When I suggested Prunus mume, I was going on my experience, which admittedly
only takes in Japan and the UK. I have also read this though:

"Although a rare tree in the trade, Prunus mume is by no means impossible to
find. Several good cultivars are available. W.B. Clarke, an American
hybridizer, named three of the most readily available to American gardeners.
'Peggy Clarke' is a double-flowering cultivar with rose-pink petals crowned
with a bright red calyx. 'Rosemary Clarke', a particularly early
double-flowered bloomer, is white with a red calyx, and 'W.B. Clarke' is a
graceful weeping form with double pink flowers.

Particularly unusual and hard-to-find is the contorted form, Prunus mume
'Contorta'. Although there are many Japanese varieties in cultivation, in
this country 'Kobai', with deep red semi-double flowers, is probably the
least difficult to find. The species itself, with single flowers and a color
range from white to pink, is the most readily available in American
nurseries." In a very good article I found on the web from Plants & Gardens
News Volume 10, Number 4 | Winter 1995 by T. Meghan Ray

You can see the whole article here if you are interested.
http://www.bbg.org/gar2/topics/plant...midwinter.html

I thought that if it is a recommended garden plant in the USA it should be
doable as bonsai, given the right treatment. It is certainly worth the
effort, in my estimation. I'll try to post some pics of flowering ones from
Japan last February on the gallery later.

Cheers

Kev Bailey

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