If your looking for an unusual Bonsai tree, why not try a Sumac, or two, or three of them? Sumac’s make great yard trees in Colorado since they are very hardy. There is even a native variety to Colorado, called a 3 Leaf Sumac or Stink Bush. There is a distinct smell to them when you work on them. Not to worry, it washes right off!
I am trying at least 4 different varieties:
3 Leaf Sumac
Prairie Fire
Grow Low/Autumn Amber – The thumbnail on the left above is a Low Grow Sumac. Updated 02-28-2021
All four of them are very hardy. Each has its on merits and faults. Grow Low makes for an a very good cascade Bonsai, Prairie Fire has great red fall color, Lanham’s purple has purplish leaves all during the summer, 3 leaf has great fall color. All have nice flowers and smell nice.
I will posting pages for each one of these great Bonsai species.
I am going to start with Lanham’s Purple, see above link.
Bill Valvanis has a great Tiger Eyes sumac on his blog.
New Photo 05-19-2019
Photo courtesy of auer othmar.
This is the same tree in the thumbnail at the top of the page. The photo was taken during the Denver Botanic Garden’s Fall Bonsai Show several years ago. Its a 3 Leaf Sumac Rhus trilobata ‘Autumn Amber’ New 10-10-2018
Lanhams Purple Bonsai Show: New 09-10-2017
Internet Gallery: New 04-20-2017
Photo courtesy of Pinterest