Shrubs and Small Trees Selection!

Trees and Shrubs

The following alphabetical list of plants includes trees and shrubs suitable for traditional bonsai. This is not intended to be a complete list.

Specialty nurseries often have a wide selection of dwarf and semi-dwarf varieties of many of these species. Dwarf plants, however, do not always convey the same impression as their full size counterparts because the growth habit is quite different.

Apricot: Prunus species

Arborvitae: American, Thuja occidentalis; Oriental, Thuja orientalis

Azalea: Hiryu, Rhododendron obtusum; Indica azalea, Rhododendron indicum Kurume; Rhododendron hybrids

Beech: American, Fagus grandifolia; European, Fagus sylvatica

Birch: White, Betula alba

Boxwood: Buxus species

Burningbush: Euonymus nana

Cedar: Atlas, Cedrus atlantica; Deodara, Cedrus deodara

Cherry: Prunus species

Cotoneaster: Cotoneaster species

Crabapple: Malus species

Cryptomeria: Cryptomeria japonica and cultivars

Cypress: Bald, Taxodium distichum; Dwarf hinoki, Chamaecyparis obtusa var. compacta

Elm: American, Ulmus americana; Chinese, Ulmus parvifolia; Siberian, Ulmus pumila

Fir: Abies species

Firethorn: Pyracantha species

Ginkgo: Ginkgo biloba

Goldenrain: Koelreuteria paniculata

Gum: Sweet, Liquidambar styraciflua

Hawthorn: English, Crataegus oxycantha; Washington, Crataegus phaenopyrum

Heather: Calluna vulgaris

Hemlock: Canadian, Tsuga canadensis and cultivars

Hornbeam: American, Carpinus caroliniana; Japanese, Carpinus japonica

Ivy: Hedera helix and cultivars

Jasmine: Winter, Jasminum nudiflorum

Juniper: Juniperus species and cultivars

Locust: Black, Robinia pseudoacacia

Maple: Amur, Acer ginnala; Hedge, Acer campestre; Trident, Acer buergerianum

Oak: English, Quercus robur; Pin, Quercus palustris; Scarlet, Quercus coccinea; White, Quercus alba

Peach: Prunus species

Pine: Bristlecone, Pinus aristata; Japanese white, Pinus parviflora; Japanese black, Pinus thunbergi; Mugo, Pinus mughus; Swiss stone, Pinus cembra; White, Pinus strobus

Plum: Prunus species

Pomegranate: Dwarf, Punica granatum nana

Quince: Japanese, Chaenomeles japonica

Snowbell: Japanese, Styrax japonica

Spruce: Picea species and cultivars

Willow: Weeping, Salix blanda

Wisteria: Japanese, Wisteria floribunda

Yew: Taxus species and cultivars

Zelkova: Graybark elm, Zelkova serrata