The art of cultivating of one’s own bonsai tree is one of the most popular pastimes almost everywhere in the world. And the interest level has been growing even more intensely within recent years. People just love to grow their own mini-trees in gardens that do not take
up a lot of space.

What tree should you start your bonsai garden with? There are actually many types of bonsai trees to purchase. For example, one could get a Cotoneaster, a Chinese Elm, as well as Japanese Black Pine. But many people start with the Bald Cypress bonsai (sometimes spelled Bald Cyprus).

The Bald Cypress bonsai tree is excellent for those just starting in creating bonsai trees. It is a hardy tree that is easy to take care of. The scientific name for the Bald Cypress is Taxodium distichum. This conifer grows in many areas of Florida and Louisiana, and throughout the Southern United States, particularly in swampy areas. The Bald Cypress has been designated the official tree of the state of Louisiana. The bark is fibrous and has a reddish-brown color with small flat ridges and shallow furrows. The leaves of the Bald Cypress are deciduous and spread in flat planes in a feathery pattern on its branchlets.

Some people find their first Bald Cypress bonsai tree growing wild in nature. So if you like damp swamps that are overrun by insects, you may enjoy searching for a wild cypress bonsai tree, for they love these conditions… and that is where you are likely to find this tree. However, it isn’t always practical to pick up your tree from a swampy wilderness, so you may want to check out your local nursery first.

When to Purchase Your Tree – If you wish to work on your bonsai tree immediately, the best times of the year to get a Bald Cypress Bonsai is in late winter. But anytime from late November to early spring will give you time to work on your plant. Otherwise, you may not have enough time to get the Bald Cypress bonsai tree ready to go outside.