Bonsai Encyclopedia
Encyclopedia of popular bonsai species with care guides, traits, and styling tips.
Featured Bonsai
Showing 3 of 77 species
© Bob Nichols, USDA ARS / Public domainGrape Bonsai
A highly artistic bonsai from vine fruit trees. Thick trunks and hanging fruit clusters full of charm. Wild grape and small-fruit varieties suit bonsai best.
IntermediateFruitingVine
© Tomomarusan / CC BY 2.5Japanese Persimmon
Diospyros kaki
Representative fruiting bonsai with beautiful autumn-colored fruits. Aged trees develop characterful cracked bark. Dwarf persimmon (Rouya-gaki) is especially popular.
IntermediateFruitingAutumn color
© 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.
IntermediateFruitingCitrus
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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.