I dug this up last year.I thought it was interesting . I decided this spring that the trunk was awful and it needed to go(both of them). I cut both trunks off a few days ago and it has already started putting out new leaves.
here it is...before the chop....the chop...and after.

it looks to be very promising! any ideas for it yet?

No ideas for this tree yet. I decided that literati or cascade wouldn't work so I chopped it down. I'm waiting to see how it reacts before a decision is made. Any ideas?

Hi Lance,

Very good choice in "chop-chopping"! I think the sumac has great potential for a beautiful bonsai...especially with those leaves! I think you're wise in waiting a bit to see what the new growth does. I would tend to want to focus on developinng a wider, lower trunk and nebari...but that's just me.

I look forward to following the progession of this one! Thanks for sharing.

Leslie

Maybe a broom style would be great because of the straight trunk you have and it has leaves just at the top of the tree. I think the trunk is difficult to bend, or not?

I agree, a broom style would definitely suit, especially with that leaf structure. Just wait for it to recover, see where it buds, and go with it!