Bonsai starter plants

Elephant's Food, Elephant Bush, Baby Jade. This interesting plant can be used as an indoor bonsai where sunlight or strong artificial light is sufficiently available. The common names derive from the succulent nature of the plant's leaves and stout trunk. The diameter of the trunk can grow to 9" or more.
In Africa, it is a favorite food for both Elephants and Rhinoceros, and is grown in farms for feeding both animals and people. The foliage when eaten raw, steamed, lightly boiled, or especially stir-fried, is not only delicious but actually very nutritious, containing more beneficial Beta 3 fatty acids than most fish.
Read interesting Article about this plant.

Desert Cassia. A small tree with a beautiful cascading habit, covered with showers of yellow flowers. It is suitable for pot culture and bonsai, has tiny leaves. The tree is nearly everblooming, relatively cold-hardy.

Starfish Flower, Giant Toad Flower, Carrion Flower. This is one of the largest flowers in the plant world! Great container plant, Stapelia gigantea, commonly called carrion flower, is a spine-free succulent member of the milkweed (not cactus!) family that is native to dry desert areas from Tanzania to South Africa. The common name comes from the malodorous flower aroma which resembles the smell of rotting meat. For those willing to look the other way on flower aroma, additional common names include giant toad flower or starfish flower. The focal point of this plant is the fleshy, 5-pointed, star-shaped flowers (to 10-16" across), each being pale ochre-yellow with thin transverse maroon lines. Flowers bloom in fall (flower buds are triggered by shortened daylight hours in fall). Flowers are pollinated by flies which reportedly find the carrion aroma irresistible. Spineless, 4-angled, succulent stems grow upright to 8-12" tall before scrambling sideways with the tips still erect. Plants in the ground may grow to 24" wide. Seed pods resemble milkweed and each individual seed has a milkweed-like parachute. Genus name honors Dutch physician Johannes Bodaeus van Stapel (1602-1636).

Spectacular tri-color variegated Jasmine, leaves are striped with green-red-golden colors. Drought tolerant and will survive light frost. Great container plant, ground cover or hanging basket.

Jamaican Rain Tree. Rare slow growing plant, can be grown as bonsai or small specimen tree. Very showy flowers.

Flame of the Forest - a stunning small tree from India, Sri Lanka with spectacular clusters of red flowers. Very slow growing. The trunk is very interesting, it becomes twisted, follows no particular pattern, making it a conversation piece. At the base it can form a bottle-like caudex if grown in a pot.
This tree drops leaves in late spring and starts re-leafing around end of June (in Florida).

It is a long-lived, many-stemmed dense shrub, the branches grow from ground level, and the leaves consist of tiny crowded leaflets that fold together at night or by touch. The fine, feathery and large flowers are a deep scarlet color and borne among the green foliage from spring to autumn. Some varieties may have pinkish color. Great bonsai plant.

With very small leaves, the plant is a compact grower. The blooms are 1 to 2 inches in diameter. The latest of all varieties to bloom, the bloom period continuing into the summer. Outstanding variety for bonsai. Flower Size 1".
Gardenia radicans very often has variegation sport. Plants we have in stock may or may not be slightly variegated (see example of leaves). This item is different from Dwarf Variegated gardenia (Item 4754 Gardenia radicans Variegated).
See page about gardenias, their cultivation and varieties.

Very rare variegated Turk's Cap, Firecracker Hibiscus.
Almost ever-blooming, this shrub looks much like a hibiscus (to which it is closely related) which flowers are ready to open. In fact, the flowers never open much, hence the common name of Sleepy Hibiscus. It blooms often, and the flowers attract hummingbirds. The 2 inch long tubular flowers appear to be constructed of crimson crepe paper as they nod against the large oval leaves, some leaves can be completely white! The little tree looks like decorated Christmas tree!
Can be kept compact shape and is good for container culture and bonsai.

Fragrant randia. Medium size shrub with highly perfumed 1" wide white flowers that attract bees and butterflies. Flowers come in clusters. The plant has woody thorns on the stem that makes it look unusual for such a fine flowering shrub. Foliage is dark green, sometimes blueish. Can be grown in a pot and as a bonsai. The plant has medicinal properties - analgesic activities.

Dwarf form of favorite Pandanus with large heads of cascading green and yellow thin leaves. You can have a nice exotic Screw Pine as a dwarf in a pot.

Pithecellobium tortum has delicate branches and tiny light-green compound leaves and is spiny. The leaves fold up at night or in subdued light. Will tolerate temperatures in the upper 30F range, but not for a long time. Trunks short, to about 8 inches in diameter. Mimosa-like flowers are off-white and fragrant. Ornamental curious seed pods. Drought tolerant. Butterfly attractor. Great bonsai plant.