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Bonsai Encyclopedia

Encyclopedia of popular bonsai species with care guides, traits, and styling tips.

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Showing 4 of 137 species

Kotohime Japanese maple© Cliff from Arlington, Virginia, USA / CC BY 2.0

Kotohime Japanese maple

Acer palmatum 'Kotohime'

Intermediate

An extremely dwarf maple with tiny leaves and very short internodes—a representative yatsubusa maple. It builds dense, finely branched trees even in tiny pots, making it a staple for shohin and mame bonsai, and roots readily from cuttings.

Deciduous bonsaiJapanese mapleYatsubusa
Shishigashira Japanese maple© Jonathan Billinger / CC BY-SA 2.0

Shishigashira Japanese maple

Acer palmatum 'Shishigashira'

Intermediate

A yatsubusa maple famed for its leaf character: small, thick, crinkled leaves crowded at the shoot tips. Its unusual foliage sets it apart from ordinary Japanese maples at a glance.

Deciduous bonsaiJapanese mapleUnusual foliage
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Yatsubusa Japanese cedar

Cryptomeria japonica 'Yatsubusa'

Intermediate

A general name for dwarf yatsubusa forms of Japanese cedar—almost all small cedar bonsai are this type. It buds vigorously and gains an aged look through pinching alone, but plants sold under the name vary in foliage.

ConiferYatsubusaMini bonsai
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Zuisho Japanese white pine

Pinus parviflora 'Zuisho'

Intermediate

A leading yatsubusa (dwarf, densely budding) cultivar of Japanese white pine, propagated by cuttings, grafts and layers from a single mutant branch. Its foliage is fine and compact, yet it grows quickly for a white pine, so a tree takes shape fast.

ConiferYatsubusaWhite pine
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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.