Most bonsai trees are a deciduous or coniferous species, with the occasional fruit tree forming part of the collection. However there are more exotic bonsai choices that permit the bonsai artist to expand his or her skills.
Wisteria makes one excellent alternative to the run-of-the-mill bonsai. A native of China, Japan, and Korea, they can reach 30 feet in the wild. Shaping them into a bonsai is an interesting challenge, because they don’t conform to any of the usual styles.
The flowers, assuming a variety of colors – blue, white, pink, and purple – are both beautiful and aromatic. They blossom in the spring at which time they need a lot of water, so long as there is adequate drainage. Wisteria do well in full sun to partial shade. Provide ample fertilizer in spring just before they flower, then again in late summer while the leaves are still present.
Another option is Orange Jasmine which will provide a delight to the nose and beauty to the eye. Orange Jasmine bears a bright red fruit and fragrant, white blossoms.
Orange Jasmine should be fed every three to four weeks beginning in early spring and continuing through mid-autumn. Light watering is sufficient for most of the year, with slightly more in the hotter season.
Because they generally grow better in moderate shade or filtered sun, Orange Jasmine is one of the few bonsai that can, and should be grown indoors.
The Mimosa tree, also occasionally known as silk trees due to their long silky filaments, offer another good alternative. They are as fragrant as both of the two choices mentioned above and their puffy flowers and lacy foliage are also quite lovely.
The Mimosa’s flowers bloom in late April to early July and moderate water should be provided during the blooming season. However, you should avoid getting water on the flowers because, much like a number of other flowering plants, the flowers will quickly deteriorate when wet.
The Mimosa will be one of the larger bonsai in your collection. They grow rapidly, have large leaves and are very difficult to sustain at a very small size. So give them lots of room on the display bench.
An additional exotic bonsai is the Desert Rose which can turn an ordinary bonsai collection into an exciting full color display. The Desert Rose is a native of East Africa where it grows up to 10 feet tall and produces large, pink, trumpet-bowl flowers.
The Desert Rose should be kept outdoors most of the year as they need plenty of sunshine and lots of fresh air. With their very bushy growing habit, they will make a fine design complement to the many traditional bonsai in your collection.
They’re sensitive to cold, though, so in cold climates they should be brought indoors. They don’t thrive below 50F (10C), though they will lie dormant and healthy from 50-60F (10C-15C). During this period they will need very little water.
These fragrant and beautiful flowering plants will challenge your bonsai gardening skills, expanding your horizons. They will provide a season-changing display as they go through the seasons, blossoming in the spring and dropping their leaves in the fall, adding interest to your collection and when placed amongst the more traditional evergreens, such as firs, pines, and junipers, they add a nice contrast.
George Dodge provides bonsai gardening tips for beginning bonsai gardeners on his Bonsai Tree Gardening site where he encourages you to experiment with exotic bonsai choices to expand your collection. He has long enjoyed gardening and landscaping as a hobby.
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This post was written by admin on May 21, 2009
