Bonsai Encyclopedia

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 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.

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.

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.

A variety of Japanese yew from snowy mountains on the Sea of Japan side. Instead of a single upright trunk it branches from the base and spreads. Its broader leaves arranged spirally tell it from typical yew. Tough and fairly heat-tolerant.

A dwarf pomegranate, shorter than the species with smaller flowers and fruit. In early summer it bears crinkled scarlet flowers, and in pots or mini bonsai offers both blooms and fruit. Also sold as 'issai-zakuro'.

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.

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.

Deciduous tree with white spring flowers and red autumn berries. Perfect bonsai candidate with flowers, fruit, and autumn color. Thorns require gloves when styling.

An evergreen shrub endemic to Japan that hangs clusters of small urn-shaped flowers in early spring. White is the wild colour, but pink to deep red forms are popular for bonsai. The whole plant is toxic and must never be eaten.

A deciduous shrub native across Japan bearing purple berries about 3 mm across in autumn, often persisting after leaf fall. Many plants sold as murasaki-shikibu are actually the closely related, denser-fruiting Callicarpa dichotoma.

One of the seven autumn flowers. Countless small purple flowers on weeping slender branches create exquisite charm. A quintessential grass-style bonsai capturing autumn spirit.

Flowering and fruiting bonsai with white-pink spring blooms and small red autumn fruits. Double enjoyment from flowers and fruits. Hardy and beginner-friendly.