1st place, SM Korean Hornbeam
Korean Hornbeam (Carpinus)

10 basic elements to bonsai

  1. Watering often enough that they do not dry out
  2. Feeding with fertiliser when the tree is actively growing
  3. Repotting every few years to refresh the soil and prune the roots
  4. Positioning of your trees indoors if tropical and outdoors if temperate
  5. Protecting your trees from sun, rain, frost, wind and snow damage
  6. Pruning to aid with the development of your tree shape 
  7. Wiring / guying to aid with styling your tree
  8. Cleaning to remove weeds, check for pests, remove moss and algae
  9. Advanced techniques like defoliating, leaf cutting, bud pinching
  10. Displaying your bonsai on a stand in the right pot with an accent
English Oak Bonsai
English Oak (Quercus)

You can try to bonsai any tree species, some are easier than others and many people start with deciduous tree species when looking for a bonsai tree to keep outside in the UK. You can use native species like Oak and Elm or look at more ornamental species like Maple. Whatever you choose you will have fun learning the techniques for that species.

Tree species suitable for outdoor bonsai in the UK

  • Maples (Acers)
  • Hornbeams (Carpinus)
  • Hawthorns (Crataegus)
  • Beech (Fagus)
  • Oak (Quercus)
  • Elm (Ulmus)
  • Birch (Betula)
  • Ash (Fraxinus)
  • Privet (Ligustrum)
English Yew (Taxus baccata)

Evergreen trees suitable for bonsai in the UK

  • Juniper (Juniperus)
  • Cypress (Chamaecyparis)
  • Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria)
  • Holly (Ilex)
  • Pines (Pinus)
  • Firs (Abies)
  • Spruce (Picea)
  • Yew (Taxus)
  • Giant Redwood (Sequioadendron)
  • Coastal Redwood (Sequoia)
Maidenhair tree (Ginkgo)

Deciduous conifers suitable for bonsai in the UK

  • Maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba)
  • Larch (Larix)
  • Dawn Redwood (Metasequioa)

Fruiting and flowering trees suitable for bonsai in the UK

Apple (Malus)
  • Apple (Malus)
  • Azalea
  • Wisteria
  • Barberry (Berberis)
  • Cotoneaster
  • Honey suckle (Lonicera)
  • Box (Buxus)
  • Forsythia
  • Jasmine
  • Magnolia
  • Mulbery (Morus)
  • Potentilla
  • Cherry (Prunus)
  • Firethorn (Pyracantha)
  • Beauty Berry (Callicarpa)
  • Spindle (Euonymus)
  • Quince (Chaenomeles)
  • Roses
  • Vines (Vitis)
  • Snowbell tree (Styrax)
Fig (Tropical Taiwan Ficus)

Tree species which can be kept indoors in the UK (NB: This varies for each species based on their temperature requirements)

  • Olive (Olea)
  • Pistachio (Pistacchio)
  • Bougainvillea
  • Box (Buxus)
  • Figs (Ficus)
  • Carmona
  • Citrus
  • Crassula
  • Cuphea
  • Durantha
  • Eugenia
  • Gardenia
  • Hamelia
  • Ash (Fraxinus)
  • Privet (Ligustrum)
  • Lorapetulum)
  • Malpighia
  • Myrcicaria
  • Murraya
  • Mytrle
  • Nandina
  • Phyllanthus
  • Podocarpus
  • Portucalcaria
  • Premna
  • Mulberry (Morus)
  • Pomegranate (Punica)
  • Rhododendron
  • Sageretia
  • Schefflera
  • Serrisa
  • Tamarind
  • Elm (Ulmus)
  • Whrightia
  • Zanthoxylum
  • Zelkova

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