Bonsai Encyclopedia
Encyclopedia of popular bonsai species with care guides, traits, and styling tips.
Featured Bonsai
Showing 8 of 137 species
Satsuki azalea 'Juko'
Rhododendron indicum 'Juko'
A satsuki bred from 'Kotobuki' × 'Gyoten'. Medium flowers of pinkish purple with red-purple stripes, white centres or pure white on one plant; both petals and leaves are thick. Esteemed as a classic and parent of many named sports.
Satsuki azalea 'Kinsai'
Rhododendron indicum 'Kinsai'
An old satsuki of unknown parentage whose red flowers split into narrow strap-like petals (saizaki form). Its fine small leaves colour well in autumn. Occasionally a normal five-petalled flower appears, and that branch is cut out at flowering.
© Cliff from Arlington, Virginia, USA / CC BY 2.0Satsuki azalea 'Korin'
Rhododendron indicum 'Korin'
A satsuki bred from 'Kozan' × 'Osakazuki', bearing small plain purplish-red flowers with thick, pointed petals. The narrow small leaves colour in autumn. A popular, free-flowering and vigorous cultivar.
© Cliff from Arlington, Virginia, USA / CC BY 2.0Satsuki azalea 'Kozan'
Rhododendron indicum 'Kozan'
An old satsuki of unknown parentage grown since before the Meiji era, with small, pale salmon-pink single flowers. Its slightly narrow small leaves, good branching and vigorous budding make it easy to train as bonsai.
© Cliff from Arlington, Virginia, USA / CC BY 2.0Satsuki azalea 'Nikko'
Rhododendron indicum 'Nikko'
A satsuki found as a sport of the old cultivar 'Kozan'. Small flowers in pale salmon-pink with stripes and flecks, plus solid red, pink or white on the same plant. Small leaves, good branching and budding make it a bonsai staple.
© Ragesoss / CC BY-SA 3.0Satsuki azalea 'Osakazuki'
Rhododendron indicum 'Osakazuki'
Read 'Osakazuki', the classic satsuki—so widely planted that 'satsuki' often simply means this cultivar. Free-flowering with medium, deep pink-purple blooms, vigorous and tolerant of shearing, it is an old cultivar with handsome reddish bark.
Satsuki azalea 'Shinnyo-no-tsuki'
Rhododendron indicum 'Shinnyo-no-tsuki'
A satsuki with large purple flowers whose centres fade to white. Said to come from 'Zetsurin' × 'Adesugata' in the early Showa era, it has fairly large leaves and is usually grown as a larger tree to show off the flowers.
Satsuki azalea 'Yata-no-kagami'
Rhododendron indicum 'Yata-no-kagami'
An old satsuki of unknown parentage dating from the Meiji era, with medium deep-red flowers marked by a large white centre. Its glossy, thick leaves colour beautifully in autumn, and it is vigorous and easy to train.
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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.