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Plant Selection Guide

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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:

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  • Apricot: Prunus species Arborvitae: American, Thuja occidentalis; Oriental, Thuja orientalis

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

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House Plants

American gardeners have taken bonsai concepts and have applied them to houseplants. By combining traditional procedures for handling houseplants with bonsai concepts of design, growers have created different bonsai styles. The following alphabetical list consists of woody plants (native to the tropics and subtropics of the world) that have been grown as indoor bonsai. These plants can be obtained from either local or specialized nurseries:

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  • Acacia: Acacia Baileyana

  • Aralia: Polyscias balfouriana, Polyscias fruticosa, Polyscias guilfoylei

  • Bird’s Eye Bush: Ochna multiflora

  • Camellia: Camellia japonica, Camellia sasanqua

  • Cape-Jasmine: Gardenia jasminoides radicans, Gardenia jasminoides Citrus: Citrus species (calamondin, kumquat, lemon, lime, orange, and tangerine)

  • Cherry: Surinam, Eugenia uniflora

  • Cypress: Arizona, Cupressus arizonica; Monterey, Cupressus macrocarpa Fig: Mistletoe, Ficus diversifolia

  • Herb: Elfin, Cuphea hyssopifolia Hibiscus: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Cooperi

  • Holly: Miniature, Malpighia coccigera Jacaranda: Jacaranda acutifolia

  • Jade: Crassula species

  • Jasmine: Jasminum parkeri; Orange, Murraea exotica; Star, Trachelospermum jasminoides

  • Laurel: Indian, Ficus retusa

  • Myrtle: Classic, Myrtus communis

  • Oak: Cork, Quercus suber; Indoor, Nicodemia diversifolia; Silk, Grevillea robusta

  • Orchid Tree: Bauhinia variegata Oxera pulchella

  • Pepper Tree: California, Schinus molle

  • Pistachio: Chinese, Pistacia chinensis

  • Plum: Natal, Carissa grandiflora

  • Poinciana: Royal, Delonix regia

  • Pomegranate: Dwarf, Punica granatum nana

  • Powderpuff Tree: Calliandra surinamensis Serissa foetida

  • Shower Tree: Cassia eremophila

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You can also obtain books that supply information about growing plants indoors from your local library.

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