Bonsai Species: List of 22 Most Popular Species

We present the most beautiful and popular bonsai species for indoors and in the garden - from ficus to maple, there is something for everyone.

Bonsai is a garden art in which different plants, usually shrubs or trees, are planted targeted cultivation and cutting of roots and shoots into a miniature of itself will. In the following, we present the most popular bonsai species with their special care requirements.

Which species are suitable as bonsai?

There are no strict restrictions - the main thing is that the plant used yields well to intentional squeezing and pinching. There are particularly small-leaved trees and conifer species in the foreground, because the filigree greenery fits perfectly with the rest of the dwarf design of the bonsai and thus offers an optimal overall picture. Good compatibility with cuts is also an advantage, as only regular pruning of the bonsai an impressive and imaginative design for the different bonsai forms can be realized. Over the centuries, classic bonsai species have emerged that adorn Japanese gardens and rooms. And a few species native to us have also established themselves as bonsai over time. In this article we give you a little insight into the variety of bonsai and present the most popular species for the room and garden.

The most popular indoor bonsai species

The room bonsai is probably the most well-known form of mini trees in our country. Most indoor bonsai are small exotic species that sit enthroned on the windowsill all year round. However, you can do most species a favor if you move them outside to a sunny spot in the summer. They should only spend the winter protected, as the species are not usually hardy and sometimes have problems at temperatures below 15 °C. Otherwise there is a large selection of different plants that are suitable for beginners as well as for professionals and due to their different growth and their widely varying leaf shapes, a wide range of bonsai forms to permit.

Tip: In the following profiles we will also name suitable soils for each bonsai. Traditionally, special soils containing lava rock from the far-off Orient are often used. But also substrate manufacturers from Germany offer high-quality base soils for bonsai at. The clay granulate it contains does not necessarily come from China or Japan, but the bonsai doesn't care where its soil comes from anyway, as long as the quality is right. And it is always better for the environment if the raw materials used come from Germany and are not flown in from Asia.

Chinese fig / laurel fig (Ficus microcarpa ginseng)

This as Chinese fig or laurel fig is the ultimate indoor bonsai for beginners: the ficus is very robust and is characterized by rapid growth, high adaptability and high tolerance to cutting the end. This and its affordability make it the perfect bonsai for the novice grower.

origin	South East Asia
growth	Fast growing; at very high humidity, e.g. B. through culture under a glass bell, the ficus can form aerial roots; conspicuously thick roots
leaves	Evergreen with oval, glossy dark green leaves
Earth	1:1:1 Akadama, lava chips, humus; 2:1:1 potting soil, Akadama and pumice
location	Sunny without direct sunlight; no space above a heater
wintering	Not hardy; hibernate at 12 – 22 °C
cutting/parenting	Very pruning compatible; can be wired very well; not very versatile
particularities	Needs high humidity (ex. B. by spraying the plant), never let the substrate dry out; if the ficus spends the summer (> 15 °C) outside, the leaves should be cut beforehand to reduce evaporation

Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia)

The Chinese elm is also wonderful for beginners. The plant also forgives a little care mishap and is characterized by a high level of robustness and adaptability.

origin	China, Korea, Japan
leaves	Elliptic to ovate glossy green; deciduous to semi-evergreen when cultivated indoors
Earth	Akadama Earth
location	Full sun window seat to partial shade
wintering	0 – 10 °C is ideal
cutting/parenting	Good pruning tolerance; Branches thicken quickly
particularities	Very easy to care for

Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinensis)

The Chinese privet also feels at home in somewhat shady places and is extremely easy to care for - it should only be warm at the location of this bonsai. The Japanese privet (Ligustrum japonicum). If you want to put a privet bonsai in the garden, you should rather open Ligustrum ovalifolium, L lucidum or the common privet (Ligustrum vulgare) To fall back on. These are hardy down to at least -10 °C and bud again well after freezing back.

origin	China
growth	Fast growing; bears white flowers in summer
leaves	deciduous; small and dark green
Earth	1:2 Basic bonsai soil and Akadama Earth
location	Bright location without direct sunlight; place in semi-shade in summer
wintering	If possible, overwinter at 15 °C
cutting/parenting	Very cut compatible
particularities	Very easy to care for

tip: Basic bonsai soil is a special universal soil that can be used on its own or as a base enriched with other ingredients. Their ingredients are put together in such a way that the special requirements made by bonsai culture can be met. At the end of this article you will find our recommendation for a particularly good bonsai soil.

fukien tea (Carmona microphylla, even Ehrlichia microphylla or Ehrlichia buxifolia)

As far as its care requirements are concerned, the flowering fukien tea is also suitable for careful bonsai beginners. You only need a little experience with the design, because the plant should definitely be wired to get a harmonious shape.

origin	China
growth	Brown-grey bark with fine cracks on the trunk and grey, smooth bark on the branches; flowers almost all year round
leaves	periwinkle; small and dark green with white hairs below and dots above
Earth	2:1 Akadama and Basic bonsai soil
location	Bright location without direct sunlight at over 20 °C; sun to semi-shade in summer
wintering	Overwinter at 12 – 24 °C
cutting/parenting	Very pruning compatible; be sure to wire
particularities	When fertilizing, only use organic fertilizers because the roots are very sensitive; ensure sufficient humidity by spraying

gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides)

The gardenia offers a particularly tropical look, but this only comes out when the plant is properly cared for. Therefore, the sensitive little plant is more of a bonsai for advanced growers.

origin	Asia to South Africa
growth	Creamy white, fragrant flowers in summer; orange fruits in autumn
leaves	periwinkle; glossy dark green with dots
Earth	Soil for acid-loving plants, e.g. B. kanuma
location	Bright, airy location out of direct sunlight; reacts very sensitively to a change of location
wintering	If possible, overwinter at 15 °C
cutting/parenting	Good pruning tolerance; cut from May after flowering; do not cut from August, so as not to remove flower buds
particularities

banyan fig (Ficus retusa)

Banyan fig is the second ficus in our list. However, it is not offered as often as the ficus ˈginsengˈ, which can sometimes even be found in discount stores. However, this ficus is much more suitable for designing a bonsai than its prominent relative. Its overall picture is much more coherent and beautiful aerial roots are formed even under room conditions.

origin	East Indies, Ceylon
growth	Whitish-grey bark
leaves	Dark green, leathery leaves with a short blunt tip (laurel-like)
Earth	2:1 Basic bonsai soil and Akadama Earth
location	Sun to semi-shade
wintering	Overwinter at 15 – 22 °C
cutting/parenting	All forms possible except literary form; suitable for planting on rocks due to the aerial roots
particularities	Regular spraying

jade tree (Portulacaria afra)

The jade tree is one of the succulents and immediately catches the eye with its fleshy, shiny leaves. As a small bonsai, it combines Asian accuracy and the exotic appearance of a plant from the African savannah.

origin	South Africa
growth	reddish twigs; thick trunk; fine branching; Bark turns green to reddish brown with age; white flowers in autumn after a dry period in summer
leaves	periwinkle; succulent, broad, oval leaves; in a sunny spot with red edges
Earth	1:1:1 Akadama, Basic bonsai soil and lava granules
location	sunny location; outdoors in summer sun to semi-shade
wintering	Overwinter at 8 – 22 °C
cutting/parenting	tree shape and forests; Avoid wiring, prefer rigging
particularities	Succulent, so it can take several days for the top layer of soil to dry before the next watering; very sensitive to waterlogging

Radiant Aralia or Varnish Leaf Plant (Schefflera actinophylla, Brassaia actinophyla)

the Radiation Aralia brings the rainforest in miniature to the window sill with its aerial roots and leaves that shine bright green all year round. The tropical plant needs it nice and warm and tolerates radical pruning without any problems. The Schefflera offers ideal conditions for training as an indoor bonsai.

origin	Australia, Southeast Asia
growth	quite fast-growing; forms aerial roots (rock shape possible)
leaves	periwinkle; long-stalked, radiating leaves in glossy dark green
Earth	1:2:2 clay, sand and peat; 1:1 Akadama Earth, Basic bonsai soil and some Kiryu soil
location	Sunny (the more sun, the smaller the leaves)
wintering	Not below 15 °C
cutting/parenting	Good pruning tolerance; Distribute pruning over several days, as the plant exudes a lot of milky wound juice at the cutting points; radical pruning instead of wiring
particularities	Spray regularly

olive tree (Olea europaea)

who with one olive tree as a bonsai that wants to bring Mediterranean flair into the apartment or on the balcony, needs a lot Patience, but is rewarded with a beautifully gnarled overall look that's what it's headed toward worth waiting. Because of its small leaves and squat growth, the wild olive tree (Olea europaea sylvestris) particularly good for creating a bonsai.

origin	Asia Minor, Mediterranean
growth	Robust; slow growing; Bark later forms cracks and furrows
leaves	periwinkle; oblong leaves with dark green upper surface and silvery gray underside
Earth	1:2 Akadama and Pumice
location	bright location; sunny outside in summer
wintering	At 5 – 20 °C with as much light as possible
cutting/parenting	Very good pruning tolerance; only annual shoots wireable
particularities	Allow substrate to dry completely between waterings, very sensitive to waterlogging

Large-leaved stone yew or "Pine of the Buddhists" (Podocarpus macrophyllus)

Coniferous trees such as the yew tree can also be designed as bonsai. Although these are pruned somewhat differently than the deciduous tree species, they do not make the design more difficult or less varied. The selection isn't limited to just one type, either P chinensis is often raised to bonsai.

origin	Japan, China
growth	Slow growing
leaves	Evergreen conifer
Earth	Slightly acidic substrate; 2:2:2 clay (or Akadama), peat and sand (or lava granules)
location	Bright location without blazing midday sun
wintering	Light at about 10 - 20 °C; rather keep dry
cutting/parenting	Good tolerance for cuts
particularities	Likes rather acidic substrates

June snow or "Tree of a thousand stars" (Serissa foetida)

The "Tree of a Thousand Stars" owes its name to its summer blossoms. This is also evident in bonsai and exudes a strong scent.

origin	China, southern Japan
growth	Abundant flowering in June; forms a cracked bark even as a young plant
leaves	Very small green leaves, edged yellow or veined depending on the variety
Earth	1:1:1 Akadama Earth, Basic bonsai soil, sand (very permeable)
location	Very bright with no direct sunlight; outdoors in summer sun to semi-shade; sensitive to change of location
wintering	Light at 12 - 20 °C; not over the heater
cutting/parenting	Very pruning compatible; Roots give off an intense odor when cut
particularities	Needs constant site conditions, temperatures and water; spray when not in bloom

The most popular bonsai species for the garden

There are a whole range of species that can be wonderfully trained as bonsai and can be left outdoors all year round. You should note that the culture in the bowl in winter has its pitfalls. Since the shell freezes quickly due to its small volume, it should also be completely frozen in winter hardy plants in a sheltered place and good protection of the roots from the cold will. If this is observed, nothing stands in the way of year-round forest bathing in your own miniature wonderland. We present a few particularly beautiful species that are suitable as outdoor bonsai.

maple (acer)

A true bonsai gem right from the start: Many Asian maple species have uniquely shaped leaves. These include, for example, the red and green fan maple (Acer palmatum), the trident maple (Acer bourgerianum) and the fire maple (Acer ginnala). The most prominent among the maple species, however, is the Japanese maple (Acer japonicum). Its appearance and its high tolerance to temperature fluctuations make it the ideal outdoor bonsai, which is why we are presenting it here as an example.

origin	mountain forests of Japan
growth	Picturesque tree-like shrub, short trunk, spreading crown; reddish-purple flowers during leaf budding
leaves	summer green to bright green; 7- to 11-lobed leaves with serrated margins; red fall foliage
Earth	4:1 Akadama soil and pumice
location	penumbra; full sun in autumn and spring; sheltered from the wind
wintering	Conditionally hardy (-10 °C)
cutting/parenting	Very easy to cut and malleable; cut in winter
particularities	Very tolerant of temperature changes; in summer, repeated watering may be necessary on hot days

Pine trees (Pinus)

Just like the maple genus, there are a whole range of pine species that can be trained to become bonsai. Dwarf forms with particularly small needles are particularly beautiful here. The different species hardly differ in their care. Ideally, the cut should be made in winter, as this is when the least amount of resin escapes and the best healing of the wound can be expected. Below is a small selection of pines that make excellent outdoor bonsai.

Pine trees that are suitable as bonsai for the garden:

• girl pine (Pinus parviflora): Soft, curved needles, five together
• Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris): thin, possibly slightly twisted needles, standing in pairs; Bark on the upper trunk mostly reddish
• European black pine (Pinus nigra eg. nigra): Long, strong needles in clusters of two; older bark brownish gray with dark fissures forming a plate pattern
• mountain pine (Pinus mugo): Short, strong needles, in twos in clusters, dark brown bark
• Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii): Long, twisted, dark green, firm needles, in pairs
• Japanese Red Pine (Pinus densiflora): Light green, delicate, slender needles, in pairs

origin	Mainly distributed in the northern hemisphere
growth	Bark of older plants cracked
leaves	Evergreen needles; arranged in bunches/clusters
Earth	2:1:1 Akadama, Kiryu Earth and Pumice
location	Full sun, needs a lot of light
wintering	Good hardy
cutting/parenting	Very malleable; Cut in winter, as this is the time when resin production is lowest
particularities	Very sensitive to waterlogging

yews (taxes)

Yews are not only usable as hedge plants in the garden. Instead of keeping looks away, they can also become real eye-catchers as bonsai. Due to its easy-care nature, the yew is also particularly suitable for beginners. The native common yew (Taxus baccata), the Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia) and the Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata).

origin	Europe, North Africa, West Asia
growth	irregular branch growth; grey-brown bark with red inner bark; dark, erect trunk
leaves	Needle-like and dark green
Earth	4:1 Akadama and Gravel
location	Sunny, but without direct summer sun; penumbra after cutting; also grow in the shade, but not as compact here
wintering	hardy; sunny location
cutting/parenting	Very pruning compatible; very pliable wood
particularities	Very high water consumption; spray occasionally, all parts of the plant are poisonous except for the fleshy seed sheath

azalea (rhododendron)

Azaleas such as the Indian Azalea (Rhododendron simsii), the Satsuki Azalea (Rhododendron indicum) or the evergreen Japanese Azalea (Rhododendron japonicum) are valued as bonsai in apartments because of their flowers. These so-called room azaleas are not hardy because they come from tropical or subtropical regions. Thus, they must be brought indoors at least in winter. But the genus also has a few hardy species. Garden azaleas such as the Japanese azalea (Rhododendron obtusum) or the Yellow Azalea (Rhododendron luteum) can be cultivated as bonsai in the garden all year round.

origin	Asia, North America, Europe
growth	Flowers between March and July, depending on the species
leaves	deciduous; oval, oblong leaves in light to dark green
Earth	Lime-free, slightly acidic; pure kanuma is very effective for azaleas
location	Sunny, but without direct summer sun
wintering	hardy
cutting/parenting	Cut the base more than the top as azaleas are very base dominant
particularities	acid loving; water with soft tap water or rainwater

common juniper (Juniperus communis)

The most popular juniper species for bonsai training include the common juniper and the Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis) or the Japanese hedgehog juniper (Juniperus rigida).

origin	Europe, North America, Western Asia
growth	Reddish-brown bark; black berries used to make gin
leaves	Very hard grey-green prickly needles
Earth	1:1 Basic bonsai soil and pumice gravel
location	Sunny location
wintering	Conditionally hardy (-10 °C); sunny
cutting/parenting	Very pruning compatible; malleable by wire
particularities	Allow substrate to dry well between waterings; sprinkle occasionally

Wild apple or crab apple (Malus sylvestris)

Even fruit-bearing trees can be brought into miniature form. They are particularly fond of here because of their beautiful flowering apple trees how Malus sieboldii, Malus halliana or – the local variant – the wild apple (Malus sylvestris) is used, whereby cultivated forms with rather small fruits are of course particularly suitable. This results in a particularly beautiful overall picture.

origin	Europe, Near East
growth	flowering in spring; fruits in summer or autumn; fast growing; scaly grey-brown bark
leaves	deciduous; oval dark green leaves
Earth	1:1:1 peat, pumice and Akadama
location	Sunny; shade in summer and winter
wintering	Winter protection needed
cutting/parenting	Very pruning compatible; Leave short shoots as they will bear the flowers in the following year; after flowering shorten shoots; wire to encourage flowering and as a support for fruiting
particularities	high water requirement; Fertilize reduced during flowering

elms (Ulmus spec.)

As mentioned above, the Chinese elm is one of our most popular indoor bonsai species, but elms can also enrich your green oasis in the garden as bonsai. Hardy species such as the field elm (Ulmus minor), the mountain elm (Ulmus glabra) or the Dutch elm (Ulmus x hollandica), especially the variety ˈJaqueline Hilerˈ with its particularly small leaves.

origin	Europe
growth	Quite fast growing; greyish bark
leaves	deciduous; very small leaves, tapering; strong autumn colors
Earth	1:1:1 Akadama, peat and pumice
location	full sun
wintering	Winter protection needed
cutting/parenting	Easily malleable; tolerates pruning well; Wires can usually be dispensed with
particularities	Prevent infestation with Dutch elm bark beetle (transmitter of the fungal disease "elm disease")

hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)

The high level of pruning tolerance and growth vigor make the hornbeam our favorite among the native bonsai species for the garden. Otherwise known as a hedge plant, this deciduous tree is an excellent bonsai for beginners. Apart from C betulus the Korean hornbeam (Carpinus turczaninowii) or the Japanese hornbeam (C japanese and C laxiflora) to create a miniature tree in the bowl. An insider tip among the hornbeams is the oriental hornbeam (Carpinus orientalis).

origin	Europe, East Asia
growth	Fast growing; narrow, twisted branches; Bark light grey, often with cracks
leaves	deciduous; oval with ribbing in strong green; yellow autumn color; Leaves are usually only shed when new shoots appear in spring
Earth	5:4:1 Basic bonsai soil, Akadama and Sand
location	sun to partial shade; shade in summer
wintering	hardy
cutting/parenting	Very pruning compatible; latest cut in August
particularities	Very robust beginner plant; pour with soft water; high fertilizer consumption

Cotoneaster or Cotoneaster (cotoneaster)

The cotoneaster has everything that is needed for bonsai training. The already low growth in combination with the small leaves and the very good pruning tolerance make the cotoneaster interesting not only for experts. Even beginners can enjoy the diverse design options that the plant offers them. are particularly suitable here Cotonaester conspicuous, C horizontalis, C preacox, C microphyllus and C congestus.

origin	Europe, Asia, North Africa
growth	White, pink, or red flowers in spring; yellow to red fruits in autumn; low growing
leaves	Small, glossy green leaves; Deciduous or evergreen, depending on the species
Earth	Pure Akadama or Basic bonsai soil
location	Sun in spring and autumn; partial shade in summer; airy
wintering	Conditionally hardy (-10 °C); cover evergreen species in severe frosts
cutting/parenting	Can be shaped very well and in many ways; topiary during spring budding; very easy to wire
particularities	Tolerates short periods of drought; fertilize from April to early September; keep rather dry when the leaves sprout, the leaves sprout particularly small

European larch (Larix decidua)

The European larch is also one of the native plant species. It is therefore ideally adapted to our climate and can stand in a sunny spot in the garden all year round. The actual forest giant can also be shaped into a shell thanks to its good cut compatibility and wireability. The Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi), which also impresses visually with its grey-green needles and the red-brown, cracked bark.

origin	Temperate zones of Europe
growth	Bark in light brown to red to grey-brown with cracks
leaves	deciduous; dark green, soft needles that turn golden yellow in autumn
Earth	1:1:1 Akadama, lava granules and pumice
location	full sun; the more light, the smaller the needles
wintering	Hardy (-40 °C)
cutting/parenting	Good pruning tolerance; easy to wire; cut from May to September; Shape cutting before sprouting in spring
particularities	Watering by showering rainwater to increase humidity; never let it dry out

small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata)

Among the linden species, the small-leaved linden is particularly well suited for bonsai design because of its small leaves. The tree gets even smaller leaves after a leaf cut in summer, which is well tolerated by the small-leaved lime.

origin	Central, Northern, Eastern Europe
growth	Black root base; fragrant yellowish cup flowers in summer; oval to spherical nutlets; black-grey cracked bark with age
leaves	deciduous; round to slightly heart-shaped leaves; golden yellow foliage
Earth	3:2 Akadama and Humus with a good drainage layer of gravel
location	sun to shade; the more sun, the smaller the leaves; Partial shade to avoid dehydration
wintering	hardy; hibernate in the shade
cutting/parenting	Very easy to cut and malleable; last cut early August; wire carefully; Shape cutting from budding into summer
particularities	Very sensitive to salinity (watering with rainwater and fertilizing organically) and drought

After you have found the right bonsai for you, the next step is proper care. As your Water bonsai properly find out here.

Many thanks to Floragard for the support!