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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Another name for the mame-zakura, a small wild cherry endemic to Japan and common around Mt. Fuji and Hakone. Small in flower, leaf and stature, it bears little white to pale pink, nodding flowers even on short trees, so it blooms well as bonsai.

Evergreen from southern China. Small glossy leaves, white flowers, and red berries. Tropical species popular worldwide as indoor bonsai. Trunk bark has unique texture.

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.

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.

A tiny kumquat from southern China including Hong Kong, bearing orange fruits about 1 cm across along its branches. The fruit has almost no flesh and is not for eating, but through winter the plant looks like a miniature orange tree.

The quintessential flowering bonsai, blooming with fragrant flowers in early spring. Aged bark and elegant blossoms embody traditional Japanese beauty. Cherished since ancient times.

Japan's only deciduous conifer. Enjoy four seasons from spring budding to autumn gold to winter silhouette. Native to alpine regions with powerful trunk character.

The quintessential deciduous bonsai, showcasing all four seasons — spring green, summer foliage, autumn color, winter silhouette. Fine ramification and small leaves are the hallmarks.

Familiar deciduous shrub from Japanese cuisine. Small leaves and branch thorns create delicate bonsai character. Early summer flowers and red autumn berries. Unique fragrance.

Representative fruiting bonsai with beautiful autumn-colored fruits. Aged trees develop characterful cracked bark. Dwarf persimmon (Rouya-gaki) is especially popular.