May 24 2011

‘Micro’ Chinese Elm

Way back in 1996 I bought 3 little Chinese Elms from a local dealer. They had been brought in from Lodders, Holland. I opted to put them together on rock and create a landscape with them. I have since sold them on to a club member who broke my heart with persistent requests to buy them. He lost them in the cold snap in Winter 2009. Should have kept them!!

Anyway, the reason I mention them is that they were a dwarf variety. Ulmus Parvifolia ??? Before I sold them I had taken cuttings and my plan was to create another landscape of my own, this time using locally sourced rock as opposed to the usual Chinese stuff you see all the time and I used in the original landscape.

Here is the original landscape.

The reason for posting this was to try and find out what this actual variety of Elm is called. I’m thinking that it is ‘Yatsubusa’. I know it’s not ‘Hokkaido’ as I’ve seen this before, it’s denser and even smaller. I can vaguely remember when I bought them that they were referred to as ‘Microphyllia’. I can’t  seem to find this variety mentioned anywhere.

Here’s a few pics of the leaves compared to a normal Chinese Elm. This first one shows a normal Chinese elm leaf from a regularly trimmed bonsai and on the right is a micro one. 5p for scale.

The reason I say regularly trimmed Chinese Elm is because, when left to grow, the leaf size gets massively bigger. This can be seen in this photo.

1. Extended growth on Chinese Elm

2. Shoot from Cork Bark Elm

3. Shoot from Maintained Chinese Elm bonsai

4. shoot from Micro Chinese Elm.

Amazing the variation in size.

Below you can see the size of the tiny leaves at the start of a new shoot on a micro elm. If trimmed regularly all leaves on the tree can be reduced to this size 🙂

If anyone out there knows the name of this dwarf variety, please let me know. If I get a chance later I’ll post the photos I took today of my replacement elm landscape using local stone.

8 comments on “‘Micro’ Chinese Elm”

  2. You did a beautiful job with the landscaping—You say it was lost to a cold snap at the hands of another. How did you over winter your bonsai when you had it? Did you bring it indoors during the winter months ? Did it shed leaves ? Did you continue with other Chinese bonsai ?? Marie

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    • I kept it in a greenhouse or poly tunnel over Winter. Some C Elms will still shed leaves even under glass but I still keep a few and have some through this Winter, both with and without leaves. A strange little tree!

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      • Does the Chinese elm bonsai do well indoors ?? Will it shed leaves ?? I bought a small one and I am very interested in the art of bonsai for indoors. If I choose to grow one outdoors—and bring it indoors for winter–we have very cold Mich winters–will it do ok in the basement near a window—-no heat in the basement ?? Thanks for your reply.—-Marie

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      • The Chinese Elm is the only tree I recommend for indoor bonsai. It is a sub tropical tree rather than a full tropical one. This allows it to put up with lower temperatures. They shed leaves throughout the year. Old leaves will turn yellow and drop as new growth extends. Cold snaps will cause greater leaf drop. It will do in the basement if you ensure enough light. You may get more leaf drop than in a heated room but they’ll come back as the temp rises.

        Hope this helps.

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      • If I keep the Chinese elm outdoors from spring to late fall—do the leaves change colors as other trees ??? If I then put it in my kitchen with plenty of light, will it stay strong and thrive ??? Have you tried anymore landscape Chinese elm bonsai ?? You seem to be quite good at it eejit. By the way–what is your real name?? And yes you have been quite helpful—-Thanks—-Marie

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      • Yes, depending on how cold it gets in your Springs and Falls, you can keep a Chinese Elm outdoors. That’s what I do here and it’s better for them. They won’t really change much other than some shedding of yellow leaves in the Autumn. Bringing them into your kitchen with good light will be fine. You might actually get new extension growth at this point. Don’t feed over the Winter, they need a semi dormant period.

        I have another micro elm rock landscape on the go to replace the one I sold. It hasn’t featured on the blog yet, I might have a photo somewhere.

        My name is Ian 🙂

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