Out of the 244 visitors who answered this survey in September '99, the best plant for beginners was very narrowly voted the JUNIPER (Juniperus), with the CHINESE ELM (Ulmus Parvifolia) and FICUS following very closely behind. Unlike previous surveys, location seemed to play a significant part in which type of plant was chosen - the Juniper was voted the preferred plant to use from those in the Northern Hemisphere and Europe, and Ficus voted the preferred plant for beginners in such places as Australia and Asia. The main reason why these plants were chosen were their ease to obtain, hardiness, forgiving attitude (especially for Ficus and Chinese Elm) - which is important when dealing with beginners, and also are able to withstand a reasonable amount of neglect. They also all are able to turn into spectacular bonsai with time and patience, helping beginners to learn the basics of bonsai.

Other noted plants were the JAPANESE MAPLE, and COTONEASTER.

Opinions :

Steven Lee from Melbourne, Australia, says :

Beginner at bonsai.

KURUME AZALEA. I have heaps of these self-seeding in my garden (although I don't know why), so I use them. Not one has died on me yet, they have rapid growth, are receptive to pruning, have great shape and beautiful flowers during the spring.

Mary Phun from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, says :

Practicing bonsai for over 10 years.

FICUS. Although these need a tropical climate or tropical conditions to do really well, they are forgiving plants that can be propagated easily and trained into many styles. Good for beginners

Charles from zone 9, Mission Viejo, US, says :

Practicing bonsai for over 10 years.

CHINESE ELM. Tolerates heavy pruning any time of year, bad soil, irregular watering. They grow like weeds along the freeway, and any tree that will survive as a weed will take any punishment a beginner can dish out.

Honorable mention goes to the Procumbens juniper, which is almost as tough, but a little finicky about soil drainage and watering schedule.

Mark Nangle from zone 8, London, UK, says :

Practicing bonsai for over 2 years.

ZELKOVA. Easy to look after, grow quickly, very forgiving of mistakes.

Khaimraj Seepersad from San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago, says :

Practicing bonsai for over 15 years.

CHINESE ELM. This plant handles overwatering, some dryness, many climates - Tropical, Sub-Tropical and some cold. Tolerates low light [1000 lux] gives a sense of the miniature, refined grace and high branch density. Also, very fast growing as well as rapid trunk thickening. Will tolerate many soil mixes as well.

Aside for the Tropics - the next best tree is the Gmelina, but this plant needs much sun to stay dense and healthy. Very fast growing, but still refined.

Art Worley from zone 8, US, says :

Practicing bonsai for over 20 years.

FICUS BENJAMINA. It will take a lot of abuse and still come back for more. It is a tropical so it can be kept inside under low light conditions. It does not seem to matter whether it is wet or dry. The branches bend easily. It is a fast grower. You can cut it back to a stump and it will sprout back quite readly. It is about the most forgiving tree I have ever worked with. Easy to look after, grows quickly, very forgiving of mistakes.

David Nassar from zone 10, Melbourne, Australia, says :

Beginner at bonsai.

CHINESE ELM. Simply because they are extremely difficult to kill. You can trim and cut and root prune and they will bounce back without a problem. Since most beginners don't have the patience yet to try certain techniques slowly and one at a time, the Chinese Elm varities (or Elm in general) would be perfect for their itchy fingers.

Stew Moore from zone 5, Ankeny, US, says :

Practicing bonsai for over 2 years.

JUNIPER. Junipers are hardy, forgiving, keep their color and can be worked on almost any time.

Trevor from zone 10, Melbourne, Australia, says :

Practicing bonsai for over 10 years.

CHINESE ELM. I feel that Elms are the best trees for beginners because the tree responds easily to branch growth and the techniques for obtaining ramification are very straight forward and easy for a beginner to master first off. A very nice looking tree can be achieved over a very short time without much difficulty.

Dave Manning from zone 4, Sydney, Australia, says :

Beginner at bonsai.

JUNIPER. Evergreens don't give the impression of being "dead" during Autumn. My Juniper Shinpaku has maintained a healthy colour through the 18 months or so I've had it, and is the one I'm most proud of as it is my very first Bonsai, even though some I have now look markedly more beautiful with my "Land-scaping" of their pots and the techniques I now know.

Sandy Hedrick from zone 9, Tallahassee, FL, US, says :

Beginner at bonsai.

JUNIPER. Juniper are slow growing and relatively hardy. If a beginner starts out with a deciduous tree and tries to wire the branches, they may find that the branches are marked by the wires because of the growth of the tree.

Nathan Goins from zone 8, San Antonio, US, says :

Beginner at bonsai.

CHINESE ELM. The Chinese Elm has withstood all the punishment I could give it. Grows fast, responds well to pruning, and not fussy about soil. Very good starter tree.

Danny from Noosa Heads, Australia, says :

Beginner at bonsai.

FICUS. Most sorts of fig are very forgiving with what you can do with them. If you cut the wrong branch off and wish you hadn't, there is every chance another will grow very close to the one you've cut off. They are also not that hard to train as their branches can be shaped without breaking. They're not brittle like most other plants. Figs are fairly quick growing as well so you don,t loose patience with the little fellas.

K. Ferguson from Edinburgh, US, says :

Practicing bonsai for over 2 years.

CHINESE ELM. This tree is as hard as nails and can recover from almost any form of abuse, underwatering, over watering, irratic feeding and other forms of general neglect. I know as I have been guilty of all of these at some point or another.

Douglas Thomas from Santa Monica, UK, says :

Practicing bonsai for over 5 years.

JUNIPER. Takes harsh pruning well, very tolerant of mistakes. Easy to shape. A great beginner tree.

 

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