Discover the best bonsai plants for your garden! Explore easy-to-grow varieties, perfect for beginners and experts alike.
Bonsai plants bring beauty and charm to any garden, big or small. These miniature trees are perfect for beginners and experts alike, adding a touch of nature to your space. In this guide, you’ll discover the best bonsai plants that are easy to grow and care for, making gardening more enjoyable!
Best Bonsai Plants for Your Garden
1. Pine (Pinus spp.)
Pine trees are a popular choice for bonsai because they are tough and easy to shape. They can be trained in almost any bonsai style. They have needles that grow in groups of two to five and bark that becomes rough and flaky as the tree gets older. Some of the best pine trees for bonsai are Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii), mountain pine (P. mugo), Scots pine (P. sylvestris), and Japanese white pine (P. parviflora).
2. Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)
Japanese maples are hardwood trees that lose their leaves in fall. They are known for their red-burgundy or green leaves, which turn bright red, orange, or yellow in autumn. Young Japanese maples have green or reddish bark, but they change to gray or brown as they get older. If you don’t have much time for bonsai care, be aware that Japanese maples need a lot of water, especially when they are growing. Depending on the weather, they may need watering every day or even several times a day.
3. Juniper (Juniperus spp.)
Juniperus is a group of over 50 evergreen trees and shrubs, and many people like to grow them as bonsai. Any type of juniper can be shaped into a bonsai tree. Junipers have small leaves that look great in miniature form, and they are strong trees that can handle heavy pruning. However, juniper bonsai trees don’t grow well indoors and need dry soil to stay healthy.
4. Japanese Flowering Cherry (Prunus serrulata)
Cherry trees are often seen as a symbol of friendship, and some types, like the Japanese flowering cherry, make beautiful bonsai trees. These trees lose their leaves in fall and are not only pretty but also easy to shape because their branches and trunks are flexible. You can grow bonsai cherry trees indoors, but they might not get enough light. They grow best outside, especially in the summer.
5. Cedar (Cedrus spp.)
Cedar trees have rough, rugged bark, which makes them a favorite among bonsai growers. These evergreen conifers have short needle clusters along their branches, allowing for striking and dramatic bonsai shapes. However, cedar bonsai trees are not the best choice for beginners. They need special care and skill to grow well, making them better suited for experienced bonsai growers.
There are four main types of cedar used for bonsai: cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani), Cyprus cedar (Cedrus brevifolia), Himalayan cedar (Cedrus deodara), and Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica).
6. Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina)
The weeping fig is a popular bonsai tree because of its beautiful, umbrella-shaped canopy. Its twisted surface roots also add to its unique look, making it great for bonsai styling.
Ficus benjamina is a strong and hardy tree, which makes it easy to train as a bonsai. It grows well indoors and is often kept as a houseplant all year round.
7. Ginseng Ficus (Ficus microcarpa)
Ginseng ficus is a tropical bonsai tree, but it’s a great choice for beginners because it is tough and easy to care for. This evergreen tree has dark green, oval-shaped leaves and unique aerial roots that make it stand out.
It is a low-maintenance bonsai that doesn’t need as much light as other bonsai trees. It grows well indoors as a houseplant as long as it gets bright, indirect light and stays in a warm environment.
8. Dwarf Jade (Portulacaria afra)
The dwarf jade plant is a small, softwood shrub that is great for beginners learning bonsai. It looks a lot like the regular jade plant (Crassula ovata), but its smaller leaves make it better suited for bonsai.
Dwarf jade bonsai trees grow well indoors but need plenty of direct sunlight. They can also grow outside, but they cannot survive in freezing temperatures.
9. Azalea (Rhododendron spp.)
Azaleas are shrubs with flowers, but some small types, called “greenhouse azaleas,” are grown indoors as houseplants. Dwarf azaleas can grow close to 3 feet tall.
One special type, the Satsuki or Southern Indian Azalea (Rhododendron indicum), is great for bonsai, but it is usually an outdoor plant. If left untrimmed, it can grow several feet tall. However, with regular pruning, it stays around a foot tall and produces pretty pink flowers in spring.
10. Dwarf Boxwood (Buxus spp.)
Dwarf boxwoods are popular shrubs that also make great bonsai plants because they handle pruning well.
One type, the littleleaf boxwood (Buxus microphylla), also called ‘Kingsville Dwarf,’ grows 12 to 18 inches tall, making it perfect for bonsai and small gardens. Another good bonsai choice is the Harland boxwood (Buxus harlandii), which can grow a bit taller—up to 2 or 3 feet if not trimmed. The Korean boxwood (Buxus sinica var. insularis) is another dwarf variety that reaches about 2 feet in height.
