Chinese Elm Bonsai Tree

Chinese elm trees, also known as Lacebark elms, call eastern Asia home. Specifically, they are native to China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and India. They can be found all throughout the world, with the exception of the continent of Antarctica. Because of this, Chinese elm trees are considered to be the most pervasive elm tree in the world. It is partially this widespread availability that makes Chinese elm trees great for Bonsai tree art!

In this handy guide, we have outlined everything that you need to know in order to care for a Chinese elm Bonsai tree!

Common Types of Chinese Elm Bonsai Trees

Chinese elm trees are found across China and throughout Southeast Asia. There are several different cultivars that have been developed from their parent tree. These cultivars have much in common, which makes selecting a Chinese elm for Bonsai tree art mostly an aesthetic decision.

Chinese elm trees are known for being especially hardy. They can handle different types of soil, even poor soil conditions. As a whole, they are tolerant of drought and are resistant to many diseases and pests that decimate other elm trees. Each of the Chinese elm tree cultivars grows tall and upright, and the bark on these trees is often mottled. The intricate branch system of these trees makes them lovely Bonsai trees!

Here are some of the most common types of Chinese elm Bonsai trees!

Allee Chinese Elm

Like other cultivars of Chinese elm, Allee elm trees grow tall in an upright fashion. In the spring and summer the finely textured leaves are a dark, vivid green color. This morphs into shades of yellow, orange, and red during the autumn months. The bark on these trees is mottled with a variety of colors ranging from brown, tan, orange, and even gray.

These hardy trees thrive best beneath full sun. They can tolerate moist and dry environments and do not need a specific soil to grow in as long as it is well-draining.

Athena Classic Elm

The Athena Classic variant of the Chinese elm grows tall and upright like its parent tree and siblings. In the spring and summer, the serrated leaves on these trees are a dark green color. In the autumn, they turn lovely shades of copper and bronze.

These tough trees thrive best beneath full, direct sunlight. They can tolerate moist and dry environments the same and do not need a specific type of soil to grow in as long as it is well-draining.

Bosque Chinese Elm

Like other Chinese elm trees, the Bosque Chinese elm grows tall and upright. In the spring and summer, the serrated leaves on these trees are a vivid, deep green. When fall comes around, these leaves turn a bright, eye-catching purple. The particular shade is reminiscent of plums.

These hardy trees thrive best beneath full sun. They can tolerate moist and dry environments similarly and do not need specific soil to grow in as long as it is well-draining.

Drake Chinese Elm

Drake Chinese elm trees are known for their majestic growth. They grow tall and upright, with branches that seem to be reaching for the sky. The leaves on this tree are almost evergreen, especially when the tree is planted and grown in warm regions. Throughout much of the year, they are a shiny, deep green. In the autumn months, the deep green fades into shades of yellow, orange, and red.

Like other Chinese elm trees, the drake variety can tolerate all soil conditions. All it needs is for that soil to be well-draining!

Dynasty Chinese Elm

Like other Chinese elm trees, the Dynasty variety grows tall and upright. The foliage on these trees is a dark vivid green. In the fall, these leaves turn varying shades of red. The bark on these trees is gray and mottled, with hues of green, brown, and orange mixed in sometimes.

Simiarly to its parent tree and the rest of its cultivar siblings, the Dynasty variety of Chinese elms can tolerate all soil conditions. All it needs is for that soil to be well-draining!

Everclear Chinese Elm

Like other Chinese elm trees, the Everclear variety grows tall, narrowly, and upright. The leaves on these trees are small and have a leathery feel to them. In the spring and summer, they are a lovely deep green color. In the fall months, this color fades to a bright yellow.

As with the other variations of the Chinese elm, the Everclear variety can tolerate all soil conditions. All it needs is for that soil to be well-draining!

Caring for Your Chinese Elm Bonsai Tree

For the most part, Chinese Elm trees are relatively low maintenance. This is because they are hardy and grow well under a variety of conditions. That is one of the many reasons why they make great Bonsai trees, especially for beginners. Still, as Bonsai trees, they do need some attention in order to grow right. Here are some tips for caring for your Chinese elm Bonsai tree!

Sunlight

These tough trees can grow under full sun as well as in partial shade, regardless of the cultivar or variety. Since most of them can tolerate and even thrive in hot, dry climates there aren’t many pressing concerns with leaving a Chinese elm Bonsai tree beneath full direct sunlight, even in the summer.

Soil Type

One reason why caring for a Chinese elm tree is easier than others is the fact that they can tolerate just about all soil conditions. As Bonsai trees, Chinese elm trees will need well-draining soil. This makes selecting a Bonsai tree soil easy since your Chinese elm Bonsai tree will be able to adapt to just about whatever soil you choose for it!

Water

While most cultivars of the Chinese elm tree are tolerant of drought, they still need to be watered. Especially since they cannot survive persistent drought. As with most other types of Bonsai trees, a watering schedule is not always ideal. For a Chinese elm Bonsai tree, water only when the topsoil is dry to the touch. When it is dry, you’ll want to water the tree thoroughly to make sure the root ball is saturated.

Placement

The nice thing about these hardy trees is that, for the most part, they can be outside throughout the year. Some cultivars are better than others at withstanding cold temperatures and frost, especially those that come from the northern regions of China, but as a whole, a Chinese elm Bonsai tree can be outside all the time. If you notice your tree wearing down in the cold outdoors, feel free to place it in a cold-frame greenhouse.

You can also keep your Chinese elm Bonsai tree indoors throughout the year if you choose! They still grow well this way, but it is a good idea to expose them to some summer sunshine outdoors if you can. Your tree will love it!

Pruning Your Chinese Elm Bonsai Tree

For the most part, pruning a Chinese elm Bonsai tree is not too tricky! Since these trees grow rather fast, keeping up with trimming can be the hardest part. Keeping a schedule may not always work in your favor when it comes to pruning, either, but it is easy to look at these trees and decide that they need to be pruned.

Each of the shoots on a Chinese elm Bonsai tree has nodes on it. When the shoots begin growing, allow them to reach 3 or 4 nodes and then prune. Make sure to leave only a couple of leaves on these shoots to promote the best growth!

Pruning bigger or stronger branches from a Chinese elm Bonsai tree is best done in the fall months.

Ideal Chinese Elm Bonsai Tree Styles

In the wild, or when planted naturally, Chinese elms are known for growing straight, tall, and upright. It is absolutely possible, and definitely popular, to emulate the impressive natural stature of these trees in Bonsai tree art.

One of the most common Bonsai tree styles for Chinese elm Bonsai trees is the Chokkan style. Otherwise known as the formal upright style, this is ideal for Chinese elm Bonsai trees because they grow this way naturally.

Another style you can shape your Chinese elm Bonsai tree into is the Moyogi style. This is also known as the informal upright style and involves shaping your tree into a wavy shape. It usually resembles the letter S.

Chinese elm Bonsai trees can also be shaped into the shape of Sokan. This is similar to the Chokkan style in that trees in this style grow upright. The only difference is that Bonsai trees in the Sokan style are split into two trunks.

Propagating Your Chinese Elm Bonsai Tree

Chinese elm trees are probably best propagated through the method of cuttings. Propagating a Chinese elm Bonsai tree through seeds is also viable, but it isn’t as easy as propagating from cuttings.

Common Problems with Chinese Elm Bonsai Trees

While Chinese elm Bonsai trees can grow, and even thrive, in dry conditions be wary. When humidity levels are low, these trees can be attacked by scale and spider mites. You can use specific pesticides to take care of these problems. But spraying the leaves and trunk of your Chinese elm Bonsai tree with water can also help discourage these pests from popping up.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © chuyuss/Shutterstock.com