Bonsai Encyclopedia
Encyclopedia of popular bonsai species with care guides, traits, and styling tips.
Featured Bonsai
Showing 9 of 77 species
© Clint Budd / CC BY 2.0Bougainvillea
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.
© junichiro aoyama from Kyoto, Japan / CC BY 2.0Camellia
Camellia japonica
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.
© 松岡明芳 / CC BY-SA 4.0Flowering Cherry
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.
© Queerbubbles / CC BY-SA 3.0Gardenia
Gardenia jasminoides
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.
© Kakidai / CC BY-SA 3.0Japanese Apricot
Prunus mume
The quintessential flowering bonsai, blooming with fragrant flowers in early spring. Aged bark and elegant blossoms embody traditional Japanese beauty. Cherished since ancient times.
© Ans / CC BY-SA 3.0Japanese Wintersweet
Chimonanthus praecox
Flowering bonsai with translucent waxy yellow blooms in midwinter. Sweet fragrance drifts through winter gardens. Precious species blooming when few others do. Improves with age.
© Marisa DeMeglio from NYC, USA / CC BY 2.0Lilac
Syringa vulgaris
Fragrant purple flowers are the main attraction. Suited for cool regions like Hokkaido and Tohoku. Dwarf varieties work well for small bonsai. Enjoy spring fragrance up close.
© albert kok / CC BY 3.0Rhododendron
Evergreen shrub with gorgeous flowers. Large flower clusters color spring. Alpine varieties prefer cool conditions, requiring some experience. Post-bloom care is crucial.
© 3268zauber / CC BY-SA 3.0Wisteria
Wisteria floribunda
Elegant flowering bonsai with cascading purple flower clusters in spring. Cascade or display-shelf styles maximize bloom beauty. Flowering improves with age.
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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.