13 Types of Bonsai Trees That Every Level of Gardener Can Keep Alive

Arricca Elin SanSone
·6-min read
bonsai,bonsai premna
13 Stunning Types of Bonsai Trees to Grow krisanapong detraphiphat - Getty Images

Bonsai is an art form that has been practiced for thousands of years. “The unique aspect is that bonsai is alive and constantly changing, not like a sculpture or painting, which remains static,” says Evan Cordes, lead gardener at the Portland Japanese Garden. “You’re collaborating and engaging with nature as a partner.”

Originating in ancient China, the practice of bonsai was refined by the Japanese. The miniature trees are meant to imitate their full-sized relatives. To create these works of living art, ordinary plants are dwarfed by a system of root pruning and training the branches with wire, says Cordes. The trees are kept outdoors to experience the changing seasons, but those that are not native to a specific hardiness zone will require protection in the wintertime.

The term—which is actually pronounced “bone-SIGH”—means “tray planting.” This reflects the fact that these plants are grown in small pots or containers. They are then trained into naturalistic shapes that resemble windswept or aged trees clinging to the side of a mountain, for example. Proportion and scale are essential factors to consider when shaping these plants, says Cordes.

Although it can take a lifetime to fully appreciate the nuances of bonsai, the art form is approachable, even to a beginner. “It takes many years to create a specimen, but the process is part of the joy of connecting with nature,” says Cordes.

Many different types of plants—mostly trees and shrubs—are used in bonsai, but artists are constantly working with and training new types of plants. “Some types of trees adapt better than others,” says Cordes. “But there’s no harm in experimenting.”

For this reason, there's no "best" type of bonsai tree; you are limited only by your dedication, patience, and creativity. Cordes says the best way to get started is to connect with a local bonsai club to learn the basics or consult a good primer on the art form. But you also should allow yourself to follow your curiosity and not worry if your trials aren't always successful—after all, it is how you learn. Ahead, here are the 13 most popular types of bonsai trees you can grow.

More gardening inspiration ahead:


Englemann Spruce (Picea englemannii)

Englemann spruce trees make lovely bonsai because they have nice, short needles, which reflect the proper scale, and flaking bark, which lends the feeling of age. The tree is cylindrical with descending branches.

Light: Full sun
USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 5
Native to: Western North America

types of bonsai engleman pine
Portland Japanese Garden


Gingko (Gingko biloba)

The handsome, fan-shaped leaves that make this full-size tree so spectacular make the bonsai form equally delightful. What's even more amazing is that the tree is considered a "living fossil"because it is the only surviving member of a group of plants that inhabited the earth up to 150 million years ago.

Light: Full sun
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
Native to: China

bonsai tree with yellow leaves displayed on a wooden stand against a slatted background
Portland Japanese Garden


Satsuki Azalea (Rhododendron indicum 'Satsuki')

Azaleas are popular specimens for bonsai because of their exquisite beauty when in flower. Satsuki azaleas are evergreens that have been hybridized in Japan for more than 500 years. Their name, which means "fifth month," comes from the fact that they bloom about 60 days past the spring equinox.

Light: Full morning sun, afternoon shade
USDA Hardiness Zones: 7 to 9
Native to: Japan

Related Story: 15 Good Luck Plants That Bring Positive Vibes to Your Home

bonsai tree with pink and white flowers displayed on a wooden table
Portland Japanese Garden


Vine Maple (Acer circinatum)

A native species, this handsome tree makes a striking bonsai, requiring judicious pruning to manage its long vine-like branching structure. In the forest, they grow closer to margins of deep shade so they don't prefer full sun.

Light: Dappled shade
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 7
Native to:
 Pacific Northwest

a bonsai tree with vibrant green leaves displayed on a wooden stand next to a stone wall
Portland Japanese Garden


Ginseng Ficus (Ficus microcarpa)

The thick, pot-bellied trunk and exposed roots of this tree, reminiscent of ginseng, make it an intriguing bonsai specimen. With dark green leaves and wide exposed roots, it is a favorite type of bonsai tree for beginners.

Light: Bright, indirect sunlight
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11
Native to: Asia

ficus ginseng ficus retusa bonsai tree plant
Nico De Pasquale Photography - Getty Images


Shimpaku Juniper (Juniperus chinensis var. Itoigawa)

Often called the "King of Bonsai," this handsome juniper was discovered in 1910 and is treasured by collectors for its sharply curving trunk, accented with striking deadwood (shari) and small, dead branches (jin). This look is replicated in a truly remarkable way in bonsai.

Light: Full sun with some afternoon shade
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
Native to:
Japan

selective focus japanese itoigawa shimpaku pine trees bonsai at living room
skaman306 - Getty Images


Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii)

This is the true classic bonsai tree with a beautiful form and handsome needles that replicate its full-size relatives. The contrast of the foliage and bark makes it especially appealing.

Light: Full sun
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 8
Native to: Japan, Korea

types of bonsai black pine cork bark
LCBallard - Getty Images


European Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)

With smooth gray bark and beautiful textured foliage, the European hornbeam makes a popular type of bonsai tree. The foliage turns yellow in the fall, adding to its appeal.

Light: Full sun
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Native to: Europe, Asia

types of bonsai european hornbeam european hornbeam bonsai
Kaphoto - Getty Images


Trident Maple (Acer buergerianum)

The trident maple has gorgeous three-pronged leaves that add extra interest to the plant when trained as a bonsai. Its yellow, red, and orange fall foliage makes it even more spectacular.

Light:
 Full sun
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Native to: China, Japan, Korea

types of bonsai trident maple
photohomepage - Getty Images


Willow Leaf Fig (Ficus neriifolia)

This beautiful tree with smooth gray bark and leathery leaves needs plenty of heat and humidity to thrive. At temperatures below 60 degrees, its growth slows.

Light: Full sun
USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 and 11
Native to: Bhutan, Burma, China, India, and Nepal

willow leaf fig bonsai
Khine - Getty Images


Japanese Snowbell (Styrax japonicus)

The Japanese snowbell is a lesser-known ornamental tree for gardens, but it makes an absolutely gorgeous bonsai. With fragrant white bell-shaped flowers in early summer, it's truly magnificent when in bloom.

Light: Full sun
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Native to: Japan, The Philippines

types of bonsai japanese snowbell styrax japonicus bonsai in sunny springtime shoot, garden background
mtreasure - Getty Images


Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea)

Grown as an annual, climbing vine, or in hanging baskets, bougainvillea also makes an eye-catching type of bonsai tree. The papery flowers pop in shades of purple and pink. It's a perfect example of what a versatile art form bonsai is.

Light: Full sun
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11
Native to: South America

Read more: How to Grow and Care for Bougainvillea

bougainvillea bonsai in a garden
Vladan Radulovic (RSA) - Getty Images


Chinese Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis)

In the landscape, Chinese wisteria is classified as an invasive plant so it should not be planted where it can spread. However, in containers, it makes a gorgeous, eye-catching bonsai with delicately cascading pea-like flowers in spring.

Light: Full sun
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 8
Native to: China

Related Story: How to (Safely!) Grow Wisteria

types of bonsai wisteria flowers
magicflute002 - Getty Images

You Might Also Like

Latest stories

  • Huge and rare Mekong catfish spotted in Cambodia, raising conservation hopes

    Six critically endangered Mekong giant catfish — one of the largest and rarest freshwater fish in the world — were caught and released recently in Cambodia, reviving hopes for the survival of the species. On Tuesday, fishermen caught four more giant catfish including two longer than 2 meters (6.5 feet) that weighed 120 kilograms and 131 kilograms (264 pounds and 288 pounds), respectively.

  • Six rare giant catfish surface in Cambodia

    Conservationists in Cambodia on Friday celebrated the discovery of six highly endangered Mekong giant catfish in the critical Southeast Asian waterway plagued by illegal fishing, habitat loss and plastic waste.Besides overfishing and plastic pollution, the Mekong River Basin has been degraded by upstream dams and climate change, which have had a major impact on water levels in the critically endangered catfish's aquatic home.

  • The Burmese python problem: how 20ft predators are wreaking havoc on the Everglades

    There are between 100,000 and 300,000 of these snakes in the region – and they can swallow a small deer whole. What can Florida do about this threat to biodiversity?

  • New Zealand scientists suspect specimen of world's rarest whale died from head injuries

    Scientists suspect the first complete specimen ever recorded of the world’s rarest whale died from head injuries, an expert said Friday. The first dissection of a spade-toothed whale, a type of beaked whale, was completed last week after a painstaking examination at a research center near the New Zealand city of Dunedin, the local people who led the scientific team, Te Rūnanga Ōtākou, said in a statement issued by the New Zealand Department of Conservation. There have only been seven known sightings and never of a living spade-toothed whale.

  • How a thumb-sized climate migrant with a giant crab claw is disrupting the Northeast’s Great Marsh ecosystem

    South of Cape Cod, fiddler crabs and marsh grass have long had a mutually beneficial relationship. It’s a different story in the North, where the harms can ricochet through ecosystems.

  • Single heat wave wiped out millions of Alaska's dominant seabird

    The common murre, a large black-and-white seabird native to northern waters, has become far less common in Alaska over the past decade due to the impacts of climate change.- Climate winners and losers - The marine heat wave didn't just impact common murres.

  • Canadian monarch enthusiasts, experts welcome possible new protections for butterfly in U.S.

    Monarch butterfly enthusiasts and experts in Canada say possible increased protections for the species in the United States are important.The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed Tuesday that the monarch butterfly be added to the list of threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). "Threatened," according to the U.S. government, means that those species are likely to become endangered in the "foreseeable future." Heather Kharouba, associate professor at the University of Ottawa'

  • Rare heathland species to benefit from restoration

    Smooth snakes and nightjars are among the species to benefit from the restoration of Avon Heath.

  • Habitat loss stokes rabid jackal attacks in Bangladesh

    Few in the Jahan family's remote Bangladeshi village had seen a jackal up close before the morning one stalked Musqan through the paddy fields, pounced on her, and maimed the four-year-old for life.Golden jackals like the one that maimed Musqan are slender, wolf-like creatures found across Bangladesh, about the same size as a greyhound but lighter in weight.

  • Why farms, not wet markets, are the pandemic threat you should be worrying about

    We call them farms but the great bulk of food producing businesses in the west are better described as agricultural production plants.

  • Uyghur fighters in Syria vow to come for China next

    A Uyghur militant group that helped to topple Bashar-al Assad has vowed to take the fight to China.

  • Grace Wong reveals pregnancy in stunning Santorini announcement

    The former TVB actress shares that she and husband will be welcoming a baby after eight years of marriage

  • Bloody siege ends Myanmar army control of western border

    Insurgents seized Myanmar's border with Bangladesh in one of the bloodiest battles of the civil war.

  • Jennifer Lopez Is Trying to Convince Us That Super Low-Rise Jeans Are Back and It’s Working

    The 'Unstoppable' star may be reviving a highly-debated denim trend

  • North Korean troops performing well on battlefield, say Russian bloggers

    North Korean troops have captured a village from Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region, Russian military bloggers have reported.

  • Sydney Sweeney Claps Back at Body Critics with Intense Workout Footage for Boxing Biopic

    The actress posted videos of her flipping tires, pumping iron and punching bags in response to negative comments

  • A Syrian soldier's story: Why Assad's army didn't fight for him

    STORY: Just weeks ago, Farhan al-Khouli was manning a military outpost in Idlib, northern Syria, for Bashar al-Assad's army.The story of his desertion - one of many - shows how Assad's army crumbled as the rebels advanced.Khouli's commanding officer called to say a rebel convoy was heading their way.They were just three men, badly paid and demoralized, one deemed unfit by his superiors to bear arms.They were meant to be nine but others had bribed their way out.They should stand and fight, the officer said.Instead Khouli put his phone on airplane mode, changed into civilian clothes, dropped his rifle and fled.Ending up in Damascus, now taken by the rebels, where he got this job at a horse stable.On the road he saw other groups of deserting soldiers.“Those who were with me in the room, I no longer know anything about them. Everyone went in a different way, some went this way, others went that way. I wanted to reach the highway, because if I reached the highway, I would no longer worry. I reach Hama, I reach Homs, I have no problem. I saw all the people gathering. It was over, they fled, the whole area was gone. I said praise be to God, I am here, by God Almighty, when they said that the whole area had fallen, I started to cry with joy.":: November 29, 2024Reuters spoke to a dozen sources, including Syrian military and security sources and allied militia commanders. As Aleppo came under attack in late November, army units were not given a clear plan but were told to work it out for themselves, two Syrian security sources said. Within two weeks, the rebels had toppled Assad's brutal regime. His army lacked leadership and a defense strategy, the sources said, and had lost much of its command structure - the Iranian military advisors and militia allies such as Hezbollah - who'd left as war with Israel escalated.The army also lacked loyalty, as Khouli's story describes.Khouli didn't want to sign up but says he was forced to. He ended up at that remote post in Idlib because he'd tried to desert once and been jailed for it.One former major told Reuters the use of forced conscripts was a "fatal mistake." Khouli says he had to do heavy manual labor in extreme heat and cold.Reuters was not able to verify the details of his experiences.He says he was paid $40 a month and went hungry.“We used to get sugar, and we used to get ghee, and we used to get oil, but it all went away, it used to get stolen, and we wouldn't see any of it. What we received was a pot of bulgar wheat, mostly bulgar, I mean, we used to go 4 or 5 days with only bulgar, and each person had a pinch of tomato and potato. Each person received his portion, I mean, it wasn’t enough to fill you up.”:: North Hama, Syria:: Released December 1, 2024In 2020, the army had 130,000 personnel, according to the IISS think tank, depleted by the long civil war and functioning more like a militia.A U.S. official told Reuters Washington was learning of high-level desertions and military forces changing sides in the days before Assad fell.Corruption went up through the ranks.Colonel Makhlouf Makhlouf served in an engineering brigade stationed in Hama but deserted before the city fell on December 5.He said if anyone complained about corruption they were questioned at a military court, which happened to him more than once. A serving senior military intelligence officer told Reuters anger had been building against Assad personally within the military, especially over the past year......including among core high-ranking supporters from his minority Alawite community.Despite his army past, Khouli says he has no fear for the future. "I'm happy and at ease," he says. "I'm not afraid at all."

  • Hard to see Ruben Amorim staying loyal to error-prone goalkeeper Andre Onana

    At the home of Pilsner, Andre Onana would be forgiven for buying Rasmus Hojlund a beer or two after the striker got him out of jail following another mistake to add to his collection.

  • Battered corpses show the horrors of life and death under Syria’s Assad

    The 35 or so bodies were found in a military hospital in the Syrian capital of Damascus, days after the regime fell. They are believed to be among the last victims of Assad.

  • Blue Ivy Carter Sparks Controversy By Wearing What Some Call A ‘Wildly Inappropriate’ Dress

    Certain social media users criticized the outfit, but many others voiced support for the 12-year-old daughter of Beyoncé and Jay-Z.