Looking for a small, beginner-friendly bonsai? Check out the best mini bonsai trees that fit any space and are easy to grow indoors!
If you are searching for a tiny bonsai tree that fits in small spaces and is easy to care for? Mini bonsai trees are perfect for beginners and add beauty to any home. These little trees need less space but still bring the charm of traditional bonsai. Here are the best ones to start with!
Best Mini Bonsai Trees for Small Spaces and Beginners
1. Fir (Abies)
Many fir trees (Abies) are popular choices for Christmas trees, and they also make great bonsai. They belong to the pine family (Pinaceae), but they deserve attention in the bonsai world too. However, fir trees don’t always adapt well to growing in containers, so they need time to adjust.
One popular fir for bonsai is the Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). It has dense foliage and well-proportioned branches, making it a good fit. Younger branches are quite flexible and easy to shape, while older ones can be brittle and break easily.
2. Dwarf Jade (Portulacaria afra)
The dwarf jade plant is a softwood shrub that stays partly green year-round and is great for beginners who want to grow bonsai. It looks a lot like the common jade plant (Crassula ovata), but its smaller leaves make it better for bonsai. A large dwarf jade can reach up to 8-12 inches tall.
Dwarf jade bonsai trees grow well indoors but need plenty of direct sunlight each day. They can also grow outside, but they don’t survive in freezing temperatures.
3. White Oak (Quercus alba)
The white oak tree (Quercus alba) can grow very tall in nature, but it also makes a strong and attractive bonsai. Even as a bonsai, it keeps its twisted, aged-looking trunk and can live for a very long time.
However, white oak isn’t the easiest choice for beginners. Other oak trees, like the English oak (Quercus robur), are better for new bonsai growers. It’s a great bonsai for those who love autumn colors—you can enjoy the changing leaves without leaving home!
4. Dwarf Boxwood (Buxus spp.)
Dwarf boxwoods are popular shrubs that also make great bonsai plants because they grow well with pruning.
One type, the littleleaf boxwood (Buxus microphylla), also called ‘Kingsville Dwarf,’ stays small at 12 to 18 inches tall, making it perfect for bonsai and miniature gardens. Another good choice is the Harland boxwood (Buxus harlandii), which can grow a bit taller, reaching 2 to 3 feet if not trimmed. The Korean boxwood (Buxus sinica var. insularis) is another dwarf variety, growing up to 2 feet high.
5. Chinese Elm (Ulmus parvifolia)
The Chinese elm, also called lacebark elm, is a great bonsai for beginners because it’s easy to grow indoors or outdoors, though it needs frequent pruning. It has a rounded shape, and its bark peels to reveal colors like brown, gray, green, and orange, making it interesting to look at. A Chinese elm bonsai usually grows between 10 inches and 2 feet tall.
6. Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina)
The weeping fig is a popular bonsai because of its beautiful, umbrella-shaped canopy. Its twisted surface roots add to its charm and work well for bonsai styling.
Ficus benjamina is a strong and hardy tree, making it great for bonsai training. It grows well indoors and is often kept as a houseplant all year round.
7. Crepe Myrtle
The crepe myrtle is a popular tree in the South, but it also makes a beautiful bonsai. It blooms in summer with bright flowers in pink, magenta, white, or violet, sometimes flowering twice in one season.
Its bark has a unique, dappled look that adds to its charm. Plus, the crepe myrtle is easy to care for and shape into a bonsai.
8. Cedar (Cedrus spp.)
Cedar trees have rough, rugged bark, which makes them a favorite for bonsai lovers. These evergreen trees have short needle clusters on their branches, creating bold and dramatic bonsai shapes.
However, cedar bonsai trees are not the best choice for beginners. They need special care and are better suited for experienced growers.
The four main types of cedar used for bonsai are the cedar of Lebanon, Cyprus cedar, Himalayan cedar, and Atlas cedar.
9. Ginseng Ficus (Ficus microcarpa)
Ginseng ficus is a tropical bonsai tree that is great for beginners because it is strong and easy to care for. It has thick, unique roots that grow above the soil and dark green, oval-shaped leaves.
This bonsai needs little maintenance and doesn’t need as much light as other bonsai trees. It grows well indoors as a houseplant as long as it gets warm temperatures and bright, indirect light.
