Bonsai Encyclopedia

A deciduous rose-family tree from China whose bark flakes into a mottled greenish-brown pattern. Pale pink flowers in spring are followed by large yellow fruits 10–15 cm long; it has been called the king of fruiting bonsai.

A deciduous climber with palmate leaves of five leaflets, pale purple flowers in spring and purple fruits 7–10 cm long in autumn that split lengthwise when ripe. It is self-incompatible, so fruit needs pollen from another plant.

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.

Representative fruiting bonsai with beautiful autumn-colored fruits. Aged trees develop characterful cracked bark. Dwarf persimmon (Rouya-gaki) is especially popular.

A deciduous rose-family tree whose pinnate leaves turn scarlet in autumn, with clusters of red berries that stay on after leaf fall. Flat heads of small white flowers appear in early summer. It prefers cool climates and is hard to keep long in warm lowlands.

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.

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.

Indispensable citrus in Japanese cuisine. Takes long from seed but grafted stock fruits in a few years. Fragrant flowers and yellow fruits are enjoyable.