Bonsai Encyclopedia
Encyclopedia of popular bonsai species with care guides, traits, and styling tips.
Featured Bonsai
Showing 2 of 77 species
Bald Cypress
Taxodium distichum
Deciduous conifer from North America. Native to wetlands with distinctive knee roots. Beautiful autumn color and delicate winter branching. Can be displayed in water trays.
IntermediateDeciduous coniferAutumn color
© Tanaka Juuyoh / CC BY 2.0Japanese Larch
Larix kaempferi
Japan's only deciduous conifer. Enjoy four seasons from spring budding to autumn gold to winter silhouette. Native to alpine regions with powerful trunk character.
IntermediateDeciduous coniferFour seasons
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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.