Plant used for bonsai - Plant Encyclopedia Results

Malpighia glabra (Barbados Cherry) is a small evergreen shrub or tree from the Caribbean, Central America, and northern South America. It forms a rounded crown 6-12 ft tall with glossy leaves, bears clusters of pink to lavender flowers, and sets bright red tart-sweet drupes used fresh or for juice and jam; in warm climates mature plants can crop several times a year.

Grow in full sun to light shade and well drained soil; water regularly for best fruit set, letting the surface dry slightly between waterings. It prunes well for hedges, containers, or a small specimen. In USDA Zones 9-11 it tolerates only brief dips to about 28-30 F, so choose a warm sheltered site and protect from frost; container plants can be overwintered indoors in cooler areas. See Article about Barbados Cherry

See Growing Barbados Cherry in container

Fuchsia is a genus of flowering plants that consists mostly of shrubs or small trees.

One species, F. magellanica, extends as far as the southern tip of South America, occurring on Tierra del Fuego in the cool temperate zone, but the majority are tropical or subtropical.

Melaleuca cuticularis is an excellent choice for bonsai due to its unique bark and impressive profile. It grows slowly over time, making it easy to maintain and shape. It matures to a small tree of 10-20 feet in height, with an equally wide spread. The off-white flowers are an attractive adornment, and its oval ornamental foliage provides contrast and interest.

Melaleuca cuticularis is ideally suited to USDA Zones 9 through 11, and is tolerable of both seaside sites and salt environment. This makes it an incredibly versatile choice, allowing it to be grown practically anywhere along the US coast. It is also able to survive temperatures as low as the mid-30s F, though only for a brief period, and so may be suitable as a specimen in colder climates.

For successful cultivation, Melaleuca cuticularis should be placed in full sun or semi-shade and watered moderately, but with extra attention in the summer months. If growing in a pot for colder regions, it is important to bring the pot inside for winter and to ensure the soil is well-draining to avoid root rot. Repot the plant annually and use a high-quality soil mix. If you are watering from underneath, avoid standing water in the saucer.

The tree, native to Tropical Africa, does not tolerate cold weather, making it unsuitable for many temperate climates. However, it can be an ideal plant for growing in a pot in cold regions, as with proper care, Ficus sur (Bush Fig) can survive temperatures as low as 30F for brief periods and can be used for bonsai.

When grown in USDA Zone 9-11, Ficus sur is typically a large shrub, growing to a height of 5-10ft tall. But when given the appropriate conditions, it can be grown as a small tree of 10-20ft. Ficus sur prefers full sun and semi-shade and requires moderate water. It is an ethnomedical plant, with many parts of the tree being used medicinally, and its edible fruit can be enjoyed fresh or used in jams and jellies.

Ficus sur produces a wide variety of fruit, which may be green, yellow, orange, or purple depending on the species. Rich in vitamin C, these fruits have several medicinal uses. In traditional medicine, they have been used to treat ulcers, diarrhea, and chronic skin disorders. Ficus sur fruits are full of essential nutrients that can help improve digestion and reduce inflammation. On average, a single large tree can produce about 200-300 edible fruits in a season.

When it comes to the care and growing of Ficus sur, it needs to be planted in a well-draining potting soil that is rich in organic matter. It should be watered regularly but it is important to ensure that water does not remain in the pot for longer than necessary as this can cause root rot. To keep the plant healthy, trim the branches regularly. Fertilize every couple of months to promote healthy growth.

Rhus is a genus of deciduous or evergreen shrubs and shrubby trees of temperate and subtropical North America, South Africa, eastern Asia and northeastern Australia. Plants in the genus Rhus are widely distributed, growing on hillsides, bogs, thickets, woodlands, and dry sites. They are grown primarily for their pinnate or palmate leaves, which provide texture and a kaleidoscope of color in autumn. Suckering species may become invasive.

Species:

Rhus batophylla

Rhus copallina

Rhus dentata

Rhus glabra

Rhus glauca

Rhus integrifolia

Rhus ovata

Rhus taitensis

Rhus typhina

Rhus undulata

This slow growing tree is native in the Indomalaya ecozone to Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and in Indochinese ecoregion east to Java and the Malesia ecoregion. In some parts of the world, this fruit is called elephant apple because it's a favorite food of elephants, while in other areas, it gets the name wood apple because of its hard wooden shell. It is actually considered sacred by Hindus, and is widely cultivated and eaten in India.

It is erect, with a few upward-reaching branches bending outward near the summit where they are subdivided into slender branchlets drooping at the tips. It has rough, spiny bark. It can be grown in a pot as a small specimen or used as a bonsai. The leaves have a citrus-scent when crushed.

The edible fruit is technically a berry 2-3" in diameter, sweet and sour. It has a very hard rind which can be difficult to crack open, and contains sticky brown pulp and small white seeds. The fruit looks similar in appearance to fruit of Bael (Aegle marmelos).

The pulp can be eaten raw, but it is popularly scooped out and frozen, or made into jam. It can also be mixed with coconut milk for a delicious, health beverage, or frozen into ice cream. The ripe bel fruit is sweet and can also be used for making a tasty drink known as wood apple milk. The ripe fruit is consumed as custard with sugar or honey in certain cultures. The raw bel fruit is sour to taste and is used to make chutney, while the leaves of the bel fruit tree are used as salad ingredients. The vast array of health benefits that are attributed to wood apples are mainly due to their nutrients, vitamins, and organic compounds, including their tannins, calcium, phosphorous, fiber, protein, and iron.

It is a commonly known herb in Indian system of medicine to treat various disorders including diabetes. The fruit pulp extract is used in folk medicine against gastric ulcers.

Bel fruit is great for digestion, and a remedy for digestive disorders. The trunk and branches of bel trees contain a gum-like substance called Feronia Gum. Bel leaves contain tannin, which is known to reduce inflammation, and has antifungal and antiparisitic activities.

Bel fruit juice mixed with warm water and sugar is used for blood purification and the removal of toxins. It is effective for ear aches. High level of vitamin C in Bel fruit increases the strength and potency of the immune system.

The Feronia gum, contained in the trunk and branches of the bel tree, counteracts diabetes by reducing the severity of the condition and helps to manage the flow, secretion, and balance of sugars in the bloodstream. Leaves of the Bel fruit tree supposedly help people avoid chronic or recurring colds and related respiratory conditions. They also help in curing sore throat and treating chronic cough due to its function as an expectorant. The fruit is used as an energy food thanks to its high protein content.

Considering the detoxifying powers of wood apples, the kidney and liver can be protected if the correct organic compounds from wood apples are kept at healthy levels.

Liver Health: As a good source of beta-carotene, wood apples also cure liver problems. They contain thiamine and riboflavin, both of which are known as liver health boosters, this fruit also functions as an ingredient in cardiac tonics.

Every aspect of this form is dwarf compared to the basic pomegranate - from its overall size to its finer leaves and smaller flowers and fruits. Due to this - it is a plant especially recommended for miniature bonsai and small styles. Apart from the pomegranate's stunning seasonal orange flowers, it presents so many other notable characteristics. It has a marvelous naturally-twisting style trunk, that very easily adopts a gnarled, ancient appearance - something widely sought in bonsai. Pomegranates can be very easily propagated - so group plantings can be quickly created from quite thick branches taken from a parent plant. If you shade the tree and keep it slightly dry before mid-season, the tree is encouraged to set flowering shoots. Place the pomegranate in a position of good light - but where it is sheltered from frost and not exposed to drying winds. Don't plant the pot in a dish or shallow container. It likes water and flowers well when it is slightly root-bound, so choose a pot that is a bit deeper than usual. This plant does not like hard freeze and is not very hardy. Also be careful when wiring as the branches of the pomegranate are very brittle and break easily. Prefers acidic, well-drained soil.

See Article about Pomegranate.

This is one of the most beautiful, exciting and useful plants among fragrant tropicals. A very fragrant, enchanting shrub, flowers are fruity scented, pendant, are born along its twiggy branches. Foliage is thin and slightly hairy, it can flower almost all year, easy to prune for shape and size. It is widely planted near and around temples and homes for its stunning fragrance. Prefers well draining soil, partial to full sun. A truly remarkable site! It has always been a popular ornamental tree in temples and houses. In Thailand, it is probably the most popular plant, you can see it everywhere along the streets planted in ground as a specimen, a hedge or potted, it belongs to every garden! This plant is sacred among Buddists. Fruits are paired pods, 9" long. Wrightia is easy to maintain and requires minimum supervision but needs constant watering only. Wrightia is cold sensitive and becomes deciduous under 65F, it might look ugly in winter in cooler zones (hardy to zone 9). In warm subtropical and tropical climates it stays evergreen and blooms year round. Because of its fast growth rate Wrightia can be trained into a bonsai tree within a short period of time. It can be easily trained and wired into odd and weird shapes. Traditionally used as medicinal herb. Roots are used to cure skin disease. There are many varieties and cultivars of wrightia.

This member of the Sapindaceae family was described by Hutchinson in 1932. It is found in the Cape province of South Africa and Namibia, growing in well-drained soil with little to some water and lots of sun. It can grow up to 15 ft, the flowers are green and red, very attractive 3-lobed inflated red seed capsule, and it can only be reproduced by seeds.

Erythrophysa alata looks very similar to Erythrophysa transvaalensis but with wider leaflets than Erythrophysa transvaalensis.