Bonsai Encyclopedia
Encyclopedia of popular bonsai species with care guides, traits, and styling tips.
Featured Bonsai
Showing 3 of 77 species
© Nihongo1234 / CC BY-SA 4.0Japanese Beech
Japanese beech
Bonsai of a tall deciduous tree with smooth silver-white bark and elegant form. Enjoy spring budding, summer green, autumn gold, and winter marcescent leaves.
AdvancedDeciduousSilver bark
© northofsweden from Sweden / CC BY 2.0Japanese Birch
Betula platyphylla
Deciduous tree with beautiful white bark. Captures the cool highland scenery in a small pot. Enjoy fresh green, yellow autumn leaves, and white trunk winter silhouette.
AdvancedDeciduousWhite bark
© Bruce Marlin / CC BY 3.0Japanese Hornbeam
Carpinus japonica
Deciduous tree with fine branching and small leaves ideal for bonsai. Creates elegant broom-style silhouettes similar to zelkova. Autumn gold. Alpine species preferring cool conditions.
AdvancedDeciduousBroom style
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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.