CERCIS canadensis Bonsai

This beautiful tree makes for an excellent bonsai subject. It's well-known for its lavender bells in the summer and the lovely carpet of fallen flowers surrounding it. The foliage is finely divided and highly appealing. The wood is purple with dark venation. This tree is native to Canada and prefers deep, well-drained soil in a sunny location. While it's resistant to frost, it's vulnerable to drought.

Grow notes:

Cercis seeds have a hard outer coating that is impervious to water, and generally, germination will usually not occur unless the seed is scarified by abrading or pre-treated with boiling water first. They also benefit from a period of cold stratification.

1. Place the seed in a container pour in just boiled water and allow to soak overnight.
2. Sow seed in a container to the depth of seed width.
3. Ensure the mix is moist but not water-logged.
4. Place the container in a plastic bag.
5. Place the bagged container in the refrigerator for 42-56 days.
6. Germination generally occurs in 21-26 days when moved to warmer temperatures after the period of cold treatment.

General note: Seeds of many plants are dormant and may require specific conditions or pre-treatment for germination.
Do not be too hasty to discard seed that does not germinate, seeds will often lay dormant until the conditions are similar to their natural requirements for germination to occur. Containers put to one side will often surprise long after they were discarded.