20 Different Types of Bonsai Trees
Bonsai trees are not only beautiful and unique, but they are also easier to take care of than most people think. You do not even need a ton of experience to be able to learn how to grow and maintain a bonsai tree. According to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, there are five basic styles of bonsai trees and they can be categorized in many different ways. The five basic styles get their names from the angle of the tree’s growth from a container and provide a basic starting point for exploring the different styles and types of bonsai trees.
The formal upright style is characterized by the fact that the trunk line is vertical and the apex is located over the center of the trunk base. The branches are longer at the bottom and become shorter as you look up towards the top of the tree. The informal upright style features a tree that has a contorted trunkline and branches that say. This is the most popular style since it looks very much like a tree that is grown outdoors in nature since the constant breaking of the trunk line occurs due to ice, snow, storms, and even due to insects and animals.
The full cascade, slanting style, and semi-cascade are three of the other basic five styles of a bonsai tree, but there are more than 120 different types of bonsai trees overall which we will focus on in this article.
20 Different Types of Bonsai Trees
According to Plantly, if you are thinking about becoming a bonsai tree owner, there are several things you will need to consider when choosing from different types of bonsai trees. According to Garden Republic, the most popular bonsai trees are the pine trees because they are easy to shape in many different styles and these Evergreen trees can keep their needles up to 40 years or longer.
Pines are among the most popular bonsai trees because of their ease to shape in a variety of styles. They are long-lasting evergreen trees that keep their needles up to 40 years on fully grown pines and do not require much maintenance. You should also consider the climate you live in because if it’s a very hot climate or a very cold climate, it will determine what type of tree you can grow properly, especially if your bonsai tree will be outdoors.
Read on for information on the top 20 different types of bonsai trees for you to choose from or simply to learn more about.
1. Ficus Bonsai Trees
A ficus bonsai tree is a great option for you if you are a beginner at taking care of a bonsai tree, but there are more than 850 different varieties of the ficus bonsai trees available for you to choose from. The most popular ficus trees are Ficus Mactrophylla, Ficus Retusa Microcarpa, and Ficus Benjamina.
2. Ginseng or Retusa
The Ginseng bonsai tree boasts a curved trunk shaped like the letter S and is a great option for beginners when it comes to violence I trees because it’s easy to prune and most of these types add bonsai trees grow and thrive even if they are somewhat restricted. Keep in mind that these trees are almost always grown indoors because they are not considered to be outdoor bonsai trees. They do thrive in sunlight with warmer temperatures, though, so you will need to keep your tree in an area of your house or office that gets plenty of sunlight. is an excellent option for beginners with its s-curved trunk to prune, and the majority of these trees respond well even with restricted growth.
3. Japanese Maple Bonsai Tree
When it comes to bonsai trees, the Japanese Maple bonsai tree is a great one to choose if you are just starting out and taking care of one. This tree can grow in shaded areas, even in very hot climates. This means that it can be an outdoor bonsai tree or an indoor bonsai tree but it loves the sun in cooler climates that are very breezy and airy. This tree is beautiful during the fall time of the year when it changes colors to various hues of red, yellow, or orange. These colors will brighten up your home or office every autumn. this tree is easy to grow and maintain.
4. Juniper Bonsai Trees
The juniper bonsai tree is it very simple type and very easy to maintain. It is a hardy tree and can go up to two or three days without being watered. The branches are very flexible so you can shape them into different forms. Two of the most popular juniper bonsai trees are the green mound juniper bonsai and the needle juniper bonsai tree.
5. The Green Mound Juniper Bonsai
The green mound juniper bonsai is a very trendy tree and it will grow and thrive in most claimants. It is easy to trim the foliage from the tree to keep it shaped the way you want it but it does need protection from sunlight If you place it outdoors.
6. Himalayan Needle Juniper Bonsai Tree
The Himalayan Juniper Needle tree is a beautiful tree and it is easy to shape and care for while bringing peace to any space that you place it in. It can also grow indoors or outdoors, but it is best to keep this one inside your house or office.
7. Chinese Elm Bonsai Tree
The Chinese elm bonsai tree is very attractive and boasts a trunk that twists and sports tiny little leaves. The twisting trunk is very strong, but the branches are very delicate which gives this tree an exotic look for your indoor space. This tree grows very well in warm climates but does not do well in cold weather. If you nurture this tree properly, it will remain lush and green throughout the entire year.
8. Bougainvillea Bonsai Tree
The Bougainvillea Bonsai Tree is Flint with flowers that are purple and pink and color. it is a tropical Evergreen pine tree that will brighten and beautify any space. It even has tiny little yellow flowers along with thorns that boast colors of pink, white, red, orange, and even some double shades of these colors. This tree is easy to take care of but it is best left outside since it does enjoy the heat and direct sunlight.
This tree does not thrive in really wet soil, so you should only water it when the soil is very dry. All you have to do to prune this tree is remove the shoots after they flower. If you want to twist this tree, you can train it when it is first starting out in its growing process to grow in a certain direction into the shape you want it to form.
9. Azalea Bonsai Tree
The flowering Azalea bonsai tree is gorgeous and is considered to be an ornamental tree to beautify your living space and add to your home’s decor. This tree is part of the Rhododendron genus. The most popular trees under this type of bonsai tree are the Kurume and Satsuki Azalea since they are really stunning and are flanked with white, red, and pink flowers.
This tree enjoys the outdoors as well as bright sunlight, but it cannot handle extreme heat. This means that you should keep it in a shady area during the summer months. It also needs to be watered on a regular basis to prevent the soil from drying out completely, but be careful not to overwater it. You only need to prune this tree on the lower parts of it for it to keep its shape.
10. Hibiscus Bonsai Tree
Another attractive type of bonsai tree is the Hibiscus Bonsai Tree species. Beautiful flowers will bloom on this tree, which is considered to be a tropical shrub that thrives in very warm climates. You can find a variety of this type of tree that will produce flowers in a variety of different sizes and shades. This tree has beautiful and lush glossy green foliage along with vibrant colored flowers.
This tree belongs indoors in a very good spot, such as near a window or on a balcony, so it can receive plenty of sunlight. These types of trees do not grow and thrive very well in cold weather or under frost conditions. If you do place this tree outside during the summer months, it will offer some shade for you. You should keep the soil moist for this tree and add some fertilizer full of nutrients at least two times a week to keep it thriving and healthy.
11. Oak Bonsai Tree
When it comes to indoor bonsai trees, the oak tree species is a good one to choose from. People refer to this tree as being magical since it can thrive in a variety of different climates. It enjoys being placed in sunny areas and it will need regular watering, especially during the summer months. You can choose an oak bonsai tree that is an Evergreen or a deciduous tree that will grow up to 40 feet tall in its natural habitat. This tree species is very hardy and has a very strong trunk while producing very small acorn fruits. Since this tree has a trunk that forms in a zigzag type structure, it looks like a piece of art. You will need to prune the leaves of this tree as well as the buds that are not doing well to keep it thriving and healthy.
12. Ginkgo Bonsai Tree
When it comes to deciduous trees, they are noted for their fan-shaped leaves and the Ginkgo Bonsai tree is no exception. This type of bonsai tree is one of the oldest known types and you can find varieties that are both male and female. The female trees will bear fruit but they will have an unpleasant odor while the male trees do not have an odor, but they also do not produce any fruit.
Chinese people have often used the leaves of this tree for treating a variety of different ailments since they do have some amount of medicinal purposes. This tree loves direct sunlight but does not do well in cold weather or frost conditions and it will need regular watering, but be careful not to overwater it. This is a great tree for a beginner who wants to have an indoor bonsai tree since it is very flexible and the branches are easy to shape into place with wiring.
13. Crabapple Bonsai Tree
Yes, this amazing bonsai tree does produce apples, hence the name of the Crabapple Bonsai tree. The only thing is, the apples that are produced from this tree have a tart taste that may not be appealing to very many people. This is a deciduous tree that is known for the beautiful white-pinkish flowers with small fruits that grow on it every year during the fall, which is also harvest season.
This tree enjoys direct sunlight in an area to be able to grow and thrive. It can flourish as an indoor tree and will need regular watering, especially after the fruits drop, since the soil may dry out quicker during that time frame. This tree should be pruned every year in late autumn.
14. Pomegranate Bonsai Tree
The pomegranate is a deciduous tree that boasts large fruits that you can eat and enjoy. You can choose from a variety of trees in this species, such as the Punica Gratanum and the Dwarf Pomegranate Bonsai Tree. The Nana or dwarf pomegranate bonsai trees will produce small fruit and need heat to flourish. This tree needs to be watered on a regular basis, especially during the flowering season.
15. Cedar Bonsai Tree
Cedar trees are a great option if you are looking for a bonsai tree that grows tall yet is still considered a miniature tree. This tree enjoys moist soil so you will need to regularly water it and it does well indoors in a very sunny spot.
16. Weeping Willow Bonsai Tree
The weeping willow is an excellent choice for a bonsai tree if you are just starting out as a beginner since it is easy to maintain. It is a very unique tree that is native to China yet it grows well throughout the entire world. It is an attractive tree with its long weeping branches which gives it a very unique look.
17. Buddhist Pine Bonsai Tree
One of the popular bonsai tree types for people to own is the pine tree, including the Buddhist Pine Bonsai Tree. This tree offers excellent shade and great ornamental value when it is grown outdoors, but it also does well indoors. It can be a little harder to maintain since it does grow pinecones and needles.
18. Black Olive Bonsai Tree
The black olive bonsai is an evergreen tree that has very short leaves that grow slowly and eventually form yellow flowers. This tree does better when left outdoors because it needs full sunlight and can even withstand very cold temperatures, although it does not survive well in frost conditions. This tree enjoys well-drained soil, which is important to prevent root rot.
19. Bonsai Money Tree
The bonsai money tree is a popular and fun bonsai tree. It boasts very broad leaves and it can grow up to 65 feet tall outdoors. The trunk of this tree looks swollen because that is where it stores water for future use. This type of tree needs to be in a well-ventilated area that offers high humidity and you should prune it every winter so it continues to grow and thrive.
20. Himalayan Cedar Bonsai Tree
The Himalayan Cedar bonsai tree is very popular since it has a lot of ornamental value. When grown in its natural habitat, this tree can reach a height of 50 feet tall. It is an Evergreen pine tree that has short leaves like pine needles that are a dark green in color with a hint of blue tint.
