Bonsai Encyclopedia

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.

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

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.

An evergreen relative of akebi, also called tokiwa-akebi ('evergreen akebi'). In spring it bears flowers with white sepals marked red-purple inside, and in autumn purple fruits 5–8 cm long that, unlike akebi, rarely split open.

Evergreen shrub covered in tiny white star-shaped flowers. Extremely small leaves perfect for shohin to mini bonsai. Roots thicken well for exposed root style. Indoor capable.

Japan's wild native citrus, an evergreen bearing fragrant white flowers in early summer and flattened yellow fruits 2.5–3 cm across in winter. Famous as the 'Ukon no tachibana' at the Kyoto Imperial Palace; wild plants are nationally Near Threatened.