Botanical Bonsai Species Directory
Exhaustive cultivation manuals, substrate formulations, pruning windows, and winter hardiness tolerances for classic bonsai species.
Chinese Juniper / Shimpaku
Juniperus chinensis
The undisputed monarch of conifer bonsai. Celebrated for its tight scale foliage, dramatic carved deadwood (jin and shari), and incredible hardiness, Shimpaku junipers (particularly the Kishu and Itoigawa cultivars) are the cornerstone of classic exhibition displays.
Japanese Black Pine
Pinus thunbergii
The 'King of Bonsai'. Japanese Black Pine is renowned for its rugged, plated bark, thick trunk taper, and needle-reducing potential through classical two-flush decandling techniques (mekiri).
Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum
The quintessential deciduous bonsai. Japanese Maples showcase delicate palmate leaves, blazing crimson and amber autumn foliage, and intricate winter branch ramification that rewards disciplined pruning.
Trident Maple
Acer buergerianum
Prized for its aggressive root growth, three-lobed leaves that reduce drastically, and incredible tolerance for root-over-rock styling. Trident maple develops substantial trunk flare (nebari) faster than almost any other deciduous species.
Chinese Elm
Ulmus parvifolia
Widely regarded as the ideal beginner bonsai. Chinese Elm exhibits small serrated foliage, attractive exfoliating bark, and relentless back-budding vigor that forgives pruning errors.
Ficus Retusa / Ginseng Banyan
Ficus microcarpa (syn. Ficus retusa)
The quintessential tropical and indoor bonsai. Ficus produces striking aerial banyan roots in humid conditions, glossy evergreen foliage, and thick surface nebari. It thrives in domestic indoor spaces with adequate light.
Satsuki Azalea
Rhododendron indicum
Celebrated in Japan for centuries, Satsuki Azaleas produce breathtaking late-spring floral displays with single, semi-double, and multi-colored blossoms on the same branch. Basal dominant, requiring unique inverted pruning discipline.
Japanese Zelkova
Zelkova serrata
The definitive subject for the pure Broom style (Hokidachi). In winter, a well-refined Keyaki displays hundreds of fine, fan-shaped twigs radiating symmetrically from a single straight trunk flare.