With delicate, crinkled vibrant pink/purple flowers blossoming mid to late summer, the Dwarf Crepe Myrtle bonsai tree adds welcome color to any deck, patio or garden. The flowers have six or seven crinkly-edged petals on stalks, sticking out between the sepals, which are simple triangular points. The flowers occur in spike-like clusters. The tree’s sinewy, fluted stems support opposing leaves with entire margins. Grown in Chinese nurseries under carefully controlled conditions, and developed at U.S. National Arboretum, this tree is 5 years old and 7 inches tall.

Brussels grows specimens only under carefully controlled conditions, meticulously training each tree with wire and pruning over a period of years. If upon the tree’s arrival some leaves have dropped or turned slightly brown that does not mean the bonsai is unhealthy. Defoliation is the natural result of being in the low-light environment of a shipping box. When you receive your tree, place the box in a shaded area to unpack. Inspect tree for damage to branches or leaves. Water soil if dry, and place the tree in shade for at least one week before moving to a sunny location.

What is a Bonsai?
Literally, the Japanese word “bonsai” means “tray tree” or “plant grown in a pot.” The term refers to the artistic techniques used to capture the natural beauty of trees, rather than a specific variety of tree. A full-grown tree and a bonsai can be grown from the same seed–the bonsai has simply been dwarfed and shaped through years of training. For more information on care and training visit Brussel’s Bonsai on the Web.