I am going to attempt to grow a few bonsai trees.
At least until I decide its too much trouble or too difficult.
I ordered a few seeds recently, including:
– Chinese Juniper
The Chinese Juniper is a classic Bonsai.
The Wisteria below would be fun, as they apparently are fragrant as well.
Watch the movie “Hero” with Jet Li; I’m pretty certain those are Wisteria trees.
– Wisteria formosa (Purple)
– Japanese Wisteria (blue)
– Chinese Wisteria (White)
– Japanese Red Maple Bloodgood (red leaves)
– Higans Weeping Cherry
– Sea Buckthorn (yellow/orange berries)
– Chinese Pistachio
– Phantom Miracle Tree
The seller of these seeds claim that every part of the plant is edible.
The description continues:
As a food, the pods of the Phantom Miracle Tree, called drumsticks, are commonly consumed in India and some other Asian countries. The seeds are sometimes removed and eaten like peas or roasted like nuts. The cooked flowers are edible, and are said to taste like mushrooms. The roots are sometimes shredded and used as a condiment in the same way as horseradish.
The leaves are highly nutritious, a significant source of beta-carotene, Vitamin C, protein, calcium, iron and potassium. For this reason, interest is growing in the use of Phantom Miracle Tree in addressing malnutrition in developing areas of the world. Moreover it is fast growing and fairly drought resistant thus making it ideal for planting in arid regions and also to stave off encroaching desert sand.
The seeds may be crushed and used to purify water. They also contain a high-quality oil that can be used in cooking, cosmetics, and lubrication. The crushed seed cake can be used as a fertilizer.
The bark, sap, roots, leaves, seeds, oil and flowers are used in traditional medicine in several countries. In Jamaica, the sap is used for a blue dye.
The flowers are also cooked and relished as a delicacy in West Bengal and Bangladesh, especially during early spring. There it is called Sojne ful and is usually cooked with green peas and potato.
It makes a great bonsai, house plant or patio plant.
So I was easily sold (seeds aren’t expensive, in general). Apparently it can live through droughts once it reaches maturity.
– Dwarf Pomegranate