"Upon finding that I work as a professional bonsai artist, many people will remark that they once had a bonsai, but it died and with some regret, they gave up".
Based on the Bonsai Basics section of the hugely successful Bonsai4me.com website and an e-book of the same name, 'Bonsai Basics: The Foundations of Bonsai', written and developed over the past 15 years is out now!
All copies are signed by the author.
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Crataegus is a genus of 200 or more species of usually spiny, deciduous, occasionally semi-evergreen small trees and shrubs occurring in woodland and scrub in Northern temperate regions of the world. The leaves are alternative, simple or lobed and mid- to dark- green; some species produce good Autumn colour turning yellow, red or orange.
Common Hawthorn Bonsai / Crataegus monogyna by Harry Harrington in flower
Many hawthorns have irregular, almost muscular trunks with complex
patterns of ridging which reflects their internal vessels. The
bark is a dark-brown and has a tendency to peel off in large pieces.
Commonly known for their very sharp thorns, their May flowers
and following haws or fruit for which Crataegus take their common
names of hawthorn or may. The haws are red in colour and follow
the May flowering of white or deep pink colours depending on species
and variety. Hawthorns can take a number of years to start flowering,
trees grown in the ground taking up to 10 years and trees that
are raised from seed in pots can sometimes take as long as 20years.
SPECIES COMMONLY USED FOR BONSAI
Hawthorn/ Crataegus monogyna varieties
Also known as May, Quick, Quickthorn, Crataegus monogyna is a rounded, deciduous tree with a large number of thorns and broadly ovate to diamond shaped, deeply 3- to 7- lobed, glossy leaves up to 5cm long. Pads of 6-12 fragrant white flowers upto 1.5cm across are borne in late Spring followed by ovoid glossy, dark red fruit. Can reach heights of 10metres in its native Europe.
The white flowers of Common Hawthorn/ Crataegus monogyna
Hawthorn/ Crataegus oxycantha (syn.Crataegus laevigata)
Also known as May or Midland Hawthorn, the Crataegus oxycantha variety 'Pauls Scarlet' is a frequently used cultivar with its profuse, double, dark-pink flowers. (Confusingly 'Pauls Scarlet is sometimes seen sold as 'Coccinea Plena'). Slightly less vigorous than the Common Hawthorn, Crataegus oxycantha varieties of which there are many, can reach heights of 8 metres in their native Europe,India and North Africa.
See also Hawthorn Bonsai Flowers How to make your Hawthorn, and other bonsai, flower
Crataegus oxycantha variety 'Pauls Scarlet' in flower
Crataegus cuneata/ Japanese Hawthorn.
Very similar to Common Hawthorn but with white flowers. Reaches heights of 6metres in native South East Europe and Asia.