Bonsai Tree Care

New Zealand Tea Bonsai

Leptospermum scoparium ‘Crimson Glory’

Attractive New Zealand shrub called the “”Tea Plant”" by Captain Cook because of the agreeably aromatic tea his men made from the leaves. It is hardy in zones 9-10. In cooler regions it makes an excellent patio or house plant. Whether indoors or out this unusual plant needs full sun. It is native to Tasmania, New Zealand, Australia (New South Wales). It grows 8 feet tall but can be trimmed at any height. It is even used as a bonsai tree! To the left is a gorgeous flowering indoor ‘tropical’ bonsai! This tree produces small pink flowers which bloom 11 months out of the year (throughout the winter).

This is one of the best Crabapples for form and flower, reaching 15 to 25 feet in height and creating a broad, rounded, densely-branched canopy. It is also disease resistant, an important attribute for crabapples. The profusion of fragrant, 1 to 1.5-inch-diameter blooms begin as beautiful deep pink to red buds, eventually fading to a glistening white as they open. From August to October, the yellow and red fruits appear, providing a popular food for wildlife or they can be harvested to make a delicious jelly. They can create a litter problem on hard surface beneath the canopy.

Scientific name: Malus floribunda
Pronunciation: MAY-lus flor-ih-BUN-duh
Common name(s): Japanese Flowering Crabapple
Family: Rosaceae
USDA hardiness zones: 4 through 7
Origin: not native to North America
Uses: deck or patio; specimen; container or planter; trained as a standard; espalier.

Also makes an excellent Bonsai Tree

Zones: 5 to 8
Mature Height: 10 to 25 feet
Mature Spread: 10 feet

The Inazuma Japanese Maple is upright and approximately 25 feet in height with white-veined, deeply divided leaves. Foliage is first purple-red, then in summer it is green and later bright red in the fall. Cascading branches at maturity.

When choosing a location, keep in mind that the Thunder Japanese Maple has a slow growth rate. It grows up to 25 feet in height and 10 feet in spread. It can be planted in zones 5 to 8. Prefers moist, well-drained soil that is rich in organic material.

Makes a great bonsai!

The “General Sherman” is a giant sequoia growing in Sequoia National Park, California, that happens to be the largest living thing on Earth. This tree is 275′ tall and its crown spreads 107′. The trunk is more than 26′ in diameter. The General Sherman is believed to be 2,500 years old, and weigh more than 1000 tons.
John Muir called the giant sequoia “the noblest of a noble race.” The giant sequoia is a columnar or cone-shaped tree, losing its lower branches and becoming flat-topped with age. Trees more than 100 years old typically are free of branches to a height of 100′ or more. In cultivation, giant sequoias usually grow no more than 60-100′ tall and retain their lower branches which may droop down to touch the ground and sometimes take root. The reddish brown bark is very thick (up to 20″ thick) and deeply fissured. The bright gray-green leaves are scale-like, sharp-pointed, 1/4″ long, overlapping each other, and completely covering the twigs. The egg shaped cones are 3″ long, and remain on the tree for up to 20 years. Unlike the related California redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), giant sequoia does not sprout from the roots.
The General Sherman is considered to be the largest giant sequoia because of a combination of height, canopy spread and trunk diameter. However, some giant sequoias are closer to 300′ tall, and some California redwoods and coast Douglas-firs (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii), although not as massive as giant sequoias, are even taller.

This desirable Mexican pine is hardy to Z.8. With age will produce 2-3 main stems. It is enhanced by long drooping leaves, with 4 12″ leaflets (needles). Slow growing to 50′. Seeds stay viable in cold storage for many years. Makes an excellent bonsai!