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I would like to begin cultivating bonsai. My question is this: Are North American native trees suitable to be cultivated as bonsai?

Most forums and websites I have viewed suggest trees from other continents. I live in an area where I can acquire quite a few native trees and would like to know the possibility of using some of them.

DanDon wrote: I would like to begin cultivating bonsai. My question is this: Are North American native trees suitable to be cultivated as bonsai?

Most forums and websites I have viewed suggest trees from other continents. I live in an area where I can acquire quite a few native trees and would like to know the possibility of using some of them.

Which one did you have in mind ?

What about a Sycamore?



They are beautiful trees, they turn white. They like wet environments, river valleys, etc.

FrisseForgeswithFire wrote: What about a Sycamore?



They are beautiful trees, they turn white. They like wet environments, river valleys, etc.

and have 10 inch leaves that are hard to reduce in size. Doesn't seem a great idea to me.

DanDon wrote: Most forums and websites I have viewed suggest trees from other continents. I live in an area where I can acquire quite a few native trees and would like to know the possibility of using some of them.

I disagree with 'Most forums and websites' - I would certainly prefer to use native trees.
However... as my previous post indicated, there are loads of trees to choose from, several of which are suitable for bonsai. You have't replied yet so I don't know what you have in mind.

'North America' has lots of different climates, each climate having different native species, so without further information it is not possible to answer your question...

Thanks for asking.

I live in Central Wisconsin. I have a really nice variety of trees to choose from. I have easy access to sugar maple; red, white and jack pine; black and white spruce; red and white oaks; a variety of birches, and many shrub-sized plants.

DanDon wrote: I have easy access to

sugar maple

I don't recommend sugar maple because of the large leaves.

red, white and jack pine

Red pine (pinus resinosa) is not very suitable for bonsai (not to be confused with the Japanese red pine, that is).
White pine (pinus strobus) is also not very suitable (not to be confused with the Japanese White Pine)
Jack pine is a "common candidate for bonsai", see

Note: I'm not saying it is impossible. There are, for example, dwarf varieties of Pinus Strobus that are suitable.
However, I'm assuming you are getting these trees from nature, not from a garden center or bonsai shop.

black and white spruce

Black spruce = Picea Mariana. Had to Google that one. Seems interesting. Look at this thread:


White spruce = Picea Glauca. Is suitable for bonsai.

red and white oaks; a variety of birches, and many shrub-sized plants.

Oaks are used for bonsai. White oak seems more suitable than red oak.
Birch is suitable. Can't say much about the shrub-sized plants, depends.

Pines, spruces and deciduous trees all require different techniques.
You can do what I did to look up some of the above trees: Google... fill in the species name + bonsai, and you'll find lots of information.