Cork-Barked Elm: From the Plant and Flower Alphabet
GRANITE BAY DESIGN PLANT & FLOWER ALPHABET
The Cork Bark Chinese Elm is a bonsai tree that can grow to enormous sizes with spacious foliage. This tree, indigenous to China and Southeast Asia, can typically grow to over 80 feet in nature. However, its fine branch networks allow it to turn into a masterpiece bonsai for beginners and experienced bonsai owners.
During the spring, it quickly grows many small (about 1/4 to 1/8 inch in size) serrated-edged oval-shaped shiny dark green leaves. The younger multi-stemmed branches have gray-colored corrugated bark. The older ones develop a rough textured bark while the old mature bark on its trunk has a deep fissured corky texture that’s dark brown. The Seiju Elm’s roots enjoy moist but well-drained soil.
Engravings from “Handbook of Plant and Floral Ornament from Early Herbals” by Richard G. Hatton (Originally published in 1909).
Plant descriptions primarily from Wikipedia.
