3 Best Bonsai Trees for Beginners - Which Bonsai Tree Should I Get?
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Which bonsai? Three of the very best bonsai trees for beginners.
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Here are my three favourite bonsai trees for beginners. In this video I tell you about the species I think make the best first bonsai tree purchase. These bonsai trees are easy to find, easy to look after, and look GREAT!
All you need to do now is buy one!
Cork bark Chinese elm
Cotoneaster
Portulacaria afra.
Check the comments for more excellent suggestions for choosing a bonsai tree for beginners!
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Started doing bosai during the beginning of covid, happy to say i have two baby pines that I collected from the forrest, 7 apples i grew from seed. And 2 cherrys grabbed from my neighbors! Apple bonsais and my cherrys have been doing the best out of all of them! They grow really fast, are pretty bendable within the first year/ year and a half, of growing they survive wintertime well and bloom beautifully in the spring summer. The blossums are an eye catcher and theyll even sometimes grow fruit! But that can take years
Hi Daniel can I ask what apple trees you have grown and did you take cuttings of the cherry tree? I would love you try both of them. 🙂
no i dug the two cherry seedlings out of the ground during the spring when they were about 3 inches tall. and as for the apples. i have no clue. i just grew them from seeds i got from store bought apples.
Do they really bloom pink? That’s awesome!
@@dannyred5921 how big are the trees now
That sounds neat and and pretty unique
Chinese Elm - Ulmus Parvifolia
Cotoneaster
Portolucaria - Jade
Thanks, I neglected to write the names anywhere 🤦♂️🙏
Looking forward to the portolucaria jade video!
Great! I’ll be filming it at the weekend, might take up to two weeks to edit and upload though 😁
Thanks for the response
What about Ficus Retusa?
A few more: 1) common boxwood. 2) In North America, we have type of Holly called Yaupon that is used as shrub. It has tiny leaves, good ramification, trunk thickens quickly and is tolerant of neglect. Plus you can readily find it in garden centers. 3) Fukien Tea, just don’t let them get too dry. 4) for those wanting to try indoor, Ficus Benjaminina, in most garden stores
All good
I have a holly like that. My neighbor pulled some out with a truck last fall. I tried saving 2 but only 1 survived. It looked terrible all winter. The survivor is in a shallow plastic tote. I hope I can put it in a training pot but I'm worried about the roots. It has long thick roots but I don't know about finer roots closer to the trunk. But the foliage came back and it looks healthy. It has an interesting gnarly trunk from being decades in a yard. I'm about to move from NC to FL and I want to take it with me. Down there I'll keep ficus, jade, and other tropical trees. I recommend people start with ficus microcarpa, not benjamina. Microcarpa can survive more pruning and it back buds much more reliably. A benji with no leaves on a branch will lose the branch. That's my experience at least.
Not to mention you can use yaupon for tea
I just started my bonsai journey and the 2nd 'tree" I bought was a Bordeaux Yaupon Holly. It's small but I love it.
Gotta agree with those 3 choices. All pretty indestructible and fast growing. Can’t really beat them. Id maybe put olives in 4th place. They are fairly hardcore too 👍👍
Thanks for the recommendation 🙏
For apartment dwellers with only indoor window access ficus is without a doubt #1, and they can be grown outside in summer. Chinese elm and juniper can also be grown indoors. Elm is pretty easy, but junipers take some skill, though I have one I’ve had for 13 years under lights, that only occasionally goes outside, some summers. Nice elm in the beginning!
Another great vlog! Agree on the Chinese Elm comment, if I was to choose a second species it would be privet. Keep them flowing Darren!
Thanks Dan, didn’t think of privet. Cheers
i killed all my chinese elms in my beginnings of the bonsai journey xD you aren't ficus fan, are you? :D my no. 1 beginners (non hardy) tree is ficus natalensis. unfortunately not everyone is able to effort it, but they are immortal :D all figs are probably good, but natalensis is waaaaay more indestructible
Eternity hi, I don’t have any ficus due to lack of space for over winter. Thanks for writing
My aunt gave me a cherry tree bonsai 30 years ago. Looks just like it did the day l got it. Must be a plastic one.......
Thank you I am glad there are human beings like you
Aww thanks Tom that’s so
Kind
I am a complete beginner and want to grow my first bonsai. However, I dont want to buy an existing tree from those bonsai retailers / sellers.
I am based in the UK. Are there any garden centres where I can go (for example, Homebase) where I can pick up common bonsai material?
Firstly, it's nice to support the bonsai growers, especially the smaller ones.
Material can be found at pretty much and garden centre, the quality will vary and you will need to buy a pot/wire too if using them
I've been in horticulture for 20 years, but just getting into bonsai. The Drake Elm is a perfect choice to start with!
Same here! Just started a weeping willow cutting and I'm planning on getting my hands on a Siberian Elm to practice on. I also have birch seedlings.
Perfect
Thankyou my friend
:-)
BE THE TRUTH thanks for watching
I think a great starter trea for people is a wild olive almost impossible to kill they grow quick and leaves reduce in size in a short time, makes it easy for when your starting and forget to take care of it for a while it will still be there
Olea europea sylvestre, ficus (any of them), japanese black pine (maybe the easiest pine).
Just starting. Thank you for the video. Really enjoyed it. Beautiful trees 🌳 😍
Happy to help, enjoy the ride 🙂
I think Ficus is a excellent bonsai for beginners. Very low maintenance, and it goes indoors or outdoors.
Ficus is being mentioned a lot, I think I should have added it in! Thanks
Hi there! I'm looking into getting a Bonsai tree. I don't mind growing my own or buying an already grown bonsai. Where would you recommend buying one from? I am also based in the UK.
The three I prefer and recommend is www.bonsai.co.uk and www.kaizenbonsai.com and www.shokabonsai.com The last one is a small independent nursery, so he doesn’t always have lots of choice, but there’s often a bargain
The 2nd one you showed, with the berries. Are they poisonous to animals if eaten?
Birds eat them, but cats and dogs mustn’t. You can remove them. And my dog isn’t interested. But probably best to play it safe if you’re concerned
Bonsai is a great idea for quarantine time!!!
Absolutely, such a calm, rewarding hobby 🙏
Good choices. Privet is good choice as well. Fast growing, small leafs and nice flowers that smell really nice. Easy to propagate also :)
Privet, yes great suggestion!
And indestructible! I collected mine from the front yard after it got mowed several times. It was a volunteer from somewhere in the neighborhood. The ground is terrible, hard clayey suburban fill crap. I dug it up and potted it. It grew lovely branches in a couple months. Over the winter, I kept the pot covered in mulch close to the ground and the local groundhog ate all bit the trunk. The next summer, it was back to the state it was in the summer before. I neglected to water it and it became bone dry. A few leaves yellowed and dropped. I watered it once and it bounced right back. Three years and counting, it it doing great!
Can you suggest some easy to bonsai trees in India?
How do you call the cork bark chinese elm in its scientific name?... because in germany there is not just one scientific name for it. So that I just can be sure I'll will get the right one as may very first bonsai
Ulmus parvifolia ‘corticosa’ but also yatsabusa is even better
Excellent video Darren, I agree with your top 3, I might add Zelkova Serrata as fourth to the list, they are like the big brother of the Chinese elm, but they have an additional feature of the beautiful autumn colours before leaf fall.
Good shout 👍
Bougainvillea if you live in Phoenix az
Ficus ginseng microcarpa is great too! Grows very fast during the spring/summer so it’s a breeze to prune.
For me personally are Bonsais Something magical Not from this world, its pure Art. Sadly i don't own one yet, but it'll come
I can definitely relate to that, Luis
彼はプレイヤーに非常に思慮深く、詳細に説明します
Kare wa pureiyā ni hijō ni shiryobukaku, shōsai ni setsumei shimasu
Chinese Alm cottonester portulacaria aphra
Today I planted my first bonsai a pine bonsai (I don’t know if it needs any special requirements or not so if it does then please comment below)
hi5 mate! Jade is the one I always recommend to bonsai beginners, but in the bonsai world they are shunned all too often. I have several. Lots of fun. I might have included a cedar in that list but thats probably bc I like them so much haha. Cheers!!
Im a beginner my bonsai tree are bougainvilleas.. ill watch your videos! Watching from philippines
Thanks for writing, I don’t have any bougainvillea but they are beautiful
Gro Bonsai im a beginner.. what orther term for that plant? i have only bougainvillea for my starter in keeping bonsai.. thats why my watching different bonsai videos to learn more about bonsai😁😁 thank you for replying in my comment
I’m not sure of other terms for bougainvillea. Thanks 🙏
Boxwood is one of my favs for easy starters! Jades as well. Fukien tea and umbrella (Schefflera) are fun too! Although Fukien Tea seem to be very temperamental so may not be the best for beginners.
Ficus and juniper!! Here's why. Easy to take care of, fun to style and easy to propagate.
nice suggestions...i started my journey with a Juniper, and completely killed it with one month...i was actually looking to try again with a Chinese Elm...
the poor brain fart at 4;40 "not as fast growing as chinese elms and erm species like that" haha. i do this the otherway round and say dawn redwood first instead lol
My brain is 70% fart 😁
I like bonsai, I don't have much bonsai collection, by watching this video I am motivated to add to my bonsai collection
Its not commonly used for bonsai but privit. They are very easy to grow. I see them almost like Chinese elm.
Privet is a great species, good call thanks
Which ones can i let indoors all the year? I dont have a garden, just one window :(
Im building my growlight area. Can someone tell me which ones i can care indoors?
I appreciate every answer :D
I just bought another Chinese elm because I love having to constantly prune it. It's like meditation, a way to distress a bit.
And now I see that there specimen with cork bark? Wow! Guess I gotta buy one of these, too!
Definitely, very rewarding species! Thanks for watching 👍
Here in SA the Jade is a local..... You can get them everywhere, priced less than a cup of coffee. Current exchange rate...... Two small plants 10cm for a pound...... Nearly every child grows one from a cutting at some stage for school project or just for fun.... spekboom by the way = bacon tree......
Jeez, I don’t think we could even get a native plant for one pound, not to mention two!
Nice I love them and thanks for telling us about the view and use in the homeland :)
thanks for the tips! I'm in Arizona, which is hot and dry, and I was wondering which species would do well outdoors here. I happen to have elephant bush growing right outside my door! I'll definitely look into propagating it!
juniper trees would probably do great
I’m trying 2 boungunvilla
Good luck
I'm new to this, but your "hardest to find" is actually easiest for me.
That’s great! Thanks for watching
What’s a good bonsai tree for beginners and safe for cats?
Great question, I'll have to do some research, but I'm working on it
I have a short lifespan and won't live to be old enough for slow growing bonsai but I'd still love to be able to watch one grow with me while I have the time! I'm not terrible with plants so if there's any extremely fast growing ones you can reccomend, even if they're moderately difficult, I'd love to try!
How are you?
@@sasikanthmynampati158 I'm doing ok! How are you?
everyone has their list of "starter" bonsai, but very little thought is taken on a general purpose, anywhere (not just in your specific clime), these-will-work-for-almost-everyone, and can-be-found-just-about-anywhere bonsai. here's a threesome that might fill that bill: ficus (nothing exotic, basic house plant or tree types only); pyracantha (requires little maintenance and a masochistic streak to prune properly - but almost bulletproof)); and, yes, any of the assorted and varied jade plates (with small leaves and slow growth)...
The Afrikaans name for Dwarf jade (Spekboom - "bacon tree") is pronounced more like: spek"bu-uhm".. not spek"boom"... They grow wild where I live... Great video!
My mini jade is shrivelling up for some reason and I have no idea why. All I did was change the soil because it fell victim to fungus gnats. I think i shocked it, but it doesn't seem to be recovering :( Any advice for how to save it???
Japanese Holly Ilex Flowering Bonsai Tree Broom Style Mini what about this one i was thinking to buy one but i know some species of bonsai they very sensitive thank you Sharing
Present Sir. We are bonsainer from Indonesia. Best Regard From Us. 🙏🙏🙏
Hi from the UK!
Beautifull bonsai tree
i am thinking of getting a bonsai. thank you for this informative and very helpful video. you have made it easier for me to decide to, and which bosai to get. will definately keep tuning in for tips and tricks for care. thanks
I find the field maple is bullet-proof.. also this summer I’m working with the wild cherry..
Very tough, but not easy due to the coarseness, but definitely a great species. What is the botanical name of the wild cherry? Is it P. avium?
Yes it is p, avium
Hi! I really want to succeed with a bonsai and I have failed a lot of times (the trees has died). And I have now ordered an elephant bush. But I wonder if you could explain about what bonsai soil I should use and how often you shall repot the plant. I want to have a maple tree. But how do I succeed?
Wow I'm interested watching your vidios
I bid on top-tier and I I now have 2 mini weeping willow bonsai 1 which is already in water and in need of being put in soil of which I still do not have and 10 seeds of a Japanese cherry tree to grow but I don't know what kind of bonsai soil to buy or how much I need to buy! Can you help me please I'm desperate and I have never grown a bonsai before so I'm a newbie LOL
6:55 Some people in the UK may also know these as "Money Trees" they really dont like a lot of water and its easy to over water them... I would have said a ficus is much easier to look after. I've not heard of a Cotoneaster before so thanks for that... sounds like a very interesting choice for bonzai.
Cotoneaster horizontalis (Rockspray Cotoneaster) makes an excellent bonsai styled in all forms except formal upright. I have about 8 - 10 of them none over 4.5" tall. I grew them as minature trees on the upturned top of my water barrel. The trees are about thirty years old now. BTW they looked pretty at a couple or three years old.
Spring - Clothed in light green leaves turning darker as summer aproaches, also festooned in pink/white flowers (bees love em). Summer - Clothed in a dark green foliage and green berries appear. Autumn/Fall - Her gown now turns a magnificent scarlet and her berries match (Blackbirds love em too). Winter - She stands naked with only her berries remaining to cover her dignity (At least the ones the birds didn't get).
I also have a 30 year old Cotonearter horizontalis styled as a semi cascade which stands at about 8 - 9" high and about 12" wide from the trunk to the branch tip.
My other bonsai are various Japanese maples, various Pines, Junipers. A Horse chestnut. Privets. Larches and Ficus'. Ranging in height from 3 inches to 18 inches, 3 feet (Pines and Larch) to 6 feet in its pot (Japanese Maple orange dream).
Fukien tea tree is amazing for beginners.
I am very, very new to bonsai, and I think I killed my gifted Juniper.
I have just got my first bonsai and it is a redbud any tips or tricks for this kind of tree, I have just planted my seeds
even the small fly loves it! ;-]
Yaupon Holly, 6$ at homedepot in the US. You might even find a surprisingly thick trunk with nice roots
Great tip, thank you
Funny enough I have a jade sitting in my yard right now. Will be using that to tart bonsai. Here in Florida we have tons of jades.
That is awesome! I'm so envious
I recommend Ficus sp as well, as it it difficult to kill, and can be bent into shape without lots of wiring. I have Ficus natalensis from Africa.
Ulmus sp aka Chinese elm is very forgiving too.
and my third favorite easy tree is Erythrina lysistemon , the Transvall Coral tree, from Southern Africa.
Another easy tree is Olea europea subsp africana, the Wild olive tree.
Thanks for sharing those, very helpful
It would be helpful to list tree names in description
They are listed. Click on the drop down arrow.
Cant find your Facebook or inta? What are the names or a link please. Thanks
Hi, I am a total beginner... I was told ficus was good, is that true?
I just wasted my time watching this video with lots of irrelevant talk
It would be helpful if you had graphics spelling out the tree species.
I bought. Juniper. I could use some advise on this little tree
I killed a cotoneaster...... pyracanta is a great spiece, and, in general, decidious trees are easier.
I also do not agree on them being truly easy plants. Maybe Daren was just lucky with them until now.😅
Btw. Sequoia sempervirens is also truly easy, you should try it.
They aren’t as easy as the others, no, but the flowers make up for it. I must admit Pyracantha slipped my mind completely.
chinese wisteria is aaammmaaazzziiinnngggg
Thanks, sorry for the late reply!
Just bought a cutting of dwarf jade looking forward to it.
How no where cut it and what is the name of tree is best for beginners juct got my first one thanks video
Ok but where can I buy? Any suggestions?
Would you be able to recommend an indoor species that would thrive in Nordic light conditions? We don’t get any sunlight for 3 months and no nights for the summer season. I’d like to grow something interesting that will inspire my son to get his hands dirty.
That will be challenging. I think English ivy will work but they aren’t commercially produced. Otherwise you will be looking at supplemental light, or a species that goes dormant but they need to be outdoors. Have you considered terrariums? My friend Ben at Worcester Terrariums has plenty of great info to get started and the plants are all low light
Im looking for a good indoor bonsia tree. Any suggestions ?
Thank you! Very informative and easy to to understand.
I bought some bonsai orange tree seeds how do I start to plant them ?
I live in a place so harsh and very unfortunate for bonsai. Hear in Utah the summers can literally burn or completely dry out the roots in such little time. Also our winters can be also be very unfortunate. I am kind of new to bonsai. This year out of 90 plants only five survived. The Elephant Bush, Thi Chile Pepper, Siberian Elm, Golden Rain tree, and my pride and joy that I can never ever part with for heritage rights and reasons The Great Basin Sagebrush. This Sagebrush i wild collected at the heart were my tribe came from, so its more like I took a little peace of home with me.
My question is "do you have a bonsai that just means the world to you?" If so can you please do a video of it. Anyone else can also reply on this as well. Thank all of you if you ever had the time to read this.
That is so inspiring, not only that you manage to keep some trees alive in the harsh climate, but also the bond you have with your historical sagebrush.
Up to now I’ve been in love with the process more than individual trees. I do have a humble little Berberis that I’m fond of, my big Chinese elm, Hornbeam. Each time I work with them I become more attached.
Thanks for the suggestion, it has given me lots to think about
@@Heritagiusthanks for your advice. I live in the basement part of my apartment complex under a balcony so plenty of shade. I changed my soil to a mixture of used coffee grounds and crushed sea shalls with a bit of lava rock crushed and red sand. Was definitely a turn around. As for pot size they weren't the issue. As for my sagebrush, It has red sand stone rocks on the bottom of the pot then a cactus and succulent high drainage soil. On top layer is vast scenery of red sandstone just as if you were to find in the area I found it. It tells me when to water as its dark when soil is moist, and lighter when needed to hydrate my plant.
Its in a additional pot that collects the run out water using vapor to hydrate it. Also to add extra protection from extreme heat and freezing temperatures.
The last one i have in my garden in Australia we call it a money tree
Working with Natal plum??
What about marijuana
seems a waste to me
Your videos are looking really good. I was walking on the treadmill this morning thinking Bonsai and enjoyed your videos. keep up the great work.
Isn’t this what we used to call a “Money Tree”?
It’s similar in appearance to Crassula, but is a different species, much better for bonsai. Jade or money tree has large leaves and awful roots - for bonsai Portulacaria is superior, but not easy to find. Thanks 🙏
Can you take a japanese maple tree to make it a bonsai?
Where can i buy the chinese elm cork bark?
Can a mesquite tree be turned into a bonsai?
I like palmagranet for new people tree.
what trees would be the best fit for a large indoor trerrerium at 90% humidity and 70-80F(21-27C)?
I think ficus microcarpa. Maybe schefflera arboricola. Ben @WorcesterTerrariums has had success with Ficus. Schefflera is just a hunch, not tried it. I also think English ivy could work in humidity, but not sure about the temperature range
Jade doesn't acclimate very well. My father gave me his 4 foot beauty in Traditional upright and it died within 3 months. It absolutely just fell apart 😭
You probably over watered it
Second and third plant : How you spell it please?
Good point!
Cotoneaster - the example is microphyllus but many other species are good.
Portulacaria afra
I’ve got a Japanese black pine, I bought it today and it’s about 1 years old. It is very loose in the soil and are sort of tilted to the side. I feel like the roots aren’t very sting Have u got any tips for me? Thanks and great video
At that age they can be a bit floppy, it’s best to let it establish itself. When it’s firmed up and grown a little more, you may choose to use some wire to put some bends into the trunk. Cobra Kai fan?
@@grobonsai thanks for that. Yeah I am a cobra Kai fan
Thank you for the information. Do you recommend bougainvillea bonsai for beginners?
I am looking at getting a Bonsai but it would be indoors with only lamp light in an office environment. The office can get up to 30 degrees in the summer and down to 10 degrees in the winter months due to height above sea level. Has anyone got any ideas what I should start off with?. Thank for the videos, am now off to watch others you have made lol.
You will need to use a light suitable for growing plants, if there is no natural sunlight. I think your best chance for success would be Portulacaria afra, or Ficus. Both like good light though - they'd love it outdoors in the warm months.
I just felt like I wanted a bonzai tree for my bedroom to give my bedroom some fresh air and atmosphere.
But I'm overwhelmed with the whole maintenance.
I’ve read that Juniper Bonsais can make good indoor bonsais for beginners. Would you agree?
Definitely not, they are 100% outdoor trees
great advices, good explained. thanks
Thanks so much for supporting the channel
In South Africa spekboom is indigenous and grows everywhere. It is also known as a plant that helps remove carbon dioxide from the air. The leaves are edible.