Bonsai Encyclopedia
Encyclopedia of popular bonsai species with care guides, traits, and styling tips.
Featured Bonsai
Showing 8 of 77 species
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.
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.
© Alpsdake / CC0Japanese Lime
Tilia japonica
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.
© Kurt Stüber [1] / CC BY-SA 3.0Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum
The quintessential deciduous bonsai, showcasing all four seasons — spring green, summer foliage, autumn color, winter silhouette. Fine ramification and small leaves are the hallmarks.
Japanese Snowbell
Styrax japonicus
Deciduous bonsai with dangling white bell-shaped flowers in early summer. Profuse bloomer with elegant appearance. Unique autumn fruits. Natural branching is beautiful.
© by Reggaeman / CC BY-SA 3.0Stewartia
Stewartia pseudocamellia
Deciduous bonsai blooming with white camellia-like flowers in summer. Smooth bark develops beautiful mottled pattern with age. Triple appeal: flowers, bark, and autumn color.
© Didier Descouens / CC BY-SA 4.0Weeping Willow
Salix babylonica
Deciduous tree with gracefully drooping branches full of atmosphere. Enjoy waterside scenery up close. Very fast growth requires frequent care, but unique form is unmatched.
© KENPEI / CC BY-SA 3.0Zelkova
Zelkova serrata
The signature broom-style bonsai tree. Fan-shaped fine branching is its greatest charm. The winter silhouette after leaf drop is considered the pinnacle of bonsai aesthetics.
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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.