Bonsai is the ancient Japanese art of growing miniature trees in pots. Most people have some idea about what a bonsai is because they have been around for so long. The bonsai hobby is, not surprising,
most popular in Asia, but it is practiced throughout the world by many people.
People new to the hobby often think that the bonsai trees for sale they see, are some kind of dwarf tree.
This is not true; they are simply normal trees that are small due to being pruned and kept in small pots. The trees are continually trained with the help of wire and bonsai tools to guide the tree
to grow in a particular direction. Doing this well can take skill and knowledge about the trees.
The practice of Bonsai shaping of trees ands shrubs was first started nearly two thousand years ago from China. It was however, the Japanese, who
developed the various propagating styles and techniques that are used today.
Specimens of Bonsai tree types are the Chinese Elm (the so called Ulmus parvifolia), Chinese Snow Rose or also known as Serissa, Fukien Tea Tree, Baby Jade, Chinese bird plum,
and the so-called Ficus salicifolia or Narrow Leaf. In addition, there are the Paper Flower otherwise known as Bougainville and Bougainvillea, the well-known Money Tree known also as
Pachira aquatic and a Good Fortune Tree, Chinese pepper, Buddhist Pine, as well as Sacred Bamboo or Nandina domestica and Chinese Privet.
Truthfully, though, almost any tree and many shrubs can be trained to become Bonsai plants.
Bonsai trees require regular watering, feeding and re-potting to keep them in optimum health and in many cases they are actually healthier that their counterparts in the wild, enjoying the same longevity.
Why not get started with this marvelous hobby today, with one of the plants listed below?
The Sago Palm is a long-lived exotic palm that tolerates neglect but thrives with attention. Adapts to indirect light or full sun and has a wide temperature range from 15 to 120 degrees F. A slow growth rate allows indoor specimens to remain in the same container indefinately. Treat as a cactus - water when almost dry and seldom fertilize. Great indoor bonsai.
Unlike other Azaleas that bloom in early spring, the Chinzan can bloom frequently in late spring and summer, with many large 2" salmon colored blooms. Satsuki Azaleas are known for their prized flowers and small evergreen leaves. Easy outdoor care.
The Ficus Orientalis has very small leaves and compact growth habit. Great for indoors in low, moderate or high lighting conditions. Our tree is planted in a water pot which has a well on one side that holds water. We include a fisherman figure along with a fishing pole and ceramic fish.
A remarkable gift to help celebrate any occasion. Bearing tiny edible grapes, this stunning Wine Grape Bonsai Tree is a living masterpiece and an endless source of delight. It has been skillfully cultivated, pruned and shaped over the years to produce a classic wine grape which hangs in clusters from this vineyard treasure. Deciduous. Keep outdoors. Available 12 months a year. Will have no foliage during winter months.
This succulent bonsai, also known as the "Elephant Bush", is native to South Africa and has pale green leaves that are almost round and about one-third the size of the common Jade plant. The fleshy trunk, branches, and leaves are used to store water. An excellent beginner bonsai for home or office.
Fig species which is native to South and South-East Asia. This evergreen tree is particularly good for bonsai training as they produce sturdy trunks, good branching charachteristics and shiny leaves. Best to trim in early summer as the new leaves that subsequently grow will be smaller than the ones removed. Ours is trained in the coiled trunk style. Great for indoors year-round, the brighter the location, the more compact the growth.
This dwarf Juniper from Japan is the most popular evergreen in the U.S. When we think of a traditional bonsai and what it should look like, we think of a "Juniper Procumbens Nana." It is very hardy, long-lived, and tolerates many adverse conditions. This is an excellent tree for the beginner.
This is the tree that we recommend if you are inexperienced with bonsai or you do not have a green thumb. In our opinion it is one of the easiest bonsai trees to care for and is a very beautiful trouble-free evergreen. If you don't know which tree to purchase as a gift for someone, this is the tree to select. This versatile tree is great for home, office, dorm or anywhere and does well in low to high lighting conditions. We grow three together in a pot to give the appearance of a grove or forest scene.
Open and airy conifer (cone bearing) with light green foliage turning darker with age. One of the best know trees from the South Pacific. Will tolerate warm temperatures and does not even object to dryness, although it does not like glaring sunshine. Decorates well for any holiday or season. Very easy indoor care.
This succulent bonsai, also known as the "Elephant Bush", is native to South Africa and has pale green leaves that are almost round and about one-third the size of the common Jade plant. The fleshy trunk, branches, and leaves are used to store water. An excellent bonsai tree for the home of office. We pot 3 trees together in a pot to give the appearance of a grove or forest scene.
Three tree forest group. Also called Austrailan Brush Cherry. Has small handsome evergreen leaves which is ideal for bonsai. Flowers with pink and white puffy blooms during spring/summer. New leaves appear reddish in color, turning green as they mature. Great for indoors.
The Money Tree is an age-old token of good luck and an invitation to good fortune. A six braided tree trunk with up to five (5) unusual light green leaves that spread out along the top of each stem. Resilient and does not require much care. Hardy and extremely tolerant of low light and dryness. It is the most popular plant for "Feng Shui" because it creates positive energy ("Chi" or "Qi"). It brings prosperity and wealth to your surroundings and decorates your home with nature and good luck. Great for home, office, dorm or anywhere.
This is the tree that we recommend if you are inexperienced with bonsai or you do not have a green thumb. In our opinion it is one of the easiest bonsai trees to care for and is a very beautiful "trouble-free" evergreen. If you don't know which tree to purchase as a gift for someone, this is the tree to select. This versatile tree is great for the home, office, dorm or anywhere and does well in lower or higher lighting conditions. We grow 3 trees in a pot and braid them together around a golf ball to form the trunk of this unique tree. Has tiny umbrella shaped leaves forming a dense green canopy. Comes with a 3.0" golfer "pick" figurine as part of the landscape scene. Very popular and easy indoor care.
Anthurium is the most popular and long lasting of all tropical flowers. Our premium red Anthurium, from anthos, meaning flower, and oura, meaning tail, refers to the many tiny-like spadix. These bright red colored beauties (currently in bloom) are the most well known the world over. Real Hawaiian lava rock is hand selected to provide a happy home for your Anthurium. Our Anthuriums have been specially hybridized for use as houseplants due to their trouble-free growing requirements. With reasonable care your volcano bonsai should last for years. Place in a bright window or on a countertop without direct sun and best to keep a small amount of water in a saucer/tray. Fertilize monthly at 1/2 strength with a soluable fertilizer found at your local garden shop or on our website. Tray sold separately.
Also called Syzygium Paniculatum, Australian Brush Cherry. This indoor bonsai tree has small handsome evergreen leaves which are firm and glossy. Has large puffy white blooms in summer. If it receives enough light, the leaves will develop red highlights.
This hardwood tree is native to Brazil and its rainforests. The raintree has delicate branches and tiny light-green compound leaves and is spiny. The leaves fold up at night or in subdued light. This tree wakes up when we do. Flowers appear as fragrant white puffy blossoms. Easy indoor care.
This dwarf Juniper from Japan is the most popular evergreen in the U.S. When we think of a traditional bonsai and what it should look like, we think of a Juniper Procumbens "Nana". It is very hardy, long-lived and tolerates many adverse conditions. This impressive, 'trouble-free' evergreen is an excellent tree for the beginner.
Native to St. Croix, Trinidad and Curacao. The name "Malpighia"is used to honor Marcello Malpighia (1628-1693). He was a distinguished naturalist in Bologna, Italy. The natural form of the Barbados Cherry is pendulous with weeping twigs and branches. The flowers are rose-pink, often several together in a cyme. Its fruit is small and edible. It has a weeping growth habit if the branches are allowed to elongate. The round inedible fruits are borne singly or in 2s or 3s and are bright red with glossy skin. Great indoor bonsai.
Also known as Banyan Fig and Taiwan Ficus. The Retusa has small, dark green leaves which alternate up the stem and which are more oval than the Benjamina. Grey to reddish bark dotted with small horizontal flecks, similar to tiger-like markings. Has a heavy curved trunk and an extensive banyan root system along with tiered layered branches. The Retusa is among the most tolerant, versatile and trouble-free bonsai trees for indoor use.
Medium evergreen tree 10" tall, native to Africa and Australia with 400 species worldwide. Awesome purple/mauve 1" wide flowers borne along the stem at the end of spring and then, occasionally, the rest of the year. Good indoors. Provide some sun to help generate blooms.
Has small evergreen serrated leaves with excellent branching characteristics. Trained in the traditional tiered layered style with a curved trunk. Does very well indoors.
Also known as Green Island Ficus. Has oval to roundish dark green shiny leaves. Easily forms rosetts at the end of its branches if kept trimmed. Branches and fruits well and easily develops aerial roots when kept humid. Different than other Ficus varieties in that the leaves are much thicker. Does well in lower, medium or high lighting conditions. Ours has exposed roots growing over a textured rock and down into the soil. One of our favorites. Very easy indoor maintenance.
Tree of a Thousand Stars. The Japonica has somewhat elongated spoon shaped, shiny green leaves. It is a twiggy tree that grows tighter with shearing. This northern Chinese Serissa has small white trumpet shaped blossoms and is trained in the tiered layered style with an art shaped trunk.
Aka Buddhist Pine or Chinese Yew. The Podocarpus is a dense evergreen with pointed, leathery, dark green leaves arranged on stiff, symmetrical branches. The tree which is unisexual, has male flowers in cones and female flowers composed of cylindrical thickened scales. The fruits are edible, pendiculate, fleshy and brightly colored. New floiage appears light green in color that turns darker with age. Our tree is trained in the traditional bonsai style. Grows very well albeit slowly indoors.
Rare combination of red, white and pink flowers compose a rousing floral display in late winter and throughout early spring. Prized in Japan for bonsai, jam making and for it's large colorful blooms. Deciduous. Keep outdoors.
Also known as the Chinese Juniper. This needled evergreen is tolerant of a wide variety of soils and is dioecious which means that there are male and female plants. Shimpaku is a naturally irregular vase shaped Juniper which we grow into a trditional upright style. The Shimpaku has attractive year round foliage and its dark green needles are soft to the touch. Very popular and easy to care for bonsai.
This dwarf Juniper from Japan is the most popular evergreen in the U.S. When we think of a traditional bonsai and what it should look like, we think of a "Juniper Procumbens Nana." It is very hardy, long-lived and tolerates many adverse conditions. Our tree is planted in a water pot which has a well on one side that holds water. We include a fisherman figurine along with a fishing pole and ceramic fish.
Tree of a Thousand Stars. The Japonica has somewhat elongated spoon shaped shiny green leaves. It is a twiggy tree that grows tighter with shearing. This northern Chinese Serissa has small white trumpet shaped blossoms. We grow three to a pot to give the appearance of a grove or forest scene.
Real Hawaiian lava rock is hand selected to provide a happy home for your Schefflera Luseanne bonsai. Schefflera Luseanne are extra special, patented trees that stay smaller and more compact than the ordinary varieties. The roots grow through and over the lava rock and down into the soil. With reasonable care, your volcano bonsai should last for years.
Also known as Common Olive or European Olive. Silvery leaves and white bark make this a very interesting looking tree. This unique tree produces the edible olive that is also used to make olive oil. To encourage fruiting, keep at 35F for several weeks during winter. Olea are often used as shade trees or planted in groves. Produces flowers on second year's branch growth. Transplants best in summer. Tolerates poor soil, heat, drought and loves the sun. Excellent for indoors.
Shaping, maintaining bonsai works like meditation for local man, Jim Gipe The Recorder The tree, just 1-foot tall, sits in a planter on a narrow, wooden platform, among four-dozen other miniature trees in Gipe's garden. All of the trees are different styles, but they emulate the shapes of full-sized trees out in nature. They are bonsai...
Vandals destroy kids' bonsai trees just weeks before annual sale The News Tribune Teacher Martin Brown started the Bonsai Club at Tacoma's Gray Middle School six years ago to try to teach his students about what it takes to grow and care for a living thing. In the case of the bonsai, that includes copious amounts of water, pruning ...
Dungeness Bonsai Society hosts its 41st annual show this weekend in Sequim Peninsula Daily News SEQUIM — It takes patience and determination to keep a bonsai tree going, and members of the Dungeness Bonsai Society try to keep the same amount of care for their annual show, which runs for the 41st time this weekend. More than 50 bonsai trees, ...
Jarod Kearney: Getting to the roots of a Renaissance man Washington Times Museum curator, archaeologist, anthropologist, historian, author, photographer, musician, potter, knifesmith, actor, sci-fi geek and bonsai tree gardener, Kearney inhabits a world full of wonderful discovery. When he was 8, he went to see “Raiders of ...
Small trees, big hearts. Bonsai community opens wallets to help vandalized program The News Tribune Last week, Martin Brown called The News Tribune just to say the Bonsai Club's annual sale at Gray Middle School would be canceled. Two rounds of vandalism over the course of a few weeks had left more than half their plants beyond hope. Not expecting ...
Wiring conifers and other trees like cherry and apple often results in grow over if the keeper does not prune and tend each week. So as an alternative to cop...
