Species

The firs: evergreen conifers of cool mountain forests, with flat needles set in two ranks and upright cones that fall apart on the branch. Slow, formal and tidy, they suit upright styles and dislike hot, dry summers.

Silver FirAbies alba

Korean FirAbies koreana

Dwarf Korean FirAbies koreana 'Compact dwarf'

Alpine FirAbies lasiocarpa

Cork FirAbies lasiocarpa arizonica

Dwarf Cork FirAbies lasiocarpa arizonica 'Compacta'

The maples: deciduous trees and shrubs with opposite, lobed leaves and winged seeds, famous for autumn colour. Trident and Japanese maples are among the most rewarding bonsai, with fine twigging, small leaves and good response to pruning.

Dwarf Trident MapleAcer buergerianum 'Mino Yatsubusa'

Trident MapleAcer buergerianum (A. trifidum)

Formosan Trident MapleAcer buergerianum formosanum

Hedge Maple or Field MapleAcer campestre

Snake Bark Maple or Pere David's MapleAcer davidii

Amur MapleAcer ginnala

Full Moon MapleAcer japonicum

Golden Full Moon MapleAcer japonicum 'Aureum'

Montpellier MapleAcer monspessulanum

Japanese MapleAcer palmatum

Rough Bark Japanese MapleAcer palmatum 'Arakawa'

Purple Japanese MapleAcer palmatum 'Atropurpureum'

Beni Maiko Japanese MapleAcer palmatum 'Beni Maiko'

Japanese Red MapleAcer palmatum 'Chishio'

Japanese Red MapleAcer palmatum 'Deshojo'

Cutleaf Purple MapleAcer palmatum 'Dissectum atropurpureum'

Cutleaf Japanese MapleAcer palmatum 'Dissectum'

Emerald Lace Japanese MapleAcer palmatum 'Emerald Lace'

Cut-leaf Purple MapleAcer palmatum 'Inaba shidare'

Japanese Maple 'Kagiri Nishiki'Acer palmatum 'Kagiri Nishiki'

Japanese Maple 'Kashima'Acer palmatum 'Kashima'

Japanese Maple 'Katsura'Acer palmatum 'Katsura'

Japanese Maple 'Kiyohime'Acer palmatum 'Kiyohime'

Japanese Maple 'Kotohime'Acer palmatum 'Kotohime'

Little Princess Japanese MapleAcer palmatum 'Little Princess'

Pine Bark MapleAcer palmatum 'Nishiki gawa'

Orange Dream Japanese MapleAcer palmatum 'Orange Dream'

Phoenix Japanese MapleAcer palmatum 'Phoenix'

Sangokaku MapleAcer palmatum 'Sango Kaku'

Japanese Red MapleAcer palmatum 'Seigen'

Japanese Maple 'Shigitatsu Sawa'Acer palmatum 'Shigitatsu Sawa'

Lion's Head MapleAcer palmatum 'Shishigashira'

Summer Gold Japanese MapleAcer palmatum 'Summer Gold'

Japanese Maple 'Ukigomo'Acer palmatum 'Ukigomo'

Ukon MapleAcer palmatum 'Ukon'

Yamamomiji Japanese MapleAcer palmatum (yamamomiji)

The desert rose: a succulent shrub from arid Africa and Arabia with a swollen, sculptural trunk and showy pink or red flowers. Grown as a tender bonsai for its caudex; it needs warmth, sun and a dry winter rest.

Desert RoseAdenium obesum

The strawberry trees: evergreen shrubs and small trees of the Mediterranean with peeling reddish bark, bell flowers and round red fruit. Handsome, slow and fussy about root disturbance.

Strawberry TreeArbutus unedo

Hardy bamboos that spread by runners and grow as clumps of canes. Not trees, but used in accent plantings and saikei for their vertical lines.

BambooArundinaria nitida

Dwarf BambooArundinaria pygmaea

The barberries: spiny deciduous or evergreen shrubs with small leaves, yellow flowers and coloured berries. Dense and hardy, good for small sizes and for the twisted trunks of old garden plants.

BarberryBerberis buxifolia

BarberryBerberis darwinii

BarberryBerberis thunbergii

Dwarf Purple BarberryBerberis thunbergii 'Bagatelle'

The birches: fast-growing deciduous trees with light foliage and white, peeling bark. Elegant in groups and clumps, but they resent heavy pruning and can lose branches without warning.

Dwarf BirchBetula nana

Silver BirchBetula pendula

Vigorous tropical climbers and shrubs whose colour comes from papery bracts around tiny flowers. Kept warm and in full sun they make dramatic flowering bonsai with rugged trunks.

BougainvilleaBougainvillea buttiana

Orange King BougainvilleaBougainvillea buttiana 'Orange King'

BougainvilleaBougainvillea glabra

BougainvilleaBougainvillea glabra 'Magnifica'

White BougainvilleaBougainvillea glabra 'Snow White'

The black olive of the Caribbean: an evergreen tree with layered, horizontal branches and small leaves. A tropical bonsai for warm rooms, styled naturally in tiers.

Dwarf Black OliveBucida spinosa

The boxwoods: dense evergreen shrubs with tiny glossy leaves that take clipping endlessly. Old hedge and garden plants give thick, characterful trunks; they back-bud freely on old wood.

Harland BoxBuxus harlandii

Japanese BoxwoodBuxus microphylla

Common BoxwoodBuxus sempervirens

The powder-puff trees: tropical shrubs with feathery leaves that fold at night and fluffy red or pink flowers. Grown indoors or under glass in cool climates.

Powder Puff TreeCalliandra haematocephala

Heather: a low evergreen shrub of moorland with scale leaves and spikes of tiny flowers. Used for accent plantings and rock settings rather than as a tree.

HeatherCalluna vulgaris

County Wicklow HeatherCalluna vulgaris 'County Wicklow'

Dwarf HeatherCalluna vulgaris 'Foxii Nana'

Evergreen shrubs and small trees of eastern Asia with glossy leaves and large winter and spring flowers. The small-flowered sasanqua types suit bonsai best; all want lime-free soil.

Common CamelliaCamellia japonica

CamelliaCamellia reticulata

CamelliaCamellia sasanqua

The pea trees: tough deciduous shrubs from Siberia and China with small pinnate leaves and yellow pea flowers. Very hardy, with fine twigs and a rugged look for small sizes.

Chinese Pea TreeCaragana arborescens

Mongolian RedshrubCaragana chamlagu

The Fukien tea: a tropical evergreen shrub with small dark leaves, white flowers and red berries almost all year. One of the most common indoor bonsai; it needs light, warmth and even watering.

Philippine-teaCarmona microphylla (Ehretia buxifolia)

The hornbeams: deciduous trees with pleated leaves, fluted grey trunks and fine, dense branching. Excellent for bonsai, especially the Korean and Japanese species, with good autumn colour.

European HornbeamCarpinus betulus

Japanese HornbeamCarpinus japonica

Loose-flowered HornbeamCarpinus laxiflora

Korean HornbeamCarpinus turczaninowii

The chestnuts: large deciduous trees with long toothed leaves and spiny fruit cases. Coarse for bonsai, but usable in the larger sizes.

ChestnutCastanea

The true cedars: evergreen conifers of the Atlas, Lebanon and Himalaya with short needles in tufts on spur shoots and barrel cones. Refined and slow, they make stately upright and slanting trees.

Atlas CedarCedrus atlantica

Blue Atlas CedarCedrus atlantica glauca

Cyprian CedarCedrus brevifolia

Deodar or Indian CedarCedrus deodara

Cedar of LebanonCedrus libani

The bittersweets: deciduous twining climbers with round leaves and orange fruit that split to show red seeds. Trained as cascades and informal trees for the fruit.

Oriental BittersweetCelastrus orbiculatus

The hackberries: deciduous trees related to the elms, with small toothed leaves and fine twigging. The Chinese hackberry is a first-rate bonsai, easy and vigorous.

European HackberryCeltis australis

Chinese HackberryCeltis sinensis

The katsura: a deciduous tree with rounded, heart-shaped leaves that smell of caramel as they colour in autumn. Grown for its delicate foliage and pale colours.

Katsura TreeCercidiphyllum japonicum

The redbuds and the Judas tree: deciduous trees with heart-shaped leaves and pink pea flowers borne straight from bare branches in spring. Striking in flower; coarse-branched otherwise.

American RedbudCercis canadensis

Judas TreeCercis siliquastrum

The flowering quinces: thorny deciduous shrubs that flower on bare wood in late winter, in red, pink or white, followed by hard fragrant fruit. Root-hardy and suckering, they suit clump and multi-trunk styles in small sizes.

Maule's Flowering QuinceChaenomeles japonica

Dwarf Flowering QuinceChaenomeles japonica 'Chojubai'

Chinese QuinceChaenomeles sinensis (Pseudocydonia sinensis)

Flowering QuinceChaenomeles speciosa

White Flowering QuinceChaenomeles speciosa 'Nivalis'

Flowering QuinceChaenomeles × superba 'Crimson and Gold'

Flowering QuinceChaenomeles × superba 'Etna'

Flowering QuinceChaenomeles × superba 'Incendie'

Flowering QuinceChaenomeles × superba 'Pink Lady'

Flowering Quince HybridsChaenomeles × superba (japonica × speciosa)

The false cypresses: evergreen conifers with flat sprays of scale foliage. The hinoki cypress is a classic bonsai for its dense pads; sawara and dwarf cultivars serve the smaller sizes.

Hinoki CypressChamaecyparis obtusa

Dwarf Hinoki CypressChamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana Gracilis'

Dwarf Hinoki CypressChamaecyparis obtusa 'Yatsubusa'

Sawara CypressChamaecyparis pisifera

Boulevard Cypress or Blue Moss CypressChamaecyparis pisifera 'Boulevard'

Cypress 'Plumosa'Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Plumosa'

Japanese White CedarChamaecyparis pisifera 'Squarrosa'

Evergreen fruiting trees and shrubs with glossy leaves, fragrant white flowers and the familiar fruit. Tender, grown for flower and fruit in warm, bright places.

LemonCitrus limon

The buttonwood: a tropical coastal tree of the Americas with small leathery leaves and cone-like fruit. Collected from the wild for its driftwood-like deadwood; kept warm.

ButtonwoodConocarpus erectus

The dogwoods: deciduous shrubs and small trees grown for flower bracts, coloured winter stems or fruit. The Cornelian cherry flowers yellow on bare wood in late winter.

Kousa DogwoodCornus kousa

Japanese Cornelian CherryCornus officinalis

The winter hazels: deciduous shrubs with hanging racemes of pale yellow, scented flowers before the leaves. Graceful in spring; lime-free soil.

Buttercup Winter HazelCorylopsis pauciflora

Spiked Winter HazelCorylopsis spicata

The hazels: deciduous shrubs and small trees with round toothed leaves and catkins in late winter. Fast and vigorous, best in the larger sizes and clumps.

HazelCorylus avellana

Japanese HazelCorylus heterophylla

The smoke tree: a deciduous shrub whose airy flower heads look like puffs of smoke, with fine autumn colour. Grown for foliage and colour more than form.

Smoke TreeCotinus coggygria

Deciduous and evergreen shrubs with tiny leaves, small white or pink flowers and red berries that last into winter. Among the easiest bonsai, ideal for cascades and small sizes.

CotoneasterCotoneaster 'Skogholm'

CotoneasterCotoneaster adpressa

CotoneasterCotoneaster adpressa praecox

Dwarf CotoneasterCotoneaster congesta

CotoneasterCotoneaster conspicuus decorus

Rockspray CotoneasterCotoneaster horizontalis

Variegated RocksprayCotoneaster horizontalis 'Variegatus'

CotoneasterCotoneaster microphyllus

CotoneasterCotoneaster simonsii

The jade plants: succulent shrubs from southern Africa with fleshy leaves and thick, branching trunks. Indoor bonsai that tolerate neglect; water sparingly.

Jade TreeCrassula arborescens

CrassulaCrassula sarcocaulis

The hawthorns: thorny deciduous trees with lobed leaves, white spring blossom and red haws. Slow to thicken but tough, with gnarled trunks when collected from hedgerows.

Japanese HawthornCrataegus cuneata

Common HawthornCrataegus monogyna

Double Red-Flowering HawthornCrataegus oxyacantha 'Paul’s Scarlet'

English HawthornCrataegus oxyacantha (C. laevigata)

The Japanese cedar: an evergreen conifer with soft awl-shaped foliage and fibrous red bark, a temple tree in Japan. Formal upright by nature; dwarf forms suit smaller bonsai.

Japanese CedarCryptomeria japonica

Dwarf Japanese CedarCryptomeria japonica 'Yatsubusa'

The cypresses: evergreen conifers with scale foliage and round cones, of warm dry climates. Fast and flexible when young, they take wiring well.

Monterey CypressCupressus macrocarpa

The cycads: ancient palm-like plants with a stout trunk and a crown of stiff fronds. Grown as tender accent plants rather than trained trees.

CycadCycas revoluta

The quince: a deciduous fruit tree with large pink-white flowers and golden aromatic fruit. Grown for flower and fruit in the larger sizes.

Common QuinceCydonia oblonga

Small deciduous or evergreen shrubs with intensely fragrant flowers in late winter and spring. Slow and resentful of root work; best left undisturbed.

DaphneDaphne burkwoodii

DaphneDaphne odora

The flame tree: a tropical tree with feathery bipinnate leaves and brilliant scarlet flowers. A tender bonsai for very warm conditions.

Royal PoincianaDelonix regia

Deciduous shrubs that carry masses of white or pink flowers in early summer on arching stems. Easy and hardy; the dwarf forms suit small sizes.

DeutziaDeutzia gracilis

DeutziaDeutzia scabra

DeutziaDeutzia scabra 'Azeliflora'

DeutziaDeutzia scabra 'Nikko'

DeutziaDeutzia scabra 'Plena'

The persimmons: deciduous trees with glossy leaves and orange fruit that hangs on after the leaves fall. Grown for fruit, mostly as medium and large bonsai.

Chinese PersimmonDiospyros kaki

Japanese PersimmonDiospyros lotus

The oleasters: shrubs and small trees with silvery or speckled leaves, tiny fragrant flowers and small fruit. Tough, tolerant plants for small and medium bonsai.

GumiElaeagnus multiflora

SilverberryElaeagnus pungens

Deciduous shrubs of the heath family with whorled branches, clusters of small bell flowers and brilliant autumn colour. Lime-free soil and dappled shade.

EnkianthusEnkianthus campanulatus

Red EnkianthusEnkianthus cernuus ruber

White EnkianthusEnkianthus perulatus

Evergreen shrubs from South America with glossy leaves and pink or red tubular flowers over a long season. Tolerant of clipping and coastal exposure.

EscalloniaEscallonia 'Apple blossom'

The spindles: deciduous and evergreen shrubs with fine twigs, small leaves and curious pink and orange fruit. Good autumn colour and fine ramification.

Winged Spindle-treeEuonymus alatus

European Spindle-treeEuonymus europaeus

Japanese Spindle TreeEuonymus japonicus

Japanese Spindle-treeEuonymus sieboldianus

The beeches: deciduous trees with smooth grey bark and leaves that hang on brown through winter. Slow to ramify but stately; the Japanese beech is the classic bonsai species.

Japanese White BeechFagus crenata

Japanese Black BeechFagus japonica

European BeechFagus sylvatica

Purple BeechFagus sylvatica 'Riversii'

Purple Fern-leaved BeechFagus sylvatica 'Rohanii'

Fern-leaved BeechFagus sylvatica heterophylla

The figs: a huge genus of tropical trees and shrubs, many with aerial roots and milky sap. The most forgiving indoor bonsai, thickening fast and back-budding on bare wood.

Weeping FigFicus benjamina

Common FigFicus carica

Australian Banyan or Moreton Bay FigFicus macrophylla

Tiger Bark FigFicus microcarpa

Natal FigFicus natalensis

Creeping FigFicus pumila

Sacred FigFicus religiosa

Banyan FigFicus retusa

Port Jackson Fig or Rusty-leaved FigFicus rubiginosa

Willow Leaf FigFicus salicaria

Deciduous shrubs that flower yellow on bare stems in early spring. Vigorous and easy; old garden plants give thick trunks for a quick start.

ForsythiaForsythia intermedia

Dwarf ForsythiaForsythia intermedia 'Minigold'

Dwarf ForsythiaForsythia ovata 'Tetragold'

Showy ForsythiaForsythia × intermedia 'Spectabilis'

The kumquats: small evergreen citrus with tiny fragrant flowers and small orange fruit eaten whole. Tender, grown for fruit in bright warm places.

Dwarf OrangeFortunella hindsii

The ashes: deciduous trees with pinnate leaves and smooth grey bark. Coarse in growth and leaf; usable in larger sizes.

Common or European AshFraxinus excelsior

Shrubs from the Americas with hanging red and purple flowers over a long season. The small-leaved species make fine cascades and small bonsai; frost-tender.

Lady Thumb FuchsiaFuchsia 'Lady Thumb'

Tom Thumb FuchsiaFuchsia 'Tom Thumb'

FuchsiaFuchsia microphylla

Dwarf FuchsiaFuchsia pumila

FuchsiaFuchsia x bacillaris (microphylla x thymifolia)

Evergreen shrubs with glossy leaves and richly scented white flowers. Tender and particular about water and acidity; grown for the flowers.

GardeniaGardenia jasminoides radicans

The maidenhair tree: a living fossil with fan-shaped leaves that turn clear yellow in autumn. Grows upright in a flame shape; branches are brittle and it dislikes wiring.

Maidenhair TreeGinkgo biloba

The honey locust: a deciduous tree with fine pinnate leaves, fierce thorns and long pods. Grown for its delicate foliage in medium sizes.

HoneylocustGleditsia triacanthos

The lavender star flower: a tropical shrub with small toothed leaves and starry mauve flowers through summer. An easy indoor bonsai for a bright window.

CrossberryGrewia occidentalis

The witch hazels: deciduous shrubs with spidery yellow or copper flowers on bare branches in winter. Slow, wide-spreading and fragrant.

Japanese Witch HazelHamamelis japonica

Chinese Witch HazelHamamelis mollis

The ivies: evergreen climbers that turn shrubby with age. Trained as cascades and over rocks for their small lobed leaves and quick trunks.

Common IvyHedera helix

Shrubs with large, showy flowers, some tender and some hardy. Grown for the blooms; the rose of Sharon is the hardy garden species.

Tropical HibiscusHibiscus rosa-sinensis

The hollies: evergreen and deciduous shrubs and trees, many with berries in winter. The Japanese holly has tiny leaves and clips like box; the deciduous kinds carry red fruit on bare twigs.

Japanese Evergreen HollyIlex crenata

Japanese Evergreen HollyIlex crenata 'Convexa'

Japanese Evergreen HollyIlex crenata 'Stokes'

White-berried Japanese Deciduous HollyIlex serrata 'Leucocarpa'

Dwarf Japanese Deciduous HollyIlex serrata 'Subtilis' (Koshohai)

Japanese Deciduous HollyIlex serrata (I. sieboldii)

Dwarf Yaupon HollyIlex vomitoria 'Nana'

A tropical tree with feathery fern-like leaves and violet-blue flowers. Grown indoors for the foliage; it rarely flowers as a bonsai.

JacarandaJacaranda mimosifolia

The jasmines: climbing and shrubby plants with fragrant white or yellow flowers. Winter jasmine flowers on bare stems and makes easy cascades.

Winter JasmineJasminum nudiflorum

Common White JasmineJasminum officinale

The junipers: evergreen conifers with needle or scale foliage, from prostrate shrubs to trees. The heart of classic bonsai, with the shimpaku and its deadwood work, procumbens and the many garden cultivars.

Chinese JuniperJuniperus chinensis

Itoigawa ShimpakuJuniperus chinensis 'Itoigawa'

Common JuniperJuniperus communis

Creeping JuniperJuniperus procumbens

Dwarf Japanese Garden JuniperJuniperus procumbens 'Nana'

Needle JuniperJuniperus rigida

Savin JuniperJuniperus sabina

Chinese or Sargent's JuniperJuniperus sargentii

Blue JuniperJuniperus squamata 'Meyeri'

Eastern Red CedarJuniperus virginiana

Chinese JuniperJuniperus × media 'Blaauw'

An evergreen twining climber from eastern Asia with glossy leaves and red berries in clusters. Trained as a cascade or over rock.

Scarlet KadsuraKadsura japonica

The golden chain trees: small deciduous trees with trifoliate leaves and long hanging racemes of yellow pea flowers. All parts are poisonous; grown for the flowers.

Scottish Laburnum or Golden Rain TreeLaburnum alpinum

Common Laburnum or Golden Rain TreeLaburnum anagyroides

The crape myrtles: deciduous shrubs and trees with smooth, peeling, patterned bark and crinkled summer flowers. Need heat to flower; grown as much for the trunk as the blooms.

Crape MyrtleLagerstroemia indica

White Crape MyrtleLagerstroemia indica 'Alba'

Purple Crape MyrtleLagerstroemia indica 'Amabilis'

The larches: deciduous conifers with soft needles in tufts that turn gold before falling. Fast and responsive, excellent for groups and literati, with fine cones and rugged bark.

European LarchLarix decidua

Japanese LarchLarix kaempferi (Larix leptolepis)

Tamarack or American LarchLarix laricina

Dunkeld LarchLarix × eurolepis (decidua × kaempferi)

The bay laurel: an evergreen Mediterranean tree with aromatic leaves used in cooking. Tolerates clipping and pots; tender in hard frost.

Bay LaurelLaurus nobilis

The bush clovers: deciduous shrubs with trifoliate leaves and purple-pink pea flowers in late summer. Light, arching plants for accent and small bonsai.

Japanese Bush CloverLespedeza bicolor

The privets: evergreen and deciduous shrubs with small leaves and white flowers, familiar from hedges. Tough, fast and easily collected; Chinese privet is a common indoor bonsai.

Oval-leaf PrivetLigustrum ovalifolium

Chinese PrivetLigustrum sinense

Common PrivetLigustrum vulgare

The sweet gums: deciduous trees with maple-like leaves and spectacular autumn colour. Vigorous, for medium and large sizes.

Sweet GumLiquidambar styraciflua

The honeysuckles: climbers and shrubs with fragrant tubular flowers. The shrubby box-leaved kinds have tiny leaves, clip well and make good small bonsai.

Japanese HoneysuckleLonicera japonica

HoneysuckleLonicera morrowii

Dwarf HoneysuckleLonicera nitida

Deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs with large, primitive flowers. The star magnolia is the one for bonsai, small and free-flowering in early spring.

Star MagnoliaMagnolia stellata

The crab apples: small deciduous trees with spring blossom in white to red and small apples that hang into winter. Among the best flowering and fruiting bonsai.

Evereste CrabappleMalus 'Evereste'

Golden Hornet Crab-AppleMalus 'Golden Hornet'

Purple Crab-AppleMalus 'Profusion'

Weeping Crab-AppleMalus 'Red Jade'

Siberian Crab-AppleMalus baccata

AppleMalus domestica

Halls Crab-AppleMalus Halliana

Crab-AppleMalus Sieboldii (M. toringo)

Common Crab-AppleMalus sylvestris

Crab Apple HybridMalus × zumi

The dawn redwood: a deciduous conifer rediscovered in China in the 1940s, with soft feathery foliage and a fluted trunk. Fast, formal and forgiving; fine for groups.

Dawn RedwoodMetasequoia glyptostroboides

The mulberries: deciduous trees with heart-shaped leaves and soft fruit. Vigorous, rugged-barked and easy to reduce.

White MulberryMorus alba

The orange jessamine: a tropical evergreen shrub with glossy pinnate leaves and scented white flowers. An indoor bonsai for warmth and light.

Orange JasmineMurraya paniculata

The common myrtle: an aromatic evergreen Mediterranean shrub with small glossy leaves, fluffy white flowers and black berries. Tolerates clipping; shelter from hard frost.

Common MyrtleMyrtus communis

The heavenly bamboo: an evergreen shrub with fine compound leaves, white flowers and red berries, not a bamboo at all. Used for accents and clump plantings.

Heavenly BambooNandina domestica

The olives: long-lived evergreen trees of the Mediterranean with grey-green leaves and gnarled trunks. Collected stumps make superb bonsai; they want sun and a dry side.

OliveOlea europaea

Wild OliveOlea europaea var. sylvestris

Evergreen shrubs with holly-like or plain leaves and small, intensely fragrant white flowers in autumn. Slow, dense and tolerant of clipping.

OsmanthusOsmanthus delavayi

The Virginia creeper and Boston ivy: deciduous climbers with brilliant autumn colour. Trained over rock and as cascades.

Boston IvyParthenocissus tricuspidata

Running bamboos with tall canes and grooved internodes. Used in accent plantings and landscapes, not trained as trees.

Golden BambooPhyllostachys aurea

The spruces: evergreen conifers with short stiff needles set singly on pegs and hanging cones. Formal and slow to ramify; Ezo spruce and the dwarf cultivars are the classic choices.

Norway SprucePicea abies

Dwarf SprucePicea abies 'Echiniformis'

Dwarf SprucePicea abies 'Little Gem'

Dwarf SprucePicea abies 'Maxwellii'

Bird's Nest SprucePicea abies 'Nidiformis'

Dwarf Alberta White SprucePicea glauca 'Albertiana Conica'

Sakhalin SprucePicea glehnii

Dwarf Sakhalin SprucePicea glehnii 'Yatsubusa'

Yezo or Ezo SprucePicea jezoensis

Hondo SprucePicea jezoensis 'Hondoensis'

Dwarf Black SprucePicea mariana 'Nana'

Evergreen shrubs of the heath family with hanging clusters of white bell flowers and bright red new growth. Lime-free soil and shelter.

PierisPieris japonica (Andromeda japonica)

The pines: evergreen conifers with needles in bundles of two, three or five. The backbone of bonsai, from the black and red pines of Japan to the white pines, Scots pine and mugo, each with its own timing of work.

Lodgepole PinePinus contorta

Japanese Red PinePinus densiflora

Aleppo PinePinus halepensis

Western White PinePinus monticola

Swiss Mountain PinePinus mugo

Austrian Black PinePinus nigra

Dwarf Japanese White PinePinus parviflora 'Kokonoe'

Dwarf Japanese White PinePinus parviflora 'Miyajima'

Dwarf Japanese White PinePinus parviflora 'Nasu-mimune'

Japanese White PinePinus parviflora (P. pentaphylla)

Stone PinePinus pinea

Ponderosa PinePinus ponderosa

Dwarf Siberian PinePinus pumila

Red PinePinus resinosa

Scots PinePinus sylvestris

Dwarf Scots PinePinus sylvestris 'Beuvronensis'

Dwarf Scots PinePinus sylvestris 'Watereri'

Japanese Black PinePinus thunbergii

Cork-Barked Japanese Black PinePinus thunbergii corticosa

The mastic tree and its relatives: evergreen Mediterranean shrubs with pinnate aromatic leaves and small red fruit. Tolerant of drought and clipping.

Mastic TreePistacia lentiscus

The Texas ebony: a thorny tropical tree with tiny bipinnate leaves that fold at night and a dark, hard trunk. Grown as an indoor bonsai in warmth.

Brazilian Rain TreePithecellobium tortum

The planes: large deciduous trees with lobed leaves and flaking, mottled bark. Coarse, but the bark rewards larger sizes.

London PlanePlatanus × acerifolia

The Chinese arborvitae: an evergreen conifer with flat vertical sprays of scale foliage. Tolerant and tidy, for upright styles.

Chinese ArborvitaePlatycladus orientalis (Thuja orientalis)

The jaboticaba: a tropical tree that flowers and fruits straight from its smooth, peeling trunk. Grown indoors in warmth for its bark and fruit.

JaboticabaPlinia cauliflora (Myrciaria cauliflora)

The Buddhist pines: evergreen conifers with flat, yew-like leaves. The Chinese species is a common indoor bonsai, slow and tolerant.

Chinese PodocarpusPodocarpus macrophyllus (P. chinensis)

The elephant bush or dwarf jade: a succulent shrub from South Africa with tiny round leaves and reddish stems. Easy indoors, thickens well and takes hard pruning.

Dwarf JadePortulacaria afra

The shrubby cinquefoils: small deciduous shrubs with fine leaves and yellow, white or orange flowers all summer. Very hardy, for small sizes.

PotentillaPotentilla fruticosa

Potentilla 'Kobold'Potentilla fruticosa 'Kobold'

Potentilla 'Manchu'Potentilla fruticosa 'Manchu'

Potentilla 'Tangerine'Potentilla fruticosa 'Tangerine'

Tropical shrubs and small trees with small leaves and fast, twiggy growth. Popular in Asia for shohin; kept warm in cool climates.

Musk MaplePremna japonica (sold as Acer 'Nioi')

PremnaPremna microphylla

The cherries, plums, apricots and almonds: deciduous trees grown for spring blossom, some for fruit, some for bark. The Japanese apricot (ume) and the flowering cherries are treasured for flowers on old wood.

Hally Jolivette CherryPrunus 'Hally Jolivette'

Gean or Wild CherryPrunus avium

Double GeanPrunus avium 'Plena'

Myrobalan PlumPrunus cerasifera

Purple-leaved PlumPrunus cerasifera 'Pissardii'

European PlumPrunus domestica

AlmondPrunus dulcis

Fuji CherryPrunus incisa

Kojo-no-mai Fuji CherryPrunus incisa 'Kojo-no-mai'

St. Lucie CherryPrunus mahaleb

Japanese Flowering ApricotPrunus mume

Bird CherryPrunus padus

PeachPrunus persica

Double-flowered PeachPrunus persica 'Albolplena'

Double-flowered PeachPrunus persica 'Klara Meyer'

Double-flowered PeachPrunus persica 'Russell's Red'

Japanese PlumPrunus salicina

Flowering CherryPrunus serrulata

Flowering CherryPrunus serrulata 'Hisakura'

Flowering CherryPrunus serrulata 'Kanzan'

Flowering CherryPrunus serrulata 'Kiku-shidare Sakura'

Flowering CherryPrunus serrulata 'Shirotae'

SloePrunus spinosa

Pink Autumn CherryPrunus subhirtella 'Autumnalis rosea'

Autumn CherryPrunus subhirtella 'Autumnalis'

Pink Spring CherryPrunus subhirtella 'Fukubana'

Dwarf Russian AlmondPrunus tenella

Downy CherryPrunus tomentosa

The pomegranate: a deciduous shrub or small tree with glossy leaves, scarlet flowers and round fruit, and a trunk that twists and flutes with age. The dwarf form suits small sizes; needs sun.

PomegranatePunica granatum

Dwarf PomegranatePunica granatum 'Nana'

The firethorns: thorny evergreen shrubs with white flowers and masses of orange or red berries. Tough and easy, good for cascades and fruit displays.

Pyracantha or FirethornPyracantha angustifolia

Scarlet FirethornPyracantha coccinea

Dwarf FirethornPyracantha coccinea 'Teton'

The oaks: deciduous and evergreen trees with lobed or holly-like leaves and acorns, long-lived and slow. Coarse-leaved kinds suit larger sizes; cork oak gives thick furrowed bark.

Turkey OakQuercus cerris

Portuguese OakQuercus faginea

Holm OakQuercus ilex

Pin OakQuercus palustris

Sessile or Durmast OakQuercus petraea

English OakQuercus robur

Cork OakQuercus suber

The rhododendrons and azaleas: evergreen and deciduous shrubs of acid soils with flowers in every colour. The satsuki azaleas are a bonsai tradition of their own, flowering after the leaves in early summer.

Satsuki 'Chinzan'Rhododendron indicum 'Chinzan'

Satsuki 'Hakurei'Rhododendron indicum 'Hakurei'

Satsuki 'Kaho'Rhododendron indicum 'Kaho'

Satsuki 'Kazan'Rhododendron indicum 'Kazan'

Satsuki 'Kinsai'Rhododendron indicum 'Kinsai'

Satsuki 'Korin'Rhododendron indicum 'Korin'

Satsuki AzaleaRhododendron indicum (Azalea indica)

Kurume AzaleaRhododendron kiusianum

Japanese Kurume AzaleaRhododendron obtusum

The jetbead: a deciduous shrub with pleated leaves, white flowers and shiny black berries in fours. Easy and hardy.

JetbeadRhodotypos scandens

The currants and gooseberries: deciduous shrubs with lobed leaves and early flowers. The flowering currant gives pink racemes in spring.

Flowering CurrantRibes sanguineum

The false acacia: a fast deciduous tree with pinnate leaves, thorns and hanging white pea flowers. Coarse and brittle; usable in larger sizes.

False AcaciaRobinia pseudoacacia

The roses: thorny shrubs and climbers grown for flowers and hips. Small-flowered species and miniatures make unusual small bonsai.

Dog RoseRosa canina

Rosemary: an aromatic evergreen Mediterranean shrub with needle-like leaves and blue flowers. Old plants give gnarled trunks; dislikes root disturbance and wet winters.

RosemaryRosmarinus officinalis

The Chinese sweet plum: a tropical shrub with tiny glossy leaves and flaking bark. One of the most common indoor bonsai, needing light and steady moisture.

SageretiaSageretia theezans

The willows: deciduous trees and shrubs of wet ground with narrow leaves and fast, flexible growth. Weeping forms make natural cascades; they need lots of water.

Weeping WillowSalix babylonica

Swiss WillowSalix helvetica

Dwarf broad-leaved bamboos that form low thickets. Used as accent plants and in landscapes.

Dwarf Variegated BambooSasa veitchii

The umbrella trees: tropical evergreens with leaves in whorls of leaflets, easily grown indoors. The dwarf form makes aerial roots and banyan-style bonsai.

Umbrella TreeSchefflera actinophylla

Dwarf Umbrella TreeSchefflera arboricola

The coast redwood: the tallest tree in the world, an evergreen conifer with soft flat needles and spongy red bark. Fast and forgiving, sprouting from old wood.

Californian RedwoodSequoia sempervirens

The giant sequoia: the most massive tree in the world, an evergreen conifer with awl-shaped foliage and thick fibrous bark. Slow and formal as a bonsai.

WellingtoniaSequoiadendron giganteum

The tree of a thousand stars: a tropical shrub with tiny leaves and small white flowers almost all year. A common indoor bonsai that drops leaves when moved or over-watered.

Tree of a Thousand StarsSerissa foetida

The pagoda tree and its relatives: deciduous trees and shrubs with pinnate leaves and pea flowers. The weeping form and the small-leaved species are used for bonsai.

Japanese Pagoda TreeSophora japonica

The rowans and whitebeams: deciduous trees with pinnate or simple leaves, white flowers and bright berries. Hardy mountain trees, good in autumn.

Joseph Rock Mountain-AshSorbus 'Joseph Rock'

Rowan or Mountain-AshSorbus aucuparia

Cashmiriana Mountain-AshSorbus cashmiriana

Korean Mountain-AshSorbus commixta

Deciduous shrubs with small leaves and clusters of white or pink flowers. Fine twigs and easy growth for small sizes and accents.

Japanese SpiraeaSpiraea japonica

SpiraeaSpiraea thunbergii

Deciduous trees related to camellia with white summer flowers, fine autumn colour and beautiful mottled, flaking bark. Slow and choice; lime-free soil.

StewartiaStewartia monodelpha

StewartiaStewartia pseudocamellia

The snowbells: small deciduous trees with hanging white bell flowers in early summer. Graceful and hardy; lime-free soil.

SnowbellStyrax japonica

The lilacs: deciduous shrubs with fragrant spring flowers in purple, pink or white. The small-leaved species suit bonsai better than the common lilac.

Korean LilacSyringa meyeri

The brush cherries and lilly pillies: tropical evergreen shrubs with glossy leaves, red new growth and fluffy white flowers. Indoor bonsai that clip well.

Brush CherrySyzygium paniculatum

The tamarind: a tropical tree with fine pinnate leaves, pale flowers and edible pods. A tender bonsai for very warm, bright conditions.

TamarindTamarindus indica

The tamarisks: deciduous shrubs of salty and dry places with feathery scale foliage and plumes of pink flowers. Fast and fine-textured.

TamariskTamarix juniperina

The swamp cypress: a deciduous conifer of southern wetlands with soft feathery foliage, a buttressed trunk and knees. Fast and tolerant of wet soil; excellent in flat-top and group styles.

Swamp CypressTaxodium distichum

The yews: slow, long-lived evergreen conifers with dark flat needles, red berry-like arils and rich red heartwood. Back-bud on old wood and take carving well; all parts poisonous.

English YewTaxus baccata

Japanese YewTaxus cuspidata

Dwarf Japanese YewTaxus cuspidata 'Nana'

The arborvitaes: evergreen conifers with flat sprays of scale foliage and small cones. Tolerant and hardy; collected wild plants give fine deadwood.

Eastern ArborvitaeThuja occidentalis

Mediterranean thyme: a small aromatic evergreen shrub with tiny leaves and pink flowers. Used for accents and tiny bonsai; needs sun and dry soil.

Mediterranean ThymeThymbra capitata

The thymes: low aromatic evergreen shrubs with tiny leaves and pink flowers. Accent plants and mame bonsai rather than trees.

ThymeThymus vulgaris

The limes or lindens: deciduous trees with heart-shaped leaves and fragrant summer flowers. Vigorous and coarse; for larger sizes.

Small-leaved LimeTilia cordata

The star jasmine: an evergreen twining climber with glossy leaves and fragrant white flowers. Trained as a cascade or over rock.

Star JasmineTrachelospermum jasminoides

The Chinese tallow tree: a deciduous tree with rounded, pointed leaves, brilliant autumn colour and waxy white seeds. Fast and forgiving.

Chinese Tallow TreeTriadica sebifera

The hemlocks: graceful evergreen conifers with tiny flat needles, drooping tips and small cones. Shade-tolerant and slow, suited to informal and slanting styles.

Eastern HemlockTsuga canadensis

Dwarf HemlockTsuga canadensis 'Nana'

Western HemlockTsuga heterophylla

The elms: deciduous trees with small toothed leaves and fine twigging. The Chinese elm is perhaps the easiest bonsai of all, indoors or out, with fast ramification and corky bark on some forms.

American ElmUlmus americana

Wych or Scotch ElmUlmus glabra

Chinese ElmUlmus parvifolia

Hokkaido ElmUlmus parvifolia 'Hokkaido'

Seiju ElmUlmus parvifolia 'Seiju'

Variegated Chinese ElmUlmus parvifolia variegata

English ElmUlmus procera

Jacqueline Hillier ElmUlmus x elegantissima 'Jacqueline Hillier'

The grapevines: deciduous climbers with large lobed leaves and fruit, and thick peeling trunks with age. Grown for the trunk and the fruit in medium sizes.

Grape VineVitis vinifera

Deciduous shrubs with arching branches and trumpet flowers in pink and red in early summer. Easy and hardy; old plants give quick trunks.

WeigelaWeigela florida

Vigorous deciduous climbers with pinnate leaves and long hanging racemes of fragrant purple or white flowers. Grown for the spring display, in deep pots kept very wet in summer.

Japanese WisteriaWisteria floribunda

Chinese WisteriaWisteria sinensis

The water jasmine: a tropical shrub with narrow leaves and fragrant, drooping white flowers. Popular in Southeast Asia; a warm-room bonsai elsewhere.

Water JasmineWrightia religiosa

The prickly ashes and the Sichuan pepper: aromatic deciduous or evergreen shrubs with pinnate leaves and thorny stems. Fine-textured and easy in warmth.

Japanese Pepper TreeZanthoxylum piperitum

The Japanese zelkova: a deciduous tree of the elm family with small toothed leaves and a smooth grey trunk that branches like a broom. The classic species for the broom style, with fine winter silhouette.

Gray-bark ElmZelkova serrata

Variegated Dwarf ZelkovaZelkova serrata 'Yatsubusa variegata'

Dwarf ZelkovaZelkova serrata 'Yatsubusa'

Variegated Japanese Gray-barked ElmZelkova serrata variegata