Bonsai Encyclopedia
Encyclopedia of popular bonsai species with care guides, traits, and styling tips.
Featured Bonsai
Showing 77 of 77 species(1–24)
Bald Cypress
Taxodium distichum
Deciduous conifer from North America. Native to wetlands with distinctive knee roots. Beautiful autumn color and delicate winter branching. Can be displayed in water trays.
© Joi / CC BY 3.0Bamboo Bonsai
Bonsai of bamboo essential to Japanese gardens. Small varieties like dwarf bamboo are suitable. Cool rustling leaves and clustered thin culms create refreshing atmosphere.
Blueberry Bonsai
Vaccinium corymbosum
Rising in popularity as a fruiting bonsai. Enjoy white spring flowers, summer fruits, and autumn colors through all seasons. Key point is managing in acidic soil.
© Clint Budd / CC BY 2.0Bougainvillea
Iconic tropical flowering plant. The colorful parts are bracts, not flowers. Best in warm regions but can be grown indoors in cooler areas. Thick trunks add character.
Brazilian Rain Tree
Chloroleucon tortum
Tropical tree characterized by nyctinastic leaf movements, closing at night and in rain. Delicate pinnate leaves and white flowers. Peeling bark adds interest. Indoor management required.
© junichiro aoyama from Kyoto, Japan / CC BY 2.0Camellia
Camellia japonica
Iconic Japanese evergreen flowering tree. Blooms in winter to spring in red, white, and pink varieties. Glossy dark green leaves complement flowers perfectly in bonsai.
© H. Zell / CC BY-SA 3.0Chinese Banyan
Ficus microcarpa
Southeast Asian evergreen. Aerial roots develop to cover the trunk, creating a uniquely vital appearance. Easy to grow indoors, ideal for beginners' indoor bonsai.
© Ronnie Nijboer / CC0Chinese Elm
Ulmus parvifolia
A deciduous bonsai with small leaves and fine branching. Fast growth makes styling easy for beginners. Semi-evergreen, providing foliage interest year-round.
© Geographer ( talk ) / CC BY 3.0Chinese Hackberry
Celtis sinensis
Deciduous bonsai bearing small fruits in autumn. Smooth gray bark and natural form are appealing. Birds visiting for fruits add charm. Good root spread.
Chinese Pepper Tree
Deciduous tree with vivid yellow inner bark. In bonsai, contrast between yellow bark and autumn color is beautiful. Known in traditional medicine with distinctive bitter taste.
Cork Bark Pine
Pinus parviflora
A variety of white pine with bark that develops cork-like texture. Striking contrast between rugged bark and delicate five-needle foliage. Bark deepens with age, gaining dignity.
© MPF / CC BY-SA 4.0Cotoneaster
Cotoneaster horizontalis
Fruiting bonsai bearing masses of small red berries. Tiny leaves and fine branching create natural bonsai form. Beautiful contrast of autumn leaves and red berries.
© Francisco Manuel Blanco (O.S.A.) / Public domainCrape Myrtle
Lagerstroemia indica
Flowering bonsai blooming pink or white from summer to autumn. Smooth bark and twisted trunk create unique character. Named for bark so smooth even monkeys slip.
Deshojo Maple
Acer palmatum
A maple cultivar famed for vivid crimson spring foliage. Beautiful color transitions through green to autumn red. Especially popular as shohin bonsai.
© No machine-readable author provided. Inti-sol~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims). / CC BY-SA 3.0Ezo Spruce
Picea jezoensis
Conifer native to Hokkaido. Dense short needles create a rugged appearance reflecting harsh northern climates. Extremely cold hardy, ideal for bonsai in cold regions.
© Trew, C.J / Public domainFig
Ficus carica
Deciduous tree with distinctive large leaves and smooth white trunk. Root spread and trunk thickness are bonsai highlights. Easy to propagate from cuttings. For warm climates.
© Laitr Keiows / CC BY-SA 3.0Firethorn
Pyracantha coccinea
Fruiting bonsai laden with vivid orange-red berries in autumn. Evergreen for year-round interest. Thorny but berry display is among the best of fruiting bonsai.
© 松岡明芳 / CC BY-SA 4.0Flowering Cherry
Japans iconic flowering tree. Spring blooms are spectacularly beautiful even as bonsai. Compact varieties like Fuji-zakura suit bonsai. Post-bloom care determines next years flowering.
© M108t / CC BY 4.0Fukien Tea
Ehretia microphylla
Evergreen from southern China. Small glossy leaves, white flowers, and red berries. Tropical species popular worldwide as indoor bonsai. Trunk bark has unique texture.
© Queerbubbles / CC BY-SA 3.0Gardenia
Gardenia jasminoides
Evergreen shrub with pure white fragrant flowers. Single-flower types bear orange fruit in autumn, enjoying both blooms and berries. Popular from shohin to mini bonsai.
© EecherplazGinkgo06.jpg : Cayambe derivative work: Ginkgotree ( talk ) / CC BY-SA 3.0Ginkgo
is also
An ancient tree called a living fossil. Fan-shaped leaves and vivid yellow autumn color are spectacular. Unique aerial roots (chichi) add interest. Hardy and beginner-friendly.
© Bob Nichols, USDA ARS / Public domainGrape Bonsai
A highly artistic bonsai from vine fruit trees. Thick trunks and hanging fruit clusters full of charm. Wild grape and small-fruit varieties suit bonsai best.
© KENPEI / CC BY-SA 3.0Hawthorn
Crataegus cuneata
Deciduous tree with white spring flowers and red autumn berries. Perfect bonsai candidate with flowers, fruit, and autumn color. Thorns require gloves when styling.
© 杉山宣嗣 / CC BY-SA 4.0Hinoki Cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa
Iconic Japanese conifer with fan-shaped scale leaves and reddish-brown bark. Famous as temple building material with refreshing fragrance. Enjoyed as shohin to medium bonsai.
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Bonsai FAQ
- How much do bonsai cost?
- Mini bonsai cost 1,000-5,000 yen, medium bonsai 5,000-50,000 yen, and masterpiece-class large bonsai hundreds of thousands to millions of yen depending on age, size, and form.
- Can beginners start bonsai?
- Starting with small Japanese maple, Shimpaku juniper, or Japanese white pine is recommended. With basic watering and 1-2 annual prunings, beginners can fully enjoy bonsai.
- How long do bonsai live?
- With proper care, bonsai can live for hundreds of years. Japan has many bonsai several centuries old, valued as art pieces passed down across generations.
- What should I check when buying bonsai?
- Look at root spread, trunk movement, and branch balance. Beginners may enjoy starting with affordable raw material trees and shaping them, rather than finished specimens.
- What's most important for bonsai care?
- Daily watering is the most important task. Water thoroughly when the soil surface dries, twice daily in summer (morning and evening). Keep outdoors in a spot with good airflow and sunlight.