Of the 690 people who answered this survey in April/May, 2000, the plant nominated as having the most interesting foliage for bonsai was the JAPANESE MAPLE (Acer palmatum). This was closely followed by the TRIDENT MAPLE (Acer buergeranum). These plants are largely admired for their wonderful year-round variations in foliage color and are a pleasure to display with their delicate, intricately shaped leaves.

Opinions :

Tori West from zone 8, Liverpool, UK, says :

Practicing bonsai for over 10 years.

SERISSA. For purely aesthetic reasons, the serrisa has the best foliage. It can also be varigated. The leaves are small, yet hold nice detail.

Bob Bowers from zone 10, Westminster, CA, US, says :

Practicing bonsai for over 15 years.

JAPANESE MAPLE. With spring bud pinching and mid-summer defoliation, their autumn canopy is awesome. My first tree was a Japanese Maple, so maybe I'm predjudiced.

Adam from the US, says :

Beginner at bonsai.

CHINESE ELM. Hardy, suitable for indoor/outdoor display and good branching characteristics. Its small leaves make it look like a real tree.

Michael George from the UK, says :

Practicing bonsai for over 5 years.

JAPANESE MAPLE. A difficult choice, Cotoneaster and Chinese elm being also tempting. Acer just wins because its natural style and size is bonsai.

Paul West from Columbus, US, says :

Beginner at bonsai.

JAPANESE RED MAPLE. I have to go with the Japanese Red Maple because it was the first bonsai I noticed and now I have the fever. Can't stop now just one more tree.

Duncan Wiles from the Republic of South Africa, says :

Practicing bonsai for over 15 years.

CELTIS AFRICANA - White Stinkwood. The tree is very fast growing and responds well to regular pruning. Ramification is formed quickly. It can be defoliated upto four times during the growing season. The leaves reduce very well. The foliage in Autumn turns a beautiful yellow. Winter is the ideal time to enjoy the tree without its foliage.

Max Wieselmann from zone 9, Melbourne, Australia, says :

Beginner at bonsai.

ELM. I like it because it changes colour with the seasons.

Peter Holmsten from zone 7b, Charlotte, US, says :

Practicing bonsai for over 5 years.

TRIDENT MAPLE. The Trident Maple has some of the best characteristics for Bonsai. While in leaf, it has excellent year round color with a great autumn showing. They are very hardy trees and tolerate the abuses we in Bonsai inflict upon them such as major root pruning, leaf defoliation and constant trimming. In addition to the above reasons, the fast growth rate and potential for outstanding trunk calipers is well known.

Michele from Island Lake, US, says :

Practicing bonsai for over 2 years.

GINGKO. It has a lovely green growing season color, while still being interesting in the fall with its golden hue and fan shape.

Mark Crocker from zone 8, Houston, Texas, US, says :

Practicing bonsai for over 2 years.

TEXAS EBONY. The fine leaves close at night and reopen in the morning.

Bjorn Bjorholm from zone 7, Knoxville, US, says :

Practicing bonsai for over 2 years.

TRIDENT MAPLE. They have awesome fall color and I have seen some ancient ones at bonsai shops.

Susie from zone 7, Stockholm, Sweden, says :

Practicing bonsai for over 10 years.

JAPANESE MAPLE. Nothing can compete with the new fresh colourful spring leaves and the fiery autumn leaves.

Sebastiaan Koenen from zone 8, Breda, Netherlands, says :

Practicing bonsai for over 2 years.

ZELKOVA SERRATA. Because the leaves are so small and so beatifull, and it is fast growing.

David Matthews from Richards Bay, Republic of South Africa, says :

Practicing bonsai for over 5 years.

BUDDLIJA SALIGNA. The tree is drought resistant, fast growing and when older has a very interesting trunk. However the best feature is the fact that the leaves reduce drastically-from 100x15mm to 3x4mm. This happens even if grown in a large container. Leafe reduction is dependent only on pinching back.

Jim McGrath from zone 4, Ottawa, ON, Canada, says :

Beginner at bonsai.

OKINAWA HOLLY. My first Bonsai. It has good character and looks. And took me an hour to pick the right out at the nursery. Nice foilage and structure, relatively easy indoor care for a beginner.

Mike Coriell from zone 6, Sciotoville, US, says :

Practicing bonsai for over 2 years.

BEECH. I've always enjoyed the bark's color and style. It has nice leaves that turn a golden color in the fall (autumn) and then remain thru much of the winter. I like to hear the sound of the wind thru them in the winter and it does exposes much more of the trunk.
Also, the limbs out to the smallest twig are attractive with or without their leaves.

Ken Power from zone 8, Federal Way, US, says :

Beginner at bonsai.

ZELKOVA. Its leaves are very prone to dwarfing and the trunk structure can be as simple or as complex as you would like to make it.

C. T. Jackson from zone 6, Ft Wood, US, says :

Practicing bonsai for over 5 years.

ELM. Any type of elm is excelent for bonsai. They are fairly fast growers and develop a good trunk fast with good taper. Elms also take well to leaf redution and the leaf is gorgeous when it is small.

 

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