21 Popular Trees to Grow for Bonsai

Many traits make a specific tree fascinating as a candidate for bonsai. Issues like seasonal curiosity, hardiness, and receptiveness to shaping are all parts that come into play when you find yourself choosing a tree.

A bonsai tree is a decorative tree grown in a pot and pruned in a specific method to forestall it from reaching its regular dimension. The target is to develop a miniature model of the tree, management its progress, and prepare it into its most stunning kind.

The method of miniaturizing a tree requires a small container to regulate the expansion by limiting the quantity of water and vitamins it receives. Which means that all bonsai bushes require a good quantity of upkeep. With that in thoughts, listed here are 21 of the commonest bushes used for this artwork kind.

Juniper

	botanical title Juniperus
	solar necessities Full solar
	hardiness zones 3-9

Hardwood junipers make very enticing bonsai bushes. They’ve attention-grabbing and delightful bark that has the flexibility to kind deadwood when it’s handled in a specific trend. This provides lots of magnificence and motion to the tree. This typically entails peeling the bark and utilizing lime sulfur as a therapy. The result’s a portion of bark that’s lighter and has a silvery look. The method is price it in case you admire the bizarre decorative bark of a number of out of doors tree species.

The foliage of a Juniper works properly with this therapy, as it’s scaly and small. The leaves additionally have a tendency to vary shade when burdened by chilly climate, which is an attractive and shocking factor in winter. Juniper bushes are thought-about straightforward to work with and make good newbie bonsai bushes.

Fukien Tea

	botanical title Ehretia microphylla
	solar necessities Full solar
	hardiness zones 10-11

This warm-weather tree is normally stored as an indoor bonsai. These bushes favor heat climate and don’t tolerate frost. Additionally they require a good quantity of humidity, which bumps this tree into the average vary when it comes to problem. As this isn’t a naturally giant tree, it makes bonsai. It’s not troublesome to keep up the distinctive tree look in a small dimension. 

Fukien Tea tree is a well-liked selection for bonsai in China. Small, rounded leaves and gray bark that develops fissures because it matures are a few of its enticing attributes. It’s a blooming and fruit-bearing tree that may bloom at any time of yr when stored indoors. It requires lots of daylight, so make an area immediately in entrance of a sunny window. 

Cedar

	botanical title Cedrus
	solar necessities Full solar
	hardiness zones 2-9

Cedar bushes make elegant and delightful bonsai bushes. Their excessive, well-formed cover ensures a particular trunk, which is a really fascinating trait in bonsai. Their younger branches are very malleable and may be wired to form simply. Wounds are likely to heal slowly, so creating deadwood is a standard follow with cedar. 

You’ll have to repot this tree each two years initially after which each three to 5 years as soon as the tree is mature. Give it loads of water and fertilizer throughout the rising season, however watch out to let the soil dry between waterings.  

Beech

	botanical title Fagus
	solar necessities Keen on full shade
	hardiness zones 3-9

For a tree with stunning fall shade, a beech is a superb selection. Nonetheless, in case you’re in search of a simple job or a newbie tree, that is most likely not the one. Beech’s trunk takes a really very long time to thicken, so it requires lots of persistence.

Beech bushes are usually not quick growers. They usually solely have one flush of progress yearly, and their main branches are very lengthy, which makes pruning harder. Pruning a beech bonsai takes ability and cautious planning. The ensuing bonsai is admittedly stunning, although, and within the fall, the leaves flip a superb shade of yellow.

Ficus

	botanical title Ficus
	solar necessities Full solar
	hardiness zones 10-11

Ficus is taken into account one of the best tree for freshmen as it’s adaptable, amenable to pruning and coaching, and has a pretty and attention-grabbing progress behavior. Many sorts of ficus bushes have aerial roots that may add an attention-grabbing, stunning, distinctive look to your bonsai. They have a tendency to kind a big, extensive crown, which makes for a beautiful form. 

It is a warm-weather tree that has tender roots, so it should be grown indoors in cooler climates, particularly within the winter. It prefers full solar however may be grown in partial shade in case you don’t thoughts the foliage coming in sparser. Preserving constant temperature and excessive humidity will encourage aerial root formation. 

Bald Cypress

	botanical title Taxodium distichum
	solar necessities Full solar
	hardiness zones 4-10

Cypress bushes are very tolerant of water, and their smooth, feathery foliage appears enchanting in bonsai kind. These bushes have a definite trunk and excessive cover, so there is no such thing as a battle to encourage a tree form slightly than a extra shrubby kind. The bark is gray and closely textured when mature, and the foliage turns stunning shades of yellow and bronze within the fall.

Though it is rather chilly tolerant when planted within the floor, as a bonsai, Bald Cypress will have to be protected against the chilly in winter. If pruned too early or severely, department dieback may be a problem. Be sure you maintain off on pruning branches with no lateral ramifications or secondary branching.

Japanese Maple

	botanical title Acer palmatum
	solar necessities Full solar to partial shade
	hardiness zones 5-8

Maple bushes make great bonsais, particularly the categories that produce purple and yellow fall foliage. Many of those even have colourful foliage within the spring, making them additional interesting for decorative functions. Maple leaves are very ornate, with 5 pointed lobes. They like to be positioned in an ethereal spot with partial solar publicity. 

An excessive amount of warmth and daylight can harm the gorgeous maple foliage. Maples produce purple flowers within the spring after which launch fruits which have small wings connected to assist disperse the seeds. All of those beautiful traits are miniaturized in bonsai kind, making for a really beautiful tree.

East Asian Cherry 

	botanical title Prunus serrulata
	solar necessities Full solar to partial shade
	hardiness zones 5-8

This bonsai tree is taken into account some of the troublesome and in addition some of the stunning bushes to coach. It must be grown outside with lots of daylight to thrive. Sadly, additionally it is vulnerable to many pests and ailments, making it harder to keep up, and this will drastically shorten the tree’s lifespan.

Within the spring, the East Asian Cherry tree produces stunning, aromatic white and pink flowers. Throughout this blooming interval, it is among the showiest and most spectacular bonsai bushes round. The extra solar it will get, the extra flowers it can produce, so additional daylight in spring is greatest. In summer time, transfer your cherry bonsai to a spot with shade within the afternoon and solar within the morning. 

Azalea

	botanical title Azaleastrum
	solar necessities Full solar to partial shade
	hardiness zones 6-9

Azaleas make one other stunning, blooming bonsai. They’re usually straightforward to look after, however getting them to supply the utmost variety of flowers may be tough. Pruning time is significant to the fantastic thing about this tree because it blooms on previous progress solely. It ought to be pruned instantly after blooming to offer new branches most time to age earlier than bloom time.

Though they take the type of shrubs when left full-sized, Azaleas make good bonsai bushes as a result of they’re straightforward to coach. They’re evergreen and develop nice branches that give the plant a extra treelike look. These branches can grow to be brittle as they age, so wiring ought to be accomplished very rigorously.

Ginseng Ficus

	botanical title Ficus microcarpa
	solar necessities Shiny oblique gentle
	hardiness zones September 11

The stunning ginseng ficus falls beneath the umbrella of ficus bushes, however this particular species makes, maybe, one of the best newbie bonsai. It requires far much less upkeep than many others and is simple to coach and look after. It has raised roots, which add a component of curiosity unusual in different sorts of bushes. Coaching these roots may be enjoyable and creates a sense of motion within the tree. 

Ginseng ficus is a warm-weather tree and isn’t frost-tolerant. It must stay indoors throughout chilly climate and prefers a excessive degree of humidity. Give your tree a potting combine that’s excessive in combination, similar to lava rock or pine bark. The thinner branches are fairly versatile and simple to wire, so this ought to be accomplished whereas the plant is younger. 

Chinese language Elm

	botanical title Ulmus parvifolia
	solar necessities Full solar to partial shade
	hardiness zones 5-8

One other good starter bonsai, in case you are in search of one thing a bit extra cold-tolerant, is the Chinese language Elm tree. They’re sturdy bushes that reply properly to pruning and are straightforward to form. The branches have nice ramification, which contributes to their aesthetic worth as a bonsai.

A pleasant factor of this tree is that it may be left outside within the winter in additional temperate climates. Relying on the area of origin, some are frost tolerant. As a result of it’s straightforward to look after and adaptable, that is the commonest plant for freshmen to begin with on their bonsai journey.

Bougainvillea

	botanical title Bougainvillea
	solar necessities Full solar to partial shade
	hardiness zones 10-11

Bougainvillea is technically not a tree however a woody vine. Nonetheless, it makes a really good and colourful bonsai. It blooms for a protracted interval of the yr and produces stunning, colourful bracts on the ends of branches throughout its blooming interval. 

Due to their quick progress behavior and tolerance of pruning and shaping, Bougainvilleas make nice candidates for bonsai. They do have to be grown indoors in all however the warmest climates, although, as they don’t seem to be cold-tolerant in any respect. They want lots of solar to supply their bracts, so bringing this plant outside in the summertime will produce probably the most colourful tree. 

Snow Rose

	botanical title Buchozia japonica
	solar necessities Partial shade
	hardiness zones 7-9

Snow rose is a big shrubby plant greatest identified for the disagreeable aroma emitted by its bark and roots when they’re crushed or lower. Regardless of this unappealing attribute, the Snow Rose is among the hottest crops to create a bonsai with. If you happen to don’t thoughts a needy plant, this one is price a attempt. 

Convey this plant indoors within the winter in cooler climates. That stated, this plant can be delicate to warmth, so maintain it indoors, in a cool area away from heating parts. Maintain the soil moist however not soggy to make your snow rose completely satisfied.

Oak

	botanical title Quercus
	solar necessities Full solar
	hardiness zones 3-8

Oaks are sturdy and gradual rising, making them candidate for bonsai, however one which requires persistence. By way of watering, oaks endure extra from underwatering than overwatering and ought to be soaked properly when irrigated. In the summertime, your oak bonsai will have to be watered day by day. 

Most oaks are frost tolerant, however make it possible for your particular species can tolerate a freeze earlier than leaving it outside in winter. Potted crops are extra weak to chilly due to their shallow root programs and lack of insulating soil. Wiring ought to be accomplished in the summertime when the branches are extra versatile. 

Japanese Elm

	botanical title Ulmus davidiana var. japonica
	solar necessities Full solar
	hardiness zones 3-7

This elm makes a beautiful bonsai with its single, straight trunk and extensive, rounded cover. Making a well-balanced bonsai with this tree just isn’t troublesome, however wiring may be tough. Ramification could have to be aided by defoliating the branches within the summertime.

Wiring is greatest accomplished within the winter, and it is not uncommon to tie branches collectively to achieve a brush form for this tree. It is very important take away the wires in spring earlier than the tree types buds. Japanese elm has easy, gray bark and enticing, ovate, serrated foliage. 

Spruce

	botanical title Picea
	solar necessities Full solar
	hardiness zones 3-8

Spruce bushes are troublesome to coach, however they make gorgeous bonsai bushes, so they don’t seem to be unusual. This isn’t one of the best tree for a novice, as it will possibly trigger some frustration in case you are uncertain of whether or not or not your tree is rising because it ought to. The branches hardly backbud and are cussed the place wiring is worried. Total, Spruce is a tricky hen however a fairly one. 

Whorling branches may be one other roadblock, as can a scarcity of tapering within the trunk. Give your Spruce bonsai solar within the morning and filtered gentle within the afternoon. Most Spruce bushes are very cold-tolerant and may stay outside all yr. 

Golden Larch

	botanical title Pseudolarix amabilis
	solar necessities Full solar
	hardiness zones 4-7

Larch and Golden Larch bushes are common bonsai bushes. They’re tall and coniferous and, when educated as a bonsai, have shortly thickening trunks. This extremely fascinating trait, mixed with their golden fall shade, creates a really fairly tree in a relatively quick time. 

It is a deciduous tree that sheds its smooth needles for winter, which then showcases the enticing and attention-grabbing flaky bark. Whereas the full-sized model is frost-tolerant, this isn’t the case for Larch bonsai bushes. They want safety from the chilly within the winter.

Weeping Willow

	botanical title Salix babylonica
	solar necessities Full solar to partial shade
	hardiness zones 4-9

In case you are in search of an attractive problem, contemplate a Weeping Willow on your subsequent bonsai journey. Whereas their care and coaching may be demanding, they definitely are some of the stunning bonsai species. These bushes are greatest educated into bigger bonsai bushes, because it permits for higher shaping of their lengthy, hanging branches. 

Willow bushes want lots of water. They generally develop close to swamps, lakes, and streams of their native panorama. As a result of the branches will are likely to develop upward to the tree’s full peak, they have to be wired down to attain the weeping high quality. It’s straightforward to kill branches consequently. This lands Willow within the average to onerous class. 

Yew

	botanical title Taxus
	solar necessities Full solar to partial shade
	hardiness zones 3-8

Yew bushes are properly fitted to bonsai for a number of causes. They again bud exceptionally properly, even the place no foliage beforehand existed. They’re slow-growing however take properly to pruning, and their hardwood is great for sculpting deadwood. 

As slow-growing evergreen bushes, they’re identified to stay for lots of and even as much as a thousand years. A yew bonsai is a lifelong journey that can lead to an extremely advanced and putting specimen. Yew bushes favor partial daylight and safety from excessive temperatures, each cold and warm. 

Desert Rose

	botanical title Adenium obesum
	solar necessities Full solar
	hardiness zones 10-11

This beautiful bloomer is native to Africa and the Arabian Peninsula and is taken into account a succulent. It is a useful attribute when coaching a bonsai, as they don’t thoughts that their soil dries shortly. Additionally generally referred to as Japanese Frangipani, the tree produces beautiful, giant, pink flowers when it will get the correct quantity of daylight. 

This warm-weather tree may be grown outside all yr in delicate climates however will want indoor or greenhouse circumstances within the winter in cooler climates. In temperatures under 40°F (4°C), Desert Rose will drop its leaves in winter. It stays evergreen when stored heat. The trunk of this tree grows very thick, however there may be much less department ramification than different bushes. 

Boxwood

	botanical title Buxus
	solar necessities Full solar to partial shade
	hardiness zones 6-8

Boxwood bushes make for nice bonsai with their naturally small foliage and really sturdy structure. It is a nice newbie bonsai, as their pure progress behavior is kind of conducive to shaping, and so they tolerate pruning exceptionally properly, even budding from previous wooden. 

This tree is tolerant of full solar to partial shade. In heat climates, it can favor partial shade with some safety from the afternoon solar. Most varieties may be grown indoors however favor to be outside throughout occasions of heat climate. In winter, cool, however not freezing temperatures are greatest.