3 Year Old Cork Bark Chinese Elm

'Leo'

The Cork Bark Chinese Elm, a variety of the species Ulmus parvifolia, originates from Eastern Asia including China, Korea and Japan.

The Cork Bark Chinese elm is a Chinese elm cultivar known for it's thick, rugged and deeply fissured grey bark that develops with age, providing a classic look especially for Bonsai.

It features small, lustrous green leaves that turn a bright yellow in the fall and is considered a tough, fast-growing tree. The species is ideal for bonsai due to its natural ability to develop a mature-looking appearance, including fine twigging, at a smaller size

Chinese Elm's thrive in sunny and airy locations, but when temperatures are above 30 degrees, it should be placed somewhere with indirect sunlight to prevent the sun from damaging the leaves as it will burn.

The leaves change with the season and are affected strongly by the climate. Depending on the variety of maple you have, it may change colour from red to green when the weather warms up. Some varieties will stay red but may take a lighter red or orange colour when the weather gets warm.  They will completely lose their leaves by the end of April - May.

A Chinese Elm Bonsai must be watered daily during the growing season. During winter and the cooler months it's a good idea to feel the soil to determine if it needs water.  The soil should be slightly damp but never bone dry.

The width of the pot in the image is 12cm wide, total height being 20cm