One gallon size will be pruned down to about 16
inches with a trunk caliper of about 3/4 inch. They are relatively
straight and nicely branched. ONE GALLON SIZE $40 Available Sept '08 |  |
2175 Cedrus
libani 'Green Prince' A very dwarf form of C.
libani
with intensely green needles congested on short stems. The leader grows
in a soft upright spiral. Highly prized for bonsai. It is difficult to
describe the beauty of this tree. In our rock garden this is the plant
that gets the most attention and praise. It will grow to 3 feet in 10
years. The slow growth makes this plant rare and difficult to obtain.
Our plants are low grafted. We have encountered difficulties in
grafting this cultivar but hope to offer it again in a year or two.
Waiting
List
| 2179
Celtis occidentalis
(Western Hackberry) S\M\-40ø\Ls\B Deciduous tree to 75 feet tall, leaves lance shaped, 4 inches, but can be reduced incredibly in bonsai situations (to less than one inch). Bark is warty or furrowed, tan when young turning grey with age. Deep purple small round fruits. This is an incredibly tough tree that makes a beautiful bonsai, more suited, I believe, than even C. sinensis, the traditional bonsai species. This species is capable of incredible leaf and internode reduction. Shohin may have 1/2 inch leaves with 1/4 inch internodes. In bonsai culture, the thin, fine branches have a tendency to arch in an almost weeping habit. Bonsai pictured is about 12 inches tall, five years in training. Seedlings. 2 3/4 INCH POTS $8 |
 |
Chaenomeles (Flowering Quince, Shudome) S\PS\M\-40ø\RG\Ls\B Deciduous shrubs. Used by the Chinese community in the San Francisco Bay Area as a substitute for peach and mume blossoms to celebrate the New Year, this plant flowers in the spring before it gets its new foliage making a striking display of color while the rest of the garden is still in its winter sleep. Large types are 8 to 10 feet, smaller types to 4 feet. Many flower colors and types including fully double ones.
An easy to grow and incredibly tough plant. Will withstand extreme cold and intense heat; grows in almost any soil. Prune while in flower or shortly after; flowers form on wood one year old or older. Most of the hybrid types set edible yellow fruits although it is so sour that it is only suitable for jam. However the ripening fruit is intensely fragrant and can be smelled throughout the garden in late fall. Try sticking a softened quince (use a microwave) in a chicken cavity before baking for a wonderful clean added flavor to the meat and add some to the gravy too. It is also a traditional bonsai plant, and the fruit is a real bonus, easily achieved even on bonsai sized plants. Chaenomeles should not be confused with so called Chinese quince which is Pseudocydonia sinensis, which we no longer carry. Chinese quince are mainly grown for the fruit, not the flowers, and form tree like trunks.
Plants pruned in summer for bonsai will sometimes open a few flowers again in the fall. All of our plants are cutting grown and will flower the year after you receive them. Some cultivars require part sun or morning sun in the hottest driest locations. These will be indicated below. Many of these cultivars have been imported from Japan and are not in commercial production except through our nursery. All of our Chaenomeles are cutting grown plants one year or older. 2 3/4 inch pot size plants are pruned down to about six inches tall, and older plants will have moving trunks (curves achieved through pruning). We find moving trunks give added interest since it is virtually impossible to achieve any decent trunk caliper on Chaenomeles in a reasonable amount of time.
For more information see the article Flowering Quince for Bonsai
2185 Chaenomeles
'Apple Blossom' Pink
and
white blossoms on a 6 foot x 8 foot plant. Profuse bloomer. This is a
very popular cultivar in the US. It is one of the larger types,
suitable for decent bonsai trunk formation.
2 3/4 INCH POTS $8
2190
Chaenomeles
'Bloodred' A large single
red flowered quince on a very thick trunk (for Chaenomeles)with minimal
suckering. It is one of the larger types, suitable for decent bonsai
trunk formation. Flowering is good, but not quite as profuse as some of
the other larger types.
2 3/4 INCH POTS $8
| 2200
Chaenomeles
'Cameo' A very popular low type with no thorns and
double salmon pink flowers. A prolific bloomer often repeating in
summer and fall. 2 3/4 INCH POTS $8 |  |
| 2208
Chaenomeles
'Chojubai White' This
is a one of the smallest cultivars with very pale yellow flowers that
are also small. This is as close as one can get to the mythical yellow
Quince. It is very floriferous and a natural for small bonsai or accent
plant. The leaves are sometimes edged in white. Needs protection from
afternoon sun in the hottest, driest areas. There is also a red 'Chojubai'
(below). Since Japanese names did not always apply to 'cultivars' as we
know them in the west until recently, there are many problems in
identifying clones from Japan. These are fairly slow growing small
plants with much smaller leaves, flowers, and stems. They will be
substantially smaller than our other 2 3/4 inch Chaenomeles. 2 3/4 INCH POTS $8 Available April '08 |  |
| 2207
Chaenomeles
'Chojubai Red' Identical to 'Chojubai
White' except that it has red flowers. Not quite as
strong growing as 'Chojubai White'. 2 3/4 INCH POTS $8 Available April '08 |  |
| 2210
Chaenomeles
'Chojuraku' A medium tall type, grows to 6 feet. Very
showy large double
orange flowers. This is an unusual flower color for a quince, very
striking. 2 3/4 INCH POTS $8 |  |
2220 Chaenomeles
'Contorted Red' A
low
growing type to 3 or 4 feet with fantastically contorted stems. Deep
red buds followed by medium reddish pink single flowers. We have a
plant in the ground that is now five years old and it is only 18 inches
by 3 feet. It is a very well behaved slow grower, much less aggressive
than 'Contorted White'. Needs protection from
afternoon sun in hottest driest locations.
2 3/4 INCH POTS $8
2228 Chaenomeles
Contorted Salmon
Pink' This is an introduction from our nursery. It is
an open pollinated seedling of 'Contorted White'.
The flowers are a very nice salmon pink and remain pink even as they
age. The plant has all the contorta qualities, even the roots are
contorted.
2 3/4 INCH POTS $8
| 2230
Chaenomeles
'Contorted White' Similar
to above but accepts full sun and is more vigorous to 5 or 6 feet. Pink
buds open to single white flowers. Very floriferous and sets large
yellow fruit. This is a larger trunked cultivar suitable for single
stemmed bonsai specimen status. 2 3/4 INCH POTS $8 |  |
| 2240
Chaenomeles
'Embers' A low type with profuse clusters of intensely
saturated deep red single flowers. Often repeats flowering in summer
and fall. 2 3/4 INCH POTS $8 |  |
| 2245
Chaenomeles
'Falconet Charlotte' A tall type with beautiful salmon
pink double
flowers. Rated one of the best. Makes good single trunked bonsai, but
is slower than some of the other larger types. 2 3/4 INCH POTS $8 |
 |
| 2250 Chaenomeles
'Hime' A low type to
3 or 4 feet with profuse small single red flowers with prominent yellow
anthers. Often repeats bloom. The half inch wide flowers and twiggy
growth make it one of the best for smll bonsai or as an accent plant. 2 3/4 INCH POTS $8 |
 |
| 2255
Chaenomeles
'Iwai Nishiki' Deep
red double camellia shaped flowers in clusters that make a spectacular
display. This is the most striking Quince flower that we have ever
seen. Needs protection from afternoon sun in the hottest driest
locations. This is another one of the few Chaenomeles
cultivars that forms a reasonably thick trunk in a reasonable amount of
time. It tends to form a low spreading crown of thick stems, 3 feet x 5
feet. 2 3/4 INCH POTS $8 |  |
2260
Chaenomeles 'Jet
Trail' A
low spreading
quince with pure white single flowers. It is hard to describe the
striking brightness of the flowers on this plant, by far
the best low white form. Often repeats blooms.
2 3/4 INCH POTS Available Again 2009
2265 Chaenomeles
'Kan Toyo'
A low grower with
small half inch pinkish white flowers. The small flower size make it
useful for bonsai. The flower petals are often multicolored, somewhat
like a miniature version of 'Toyo Nishiki'
2 3/4 INCH POTS $8 Available June
'08
2270 Chaenomeles
'Kingishi' A
medium growing plant to 4 or 5 feet with large single orange flowers.
The flower color is very similar to 'Chojuraku', but the flowers are
single rather than double.
2 3/4 INCH POTS $8 Available June
'08
2278 Chaenomeles
'Kuro' Similar
to 'Kurokoji' below except that the
flowers are a shade less deep red, although still redder than any other
quince you are likely to see. The growth is nicer than 'Kurokoji',
it is low growing with small leaves and has good bonsai potential.
2 3/4 INCH POTS $8
| 2280
Chaenomeles
'Kurokoji' A stiff
upright plant to about 6 feet with the deepest red single flowers we
have ever seen. The texture of the petals reminds one of red velvet.
Needs some protection from afternoon sun in hottest driest locations.
This quince does open flowers later, just before, or at the same time
as leaf bud break. This cultivar suckers more than most quinces making
a specimen bonsai difficult, but the intense flowers make excellent
accent plants. 2 3/4 INCH POTS $8 |  |
| 2300
Chaenomeles
'Nivalis' A tall white single flowered form blooming
after the leaves have appeared. This is another cultivar that will form
a reasonably thick trunk. FOUR INCH POTS $12 |  |
| 2305
Chaenomeles
'Not Minerva' This plant came to us as 'Minerva',
but its soft pink flowers made us realize that it could not be. So we
started calling it 'Not Minerva', the name stuck, and now it seems
nothing else fits. The flowers were so nice we kept it and followed it
for a few years, then introduced it. Many people comment on the
unusually attractive flower color. It is undoubtedly a seedling,
perhaps from 'Minerva'. It is a hardy, vigorous plant but not large,
probably will grow to 5 feet. The additional attraction is the
abundance of fruit that this plant sets. It is absolutely loaded with 2
inch yellow fruit in the fall. We have had as many as 4 fruit clinging
to one of our 6 inch tall rooted cuttings in a 2 3/4 inch pot. The
pleasing pink flowers, reliable fruit production, and nice small leaves
and branching should make it an excellent candidate for bonsai. 2 3/4 INCH POTS $8 |
 |
| 2310
Chaenomeles
'Orange Delight' A
very popular landscape plant with a profusion of single orange flowers.
Very low growing to 3 feet. Repeats blooms and sets many small yellow
fruits (pictured). Works well for smaller bonsai and accent plants, and
will set fruit easily on bonsai sized plants. 2 3/4 INCH POTS $8 |
 |
 |
| 2320
Chaenomeles 'O
Yashima' A
vigorous tall type to about 6 feet with large double white showy
flowers. Another cultivar that will form a reasonably thick trunk. This
is probably the most spectacular double white quince. 2 3/4 INCH POTS $8 Available June '08 |
 |
| 2330
Chaenomeles
'Pink Beauty' Medium tall shrub with clear-pink flowers
in early spring. This is a strong grower that flowers well. 2 3/4 INCH POTS $8 |
 |
2340
Chaenomeles
'Simonii Perfecta' Single
flowered red quince with a very bright saturated color that is hard to
describe. Similar to 'Embers' but not quite as dark. A slow grower and
quite refined. We will offer this for the first time next year.
AVAILABLE IN 2009
| 2350
Chaenomeles
'Spitfire' Single bright red flowers accent this
upright-growing plant
to 6 feet. .................................................................................................................. 2 3/4 INCH POTS $8 |
 |
| 2360
Chaenomeles
'Texas Scarlet' This attractive low-growing form has
large tomato-red single
flowers. Probably the most widely available and popular low red type. FOUR INCH POTS $12 |
 |
| 2370
Chaenomeles
'Toyo Nishiki' Unusual
form with pink and also white flowers on the same branch. This cultivar
is a chimera and will sometimes throw a branch of red flowers only; a
most exciting development when it happens. The photo shows a stem of
pink and white flowers with a stem of red flowers. Much more rarely a
cluster of flowers will be all three colors together. Some years the
individual petals will be striped white, pink and red. The fruits can
be quite large as shown by the lower photo. A very vigorous upright
tall type to 6 or 7 feet with wicked thorns. Bonsai with all three
colors are usually the result of grafted plants, where a branch of red
only flowers is grafted in the desired location. Red flowering branches do not have any pink or white flowers and may be cutting propagated to produce plants that have red flowers only. Plants of these red only flowers are extremely rare. We offer these to those of you who wish to graft to produce true three color 'Toyo Nishiki' bonsai. This is a large
stemmed cultivar suitable for specimen
plants and probably the most popular cultivar for bonsai. |   |
| Articles | Home Page | Images | Order Form | Plant Catalog | Tool Catalog |