Here are some of the results of the survey which the readers of 'The Bonsai Site' have contributed :
This survey is now closed, but if you wish to contribute your views
in our current survey, click here.
Or if you wish to see other, past surveys, click here.
Out of the 174 visitors who answered this survey in August '99, the most favoured plant to use in one-species forest plantings was voted the TRIDENT MAPLE (Acer Buergerianum), closely followed behind by the JAPANESE MAPLE (Acer Palmatum). The Trident Maple is a plant greatly suited to forest plantings, with relatively small, attractive foliage, spectacular autumn colour and is a very hardy plant that responds well to pruning and training into many different styles. It very quickly adopts an aged, gnarled appearance, usually developing quite an effective butress. Several trident maples (usually in an odd number as is the style for forest plantings) together is extremely effective.
Other commonly mentioned plants were the CHINESE ELM, JUNIPER and ZELKOVA.
Question :
Opinions :
Adrian Campbell from Manchester, UK, says :
Practicing bonsai for over 2 years.
FUKIEN TEA. The masses of slightly perfumed white flowers and delicate grey trunks all in a forest planting makes for quite a spectacular show.
Madhu Jain from Mumbai, India, says :
Practicing bonsai for over 5 years.
FICUS BENJAMINA. It is a very graceful tree. The branches and trunk are dark brown. It has plenty of aerial roots that grow throughout the length of the trunk, making a great impression in a dense and wonderful forest planting.
Stacy F Karpinski from zone 5, Syracuse, New York, US, says :
Practicing bonsai for over 2 years.
TRIDENT MAPLE. These are very suited for forest plantings and offer bright color in the fall.
Froilan B Samala from Angeles City, Philippines, says :
Webpage : Beginner at bonsai.
SERISSA. They have small leaves and small white flowers and the trunks looks old and easily grown.
Bill Sikes from Coolidge, Georgia, US, says :
Practicing bonsai for over 5 years.
CARPINUS COREANA. The branching of Carpinus coreana quickly becomes
quite angular and twiggy, even on very short branches.
The bark roughens and cracks nicely, and exposed roots
soon take on the rough bark texture of the trunk.
While many species experience a near
complete cessation of trunk growth after being placed in a Bonsai
container, trunk size of the Carpinus coreana continues to increase
even in the pot, albeit more slowly than if it were in the ground.
Carpinus coreana will flourish here in
the Deep South, and responds positively to frequent deep watering
and lots of fertilizer. Simple pruning to a basic outline will
encourage rapid filling of the desired form.
Carpinus coreana is very adaptable and
will do quite well as either specimen or forest material; the various
trees in the planting appear to be sensitive to the presence of the
others. They seem to take cue from each other as to how their
respective branching and foliage will interact between the separate
trees, eventually melding the whole creation into a gestalt, a single
entity, as it were.
David Nassar from zone 10, Melbourne, Australia, says :
Beginner at bonsai.
TRIDENT MAPLE. They are so elegant as a forest. I have seen many good specimens. Hardy trees too. The autumn colour is spectacular as well which might have half the tree a certain colour and the other half another colour.
Matthew from Tinley Park, IL, US, says :
Practicing bonsai for over 2 years.
MAPLES. Graceful and elagant, maples ramify nicely and their spring and fall color is great.
Pete Hare from the UK, says :
Practicing bonsai for over 5 years.
ZELKOVA. They have very fine branches and are nice all year round.
Deon Arangies from the Republic of South Africa, says :
Practicing bonsai for over 10 years.
ACER BUERGERANUM. No root competition, can be rootcut severely and nice range of autumn colours. Interesting at all times of the year.
Barry Carpenter from Birmingham, UK, says :
Practicing bonsai for over 15 years.
JUNIPERS. Readly available in most U.K. Garden Centers, easy to use and quick to develop. Some do need rubber gloves to handle as they can produce a rash.
Duncan Wiles from Clayville East, Republic of South Africa, says :
Practicing bonsai for over 15 years.
OLEA EUROPIA VAR. AFRICANA. The leaves miniturize extremely well and the trees are evergreen. The plantings always look neat. The canopies on the trees grows very compact when regurlarly pruned. The plant, while better suited for outdoors can be grown inside. The trees are also resistant to cold.