Bonsai Encyclopedia

A 'rough-bark' maple whose trunk roughens even when young, quickly giving the look of an old tree. The bark alone tells it apart from the smooth-barked ordinary maple, so even young material can look aged.

An evergreen climber with fragrant, pinwheel-twisted white flowers in early summer. In bonsai, small-leaved forms such as the crinkled 'Chirimen-kazura' are favoured for their red new growth and winter colouring.

A trade name for white pine from around Mt. Azuma, Fukushima—one of Japan's three great goyomatsu. It belongs to the northern variety (var. pentaphylla), with somewhat longer needles and conspicuous white lines beneath. A regional strain, not a registered cultivar.

Bonsai of bamboo essential to Japanese gardens. Small varieties like dwarf bamboo are suitable. Cool rustling leaves and clustered thin culms create refreshing atmosphere.

A flowering ume with deep red single flowers in which some stamens have turned petal-like, said to look like plovers (chidori) in flight. It blooms late among flowering ume and had no pollen in a prefectural trial.

A tree deeply connected to Buddhism. Heart-shaped leaves are characteristic but can be reduced in bonsai. Yellow flowers and autumn color are attractive. Evokes temple atmosphere.

A deciduous climber of the grape family prized for fiery autumn colour, clinging to walls and trees with adhesive pads on its tendrils. Bonsai use this deciduous 'summer ivy', not evergreen English-type ivy.

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.

An evergreen conifer, a variety of Podocarpus macrophyllus with shorter, narrower, denser leaves, slower growth and a tighter form. Well known as a garden and hedge tree, it takes pruning well and is also grown as conifer bonsai.

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.

Southeast Asian evergreen. Aerial roots develop to cover the trunk, creating a uniquely vital appearance. Easy to grow indoors, ideal for beginners' indoor bonsai.

A deciduous bonsai with small leaves and fine branching. Fast growth makes styling easy for beginners. Semi-evergreen, providing foliage interest year-round.

Deciduous bonsai bearing small fruits in autumn. Smooth gray bark and natural form are appealing. Birds visiting for fruits add charm. Good root spread.

A deciduous rose-family tree from China whose bark flakes into a mottled greenish-brown pattern. Pale pink flowers in spring are followed by large yellow fruits 10–15 cm long; it has been called the king of fruiting bonsai.

A deciduous climber with palmate leaves of five leaflets, pale purple flowers in spring and purple fruits 7–10 cm long in autumn that split lengthwise when ripe. It is self-incompatible, so fruit needs pollen from another plant.

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.