Bonsai Encyclopedia
Encyclopedia of popular bonsai species with care guides, traits, and styling tips.
Featured Bonsai
Showing 7 of 77 species
© junichiro aoyama from Kyoto, Japan / CC BY 2.0Camellia
Camellia japonica
Iconic Japanese evergreen flowering tree. Blooms in winter to spring in red, white, and pink varieties. Glossy dark green leaves complement flowers perfectly in bonsai.
© Laitr Keiows / CC BY-SA 3.0Firethorn
Pyracantha coccinea
Fruiting bonsai laden with vivid orange-red berries in autumn. Evergreen for year-round interest. Thorny but berry display is among the best of fruiting bonsai.
© M108t / CC BY 4.0Fukien Tea
Ehretia microphylla
Evergreen from southern China. Small glossy leaves, white flowers, and red berries. Tropical species popular worldwide as indoor bonsai. Trunk bark has unique texture.
© KENPEI / CC BY-SA 3.0Japanese Holly
Ilex crenata
Evergreen bonsai with glossy dark green leaves and red berries. Autumn-winter berries are highly ornamental. Hardy and easy to grow, a representative Japanese tree.
© KENPEI / CC BY-SA 3.0Japanese Privet
Japanese privet
Evergreen with small glossy leaves in dense clusters. White flowers and dark purple berries add interest. Extremely hardy and tolerant of pruning. Good root spread.
Schefflera
Heptapleurum arboricola
Tropical evergreen with distinctive palmate leaves radiating outward. Extremely hardy and grows indoors, perfect for bonsai beginners. Develops aerial roots for banyan-style forms.
© Hayati Mayang Arum / CC BY-SA 4.0Serissa
Serissa japonica
Evergreen shrub covered in tiny white star-shaped flowers. Extremely small leaves perfect for shohin to mini bonsai. Roots thicken well for exposed root style. Indoor capable.
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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.