How about a nice starter American elm? I’ve grown this smaller specimen from a cutting, and this year it got styled in a beginner’s workshop.

The base is 5/8″ and it’s 13″ tall. The basic design is set, you just need to pot it and prune/pinch next year.

Estimated Age: about 4 years

Ships now.

Item # Amelm7pre

SOLD: $55 (delivered)

Here’s a great example of what you can do in just a single year. I lifted this American elm in March of 2018, and began styling it as soon as the shoots were long enough. I slip-potted the tree into this fine Byron Myrick rectangle in May, and continued working on the branch structure and new leader. By fall, I had already gotten quite a bit of ramification. Here’s the tree in its winter state. You can see the twigginess. Now, this year what’s going to really impress about this specimen is how small the leaves get. American elm is just about the world champ for leaf-size reduction, from 5″ in nature to less than 1/2″ in a bonsai pot. Truly amazing, and you don’t have to employ any special tricks.

The base is 1.25″ across, and the tree is 16″ tall. Great trunk character.

Estimated Age: 5-7 years

Ships in February if you’re in the South, in spring otherwise.

Item # Amelmbonsai10

SOLD: $165 (delivered)

I just love this American elm bonsai-in-the-making. I lifted the tree this past summer and it quickly found itself in this unique Chuck Iker rectangle. I did the initial styling in July, and have just done minor trimming since while the tree did its own thing. There’s no ramification yet, but I can guarantee you it’ll happen easily in 2018. Be prepared to pinch frequently, and this little specimen is going to really look great by next summer. Isn’t the trunk character great?

The base is 0.75-1″ across, and the tree is 14″ tall.

Estimated Age: 5-7 years

SOLD: $145 (delivered)

I’ve been growing this specimen in the field for the past few years, and I decided this year that it was time to lift and style it. Originally I was planning a standard informal upright style, but it had thrown multiple shoots near the chop point so I went with what the tree had in mind. It’s off to a good start, just needs to grow out for the rest of 2017 and get cut back hard next spring for the next round of development.

The trunk base is 1.5″, and the tree is 10″ tall. Beautiful Chuck Iker pot.

Estimated Age: 5-7 years

SOLD: $165 (delivered)