Bonsai Encyclopedia
Encyclopedia of popular bonsai species with care guides, traits, and styling tips.
Featured Bonsai
Showing 7 of 77 species
© 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.
© 杉山宣嗣 / CC BY-SA 4.0Hinoki Cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa
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.
© 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.
© Miya / CC BY-SA 3.0Japanese Pepper
Japanese pepper
Familiar deciduous shrub from Japanese cuisine. Small leaves and branch thorns create delicate bonsai character. Early summer flowers and red autumn berries. Unique fragrance.
© 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.
© Nikita from Russian Federation / CC BY 2.0Yuzu Bonsai
Citrus junos
Indispensable citrus in Japanese cuisine. Takes long from seed but grafted stock fruits in a few years. Fragrant flowers and yellow fruits are enjoyable.
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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.