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Bonsai Encyclopedia

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

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Showing 9 of 77 species

Blueberry Bonsai

Blueberry Bonsai

Vaccinium corymbosum

Beginner

Rising in popularity as a fruiting bonsai. Enjoy white spring flowers, summer fruits, and autumn colors through all seasons. Key point is managing in acidic soil.

BeginnerFruitingAutumn color
Chinese Hackberry© Geographer ( talk ) / CC BY 3.0

Chinese Hackberry

Celtis sinensis

Beginner

Deciduous bonsai bearing small fruits in autumn. Smooth gray bark and natural form are appealing. Birds visiting for fruits add charm. Good root spread.

Beginner-friendlyDeciduousFruiting
Cotoneaster© MPF / CC BY-SA 4.0

Cotoneaster

Cotoneaster horizontalis

Beginner

Fruiting bonsai bearing masses of small red berries. Tiny leaves and fine branching create natural bonsai form. Beautiful contrast of autumn leaves and red berries.

Beginner-friendlyFruitingRed berries
Firethorn© Laitr Keiows / CC BY-SA 3.0

Firethorn

Pyracantha coccinea

Beginner

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.

Beginner-friendlyFruitingEvergreen
Grape Bonsai© Bob Nichols, USDA ARS / Public domain

Grape Bonsai

Intermediate

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
Japanese Persimmon© Tomomarusan / CC BY 2.5

Japanese Persimmon

Diospyros kaki

Intermediate

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

IntermediateFruitingAutumn color
Japanese Winterberry

Japanese Winterberry

Ilex serrata

Beginner

Fruiting bonsai with red berries autumn through winter. Berries persist on bare branches, adding color to winter scenery. Holly family despite ume in the name.

Beginner-friendlyFruitingWinter berries
Kumquat Bonsai© KENPEI / CC BY-SA 3.0

Kumquat Bonsai

Citrus japonica

Beginner

Charming citrus bonsai with clusters of small orange fruits. Fruits are edible whole. Relatively cold-hardy and easy to grow among citrus varieties.

BeginnerFruitingCitrus
Yuzu Bonsai© Nikita from Russian Federation / CC BY 2.0

Yuzu Bonsai

Citrus junos

Intermediate

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.