Hokkaido elm

I made what I think is a nice discovery at a nursery up in Asheville last week. They had a table full of these little Hokkaido elms. Most were single, telephone-pole-shape trunks with a thick puff of foliage up top, but then there was this one.



As some of you may recall, I don't really like Chinese elms. I have a large-ish lacebark elm, and now this little one, which fits better with my preferred size trees. So I'm always open for advice.

Today, I did my first, and probably only major trimming and shaping on this little tree this spring.



Later on I'll probably thin out the canopy of the larger trunk, but mostly I'll be letting it grow and occasionally giving it all all-around haircut.

Advice and suggestions welcomed.

A google search of "Hokkaido Elm Bonsai" will probably tell you much more than you want to know about this species. I've made two serious attempts at scaling the Bonsai Hokkaido (Hamburger?) Hill, and been put in full retreat both times for my efforts.
1) Provide serious over-winter protection. I never did get the 'right' balance for these trees. Morning frost put a whuppin' on those tiny branches of my own trees, and unfortunately, they absolutely did not tolerate conditions inside my house with the booming tropicals and their Metal Halide lighting system.
2) These babies are almost purely clip-and-grow wonders for styling. You MAY get away with some light guy wiring, but even that is fraught with peril for what are extremely brittle branches.

I wish you the very best of luck with your Hokkaido Elm Bonsai. Spring is hopefully - finally - here, and you should get some summer enjoyment at least, out of your new tree. Those super tiny leaves and that nubby bark make these wretched trees almost irresistible to the Bonsai Enthusiast. They look like they would be awesome to work with! But, I for one, will NOT be attempting the Hokkaido Elm again.......

I was sitting thinking 1 hour with your Tree. and it became so.
Please don't laugh me if you see me bad drawing

I like it. Thanks.

You MAY get away with some light guy wiring, but even that is fraught with peril for what are extremely brittle branches.

Yes. I discovered that very quickly! Clip and grow is good. I HATE wiring.

And spring isn't QUITE here yet -- at least not in western NC. We're going down below freezing again tonite and to morrow nite.

Sorry you've had a hard time with these. I've seen -- and enjoyed -- some nice Hokkaido bonsai at the NC. Expo. Hopefully . . .

JIM ,, Nice little tree with a good first start.. i also like Tap pi lu,s image with the little left side branch comming over to the large trunk...you may like elms after all !! take care john

If you are tempted by 'Hokkaido,' but don't want the aggravation, try its offspring 'Seiju.' The latter is not quite so dense, but it has similar bark, and on shohin specimens, the leaves are nearly as small. It is hardy to Zone 6 and much less finicky.
Iris

Jim,

My experience with Hokkiado Elm has been frustrating. Auballagh has summed it up pretty well. I would add that they do not tolerate wet soil at all. While they look delicate, the need full sun all day and a well drained soil. I like the tree as a good start and wish you great success with it.

Regards,
Martin

they need full sun all day and a well drained soil.

I can do that. We'll just have to see what happens. Thanks.

Jim hope this little guy is doing well. I have recently acquired 2 small hokkaido's as well. I'm not sure how I am going to overwinter mine (I'm in NC sandhills.) How do you plan to overwinter yours?

It's doing fine. I don't baby my trees. It will stay outside over the winter, though I'll move it to a more protected location.