Bonsai is a Japanese word which translates to “planted in a container.” It is an art of unique gardening practices originating from China. It was later copied by the Japanese and redefined by the Japanese Zen Buddhism. This practice has been around for over a century. The objective of growing a Bonsai is to design a miniaturized but accurate depiction of nature in the form of a tree. Contrary to common misconception, Bonsai is not naturally dwarfed plants, and any species of tree can be grown into a Bonsai.
Here is an amazing list of ten bonsai trees you may love to know:
10. Pyracantha
Pyracantha is the genus of shrubs that originated from Asia. They have seven species. Physically all are broadleaf evergreens with spikes. If Pyracantha is untrimmed, it can grow as tall as eighteen feet. During spring, the plant produces white flowers that turn to red or orange berries by fall. Apart from being Bonsai, the plant can also be used as decorations in outdoor landscapes.
Though the plant looks tough, it still needs protection from extremely cold winds. The cold weather can damage their leaves. The tree should also be kept in a cool place when grown in the house.
9. Pinus Sylvestris
Pinus Sylvestris has an extraordinary and realistic appearance. This astounding Bonsai tree was created by Stefano Frisoni. The tree is famous for its opulent dark green leave pads that are as dense as a bunch of floating clouds in the sky.
The Pinus Sylvestris also goes by Scotts Pine and is a Europe native. Another reason why the tree is so popular is that it can be grown and polished to fit different styles of bonsai. This bonsai tree requires full sun to grow perfectly, but not the hot midday sun of the summer months. The Pinus Sylvestris or the Scotts Pine grows well in moist and well-drained soil. Watering the plant during wintertime should be moderated and done after the soil is dry.
Cultivating the Pinus Sylvestris can be quite rewarding, putting aside the attention needed during pruning and wiring.
It is important to mention that the new leaf growth of the plant should be pinched rather than clipped. Also, the plant requires a lot of pruning during the spring.
8. Bougainvillea
A bonsai Bougainvillea is favored because of its expansive and bright blooms. The plant is mainly used as ground cover, container plants, hedges, and as adornment plant on walls or latticework.
Bougainvillea is native to South America but also commonly found in warm regions of the United States.
Several types of Bougainvillea can be grown and refined to a bonsai. These include Bougainvillea Brazilinensis (Pink Pixie) Bougainvillea buttiana (Golden Glow), Bougainvillea Glabra (Snow White) and lastly, Bougainvillea Glabra (Magnifica). Of the four types, Bougainvillea Brazilinensis (Pink Pixie) is usually the top choice due to its firmer woody trunk.
The Bougainvillea bonsai thrives well in a day temperature between 70-85 degrees F and 60-70 degrees F at night. During the spring and summer, it is recommended that Bougainvillea bonsai stays outdoors to utilize plenty of sunshine. But during the winter period, the plant should be brought indoors.
7. Rocky Mountain Juniper
This bonsai was created by Walter Pall. For a long period, it has been an awe-striking object. The plant has won its creator, the Crespi Cup Award in Italy.
Rocky Mountain Juniper has a remarkable figure and realistic appearance. At that time, it was considered as among the most striking bonsais in the world.
The plant is known for its windswept appearance. The dry trunk is personified by the scarce plumes of elegant leaves at the top. The bonsai may require years of extensive wiring and consistent refining to come up with a perfect and admirable bonsai.
6. Goshin
Goshin is one of the most popular bonsai out there and is a fine work of John Y. Naka, but was first refined in 1948. Goshin is part of the famous eleven Foemina junipers.
This bonsai is well recognized not only in the United States but also worldwide. In 1984, the plant was donated to the National Bonsai Foundation and was put on display at the United States Arboretum.
Goshin started as a sole tree, but eventually become an 11-bonsai tree project.
5. Chinese Elm Bonsai
The Chinese Elm Bonsai has a quite enthralling natural beauty that will illuminate any place regardless of the design or style. This bonsai is one of the easiest to grow. Probably, it is for these two reasons that the Chinese Elm Bonsai stands out among contemporary bonsais.
The plant has a very distinctive reddish-brown bark that subsequently grows into a corky surface throughout the plant growth cycle. The gentle oval-shaped leaves on top of the natural branching make this bonsai truly an object of admiration.
Chinese Elm Bonsai is an East Asia native and can grow as tall as 65 feet in the wild. The plant can tolerate temperature changes and can remain healthy and strong for many years.
The Chinese Elm Bonsai can be designed into virtually any bonsai style, through constant wiring and pruning.
4. 800-Year-Old Bonsai Tree at Shunkaen
It is not a joke. This bonsai is 800 years old! It is popular in Japan and also all over the world. Their striking beauty and long lifespan are some of the reasons why this bonsai is loved around the world.
This 800 years old bonsai is for display in the Shunkaen garden in Tokyo, Japan. The bonsai tree attracts a large number of visitors every year, locally and from all around the world.
The plant is owned and cared for by Kunio Kobayashi – a respectable Bonsai Master in Japan. His fine works have earned him three Prime Minister Award.
The Shunkaen Bonsai has a distinct twisted white bark, which not telling, is as a result of years of constant refining. The plant leaves have been arranged cleverly so that plumes alternate.
3. Japanese Red Maple
Known scientifically as Acer rubrum, and aliases Soft Maple, Water Maple, and Swamp Maple, this bonsai is a deciduous United States native and a favorite of bonsai growers due to its striking scarlet leaves.
In the wild, Japanese Red Maple can grow up to 100 feet tall. But the bonsai is about a meter high, still making it one of the biggest bonsais in the world.
The artist Walter Pall bought one of these maples in Switzerland. He created a beautiful bonsai that earned him numerous awards such as the Art of Bonsai Photo Contest due to its extraordinary beauty.
Red Maple thrives well in outdoors. It is adaptable and extremely hard and can tolerate extreme cold or heat. Despite this, still, the plant will need protection from frost during extreme cold temperature. This plant does best on the full sun but should be protected from the hot summer sun.
Common styles of pruning the Japanese Red Maple include informal upright, slanting, literati, forest, multi-trunk, root-over-rock, exposed root and windswept.
2. Azalea
Azalea Bonsai is highly revered in Japan and has been around for hundreds of years. Azalea is one of the most sought after and dynamic bonsais in the world.
Azalea Bonsai is a member of the evergreen Rhododendron family. The plant blooms late in spring and usually has gorgeous pink, white, red, and purple flowers.
The bonsai can also be easily grown in a pot and will trunk within a short period. The Azalea Bonsai is an outdoor bonsai and does well in temperatures above 20 degrees.
The plant should be protected from extreme colds and temperatures. With proper care and cultivation, Azalea Bonsai can last for hundreds of years offering you a showpiece that you will adore for many years.
1. Wisteria
Wisteria bonsai is by far the most exotic and striking bonsai tree ever. Apart from the flowers of Wisteria being beautiful, they also give out a lovely aroma. The flowers of Wisteria bloom in a variety of colors including pink, blue, purple, and white.
In nature, the Wisteria bonsai can grow upwards to 30 feet tall. Beside constant wiring and pruning, the plant also requires a lot of water, sufficient and right kind of fertilizer and through drainage.
The twining and hardy trunk and branches make this bonsai quite striking. The natural branching and leaves are perfect for bonsai artists.
Despite being one of the most striking bonsai trees on the planet, the Wisteria is hard to style. They don’t bloom easily when made into a bonsai and can take a very long time (10 years) to bloom.