A Guide to 30 Flowering & Fruiting Varieties of Bonsai

Bonsai Today 89, 2004 (excerpts)

Crabapple “Makino”

Flowers Apr-May
Fruit Oct-Nov
Pollination best artificially from a different tree
With apples, flowers only grow on very short branches. So promote short branches.
In May-June, when shoots are tender, prune them back, leaving only 4 leaves. These will promote flowers the next year.
Transplant in autumn to help prevent the development of root carcinoma.

Flowers Apr-May
Fruit Oct-Jan
Pollination naturally
Propagation: some varieties develop flowers on new shoots, so some branches can stay unchecked to protect new buds and flowers.
In order to preserve the outline of the tree, you can prune half of the new branches one year and the other half the next.

Flowers Jul-Sep
Main interest is the summer flowers and shiny, smooth exfoliating bark
Flowers grow at the tips of the new branches, so if you want to maintain a good silhouette, you have to sacrifice some flowers.
Just before the flowers open, shorten the branches from one to three nodes. New flower buds will appear.
If the tree is strong enough, it is possible to shorten the branches after admiring the first flowers, and expect new flowers to develop.
Crape Myrtle’s love water and fertilization.

Flowers year round, with main bloom cycle in spring.
For shaping, use the flower buds as guides and simply prune off any vegetative growth that appears above the buds. This will also promote future buds.
The longer a tree has been in a pot, the more it tends to bloom.
Cultivation—the flowers turn into fruit naturally, but since too much fruit can weaken a tree, it is advisable to remove almost all of the flowers as soon as they wither.
Quince love water and much water transpire through the leaves and flowers—water regularly. Watch for wilting during the summer.

Flowers Jun-Jul
Fruit Oct-Nov
Pollination naturally
Flower buds appear at the sides of new shoots and fruit always follow.
Frequent pruning results in an abundance of secondary branches, but this may cause some branches to die, so be careful not to take too much off.
During the growing season, pinch the tips of the new shoots, and during dormancy focus on the overall balance of the tree by shortening branches that have grown too long and leggy. Keep one or two nodes per branch.

Flowers May-July
In Japan wisteria blooms signal the arrival of summer.
In June we can distinguish 2-3 flower buds at the base so the new shoots. The following spring these shoots become short branches, and at the tip of those branches that the flowers appear.
Do not wait too long after blooming to remove the spent racemes (flower clusters), these vital buds can turn into small flowers and spend energy on the spot. Next year’s flowers can be diminished or entirely missing.
To further preserve next years flowers, it is best to avoid too much winter pruning.
Can be transplanted every year, because the roots grow very quickly. Best time is early spring, before buds sprou, or later after flowers bloom.
Transplanting is a good time to remove excess growth from the top.
Wisterias love water. Some place a tray of shallow water during the summertime.

Chaenomeles speciosa
Flowers Mar to May
Fruit summer
Next year’s flower buds form from Aug-Sep at the tips of the new shoots, but they are small and very difficult to see.
The best time to prune is immediately after flowering before the new flower buds are formed.
Fortunately, plenty of new shoots are short and need not be pruned, so there is plenty of opportunity for new buds to form.
Full sun will promote flowers, though in the heat of mid-summer light shade to avoid sunburn and drying off.
Likes plenty of water and fertilizer.

Pseudocydonia sinensis
Flowers Apr
Fruit Nov-Jan
Pollination artificial
Some quince may be self pollinating, though sometime a tree may be only male or female flowers.
To prevent from damage from excessive weight and to protect the tree’s vitality, remove all but 2-3 of the fruit.
Make sure to water well between flowering and fruiting and don’t apply fertilizer during this time.
Feed generously once the fruit appears.