Home - Species Guides
There are a large number of different species of trees that can be used for the practice of bonsai; nearly all share the characteristic of being able to produce new buds on old wood allowing continual pruning and re-generation to take place. Other preferred qualities for bonsai in a tree species include small leaves or leaves that reduce in size with training, short internodes (the distance between each leaf-joint along a branch) the ability to withstand root disturbance and hardiness.
The following guides cover a large range of coniferous and broadleaved, evergreen and deciduous trees that have the potential for use as bonsai to one degree or another. Some species are commonly seen such as the Elms, Junipers and Pines, others such as Grapevines, Tamarix and Hederas may be a rare occurrence but have their own characteristics and as equally valid. This list is also by no means comprehensive; there will be species missing that have fantastic potential that remain unused or unheard of.
With respect to cultivation notes, this guide is written from European perspective where Summer temperatures rarely reach above 30°C and winter temps will only fall to -10°C maybe once a year. For hotter or colder climates extra care must be taken for the protection of trees against the sun in summer, the frost in winter and also large fluctuations in temperature between day and night.
Heights listed in the guide are based on mature trees growing in ideal conditions in their natural habitat. Leaf-sizes are given based on field or garden trees, with bonsai cultivation it is possible to reduce the size of leaves of most species by a half or even more.
Species list
Click on the highlighted area for information
ABIES species - FIRS
ACER BUERGERIANUM - MAPLES
ACER CAMPESTRE - MAPLES
ACER PALMATUM varieties -JAPANESE MAPLES
AESCULUS HIPPOCASTANUM / HORSE CHESTNUT
BERBERIS species -BARBERRYS
BETULA species -BIRCHES
BOUGANVILLEA species -Bouganvilleas
BUXUS species - BOXES updated
CAMELLIA species - CAMELLIA
CARMONA MICROPHYLLA -FUKIEN TEA
CARPINUS species -HORNBEAMS
CEDRUS species -CEDARS
CELTIS SINENSIS -HACKBERRY
CERCIS SILIQUASTRUM -JUDAS TREE
CHAENOMELES species -QUINCES
CHAMAECYPARIS species -CYPRESSES
CORNUS species -DOGWOODS
CORYLOPSIS species -WINTERHAZELS
CORYLUS species -HAZELS COTINUS COGGYGRIA / SMOKE TREE
COTONEASTER species -COTONEASTER
CRASSULA species -JADES
CRATAEGUS species -HAWTHORNS
CRYPTOMERIA species -CEDARS
CYDONIA OBLONGA -COMMON QUINCE
DAPHNE species -DAPHNES
DEUTZIA species -DEUTZIA
ELEAGNUS species -ELEAGNUS
ENKIANTHUS species -ENKIANTHUS
EUPHORBIA PULCHERRIMA -POINSETTIA
EUONYMOUS species -SPINDLE TREES
FAGUS species -BEECHES
FICUS species -FIGS
FORSYTHIA species -FORSYTHIA
FRAXINUS species -ASH
FUCHSIA species -FUCHSIA
GINGKO BILOBA -MAIDENHAIR TREE
GLEDISTA TRICANTHOS -HONEY LOCUST
HEDERA species -IVYS
ILEX species -HOLLYS
JASMINIUM species -JASMINES
JUNIPERUS species -JUNIPERS
LAGERSTROEMIA INDICA -MYRTLES
LARIX species -LARCHES
LIGUSTRUM species -PRIVETS
LIQUIDAMBER STYRACHIFLUA -SWEETGUM
LONICERA species -SHRUBBY HONEYSUCKLES
MAGNOLIA STELLATA -STAR MAGNOLIA
MALUS species -(CRAB) APPLES
METASEQUOIA GLYPTOSTROBOIDES -DAWN REDWOOD
NANDINA DOMESTICA -SACRED or HEAVENLY BAMBOO
OLEA EUROPEA -OLIVE
PARTHENOCISSUS species -BOSTON IVY/VIRGINIA CREEPERS
PHYLLOSTACHYS species -BAMBOOS
PICEA species -SPRUCES PIERIS species -PIERIS
PINUS species -PINES PODOCARPUS MACROPHYLLUS -PODOCARPUS
POTENTILLA FRUITICOSA varieties -POTENTILLA/CINQUEFOIL
PRUNUS species - Blackthorn, cherrys, plum varieties
PUNICA GRANATUM varieties -POMEGRANATE
PYRACANTHA species -FIRETHORNS
QUERCUS species -OAKS
RHODODENDRONS species -AZALEAS
ROBINIA PSEUDOACACIA -FALSE ACACIA/BLACK LOCUST
SAGERETIA THEEZANS -CHINESE BIRD PLUM
SALIX species -WILLOWS
SASA species SERRISA FOETDA -TREE OF A THOUSAND STARS
SCHEFFLERA ACTINPHYLLA -UMBRELLA TREE
SORBUS species -ROWANS / MOUNTAIN ASH
SPIREA species -SPIREA
SYRINGA species -LILACS
TAMARIX JUNIPERINA -TAMARISK
TAXODIUM DISTICHUM - SWAMP CYPRESS
TAXUS species -YEWS
THYMUS species -THYMES
TILIA species -LIMES
TSUGA species -HEMLOCKS
ULMUS species -ELMS
VITIS species -GRAPEVINES
WEIGELA FLORIDA -WEIGELA
WISTERIA species -WISTERIA
ZELKOVA SERRATA varieties -JAPANESE ELMS
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